Su'a William Sio

The National Government's newspaper ads this weekend headlined 'Have Your Say on Auckland Local Government' is an insult, given that the Bill in question is already being rammed through Parliament under urgency, says Su'a William Sio, Labour's Associate Local Government Spokesperson and MP for Mangere.

Su'a William Sio said the ad gives the false impression that Aucklanders are being consulted on the reorganisation of local government in Auckland. "This is a joke. How can these public meetings pretend to seek the voice of the people when the Bill is already being rammed through Parliament under urgency?

The horse will have already bolted. "The real purpose of the meetings is to give the impression of a government that is listening, to appease public unease around the shocking lack of consultation with Aucklanders.

"The location of most of the 12 public meetings is another strong clue about where the power will lie under the National government's plan. Eight of the meetings are being held in Auckland City, while the rest of us, such as Waitakere and Manukau have only one meeting scheduled.

"Is the National Government saying that Manukau, a city of 380,000 with over 182 different ethnic groups, has less importance than the business interests of those who dominate Auckland City?

"Until the National Government listens to the people of Auckland, and halts the Bill's passage, the Labour Opposition will continue to hold them to account and challenge the Government's Local Government Bill as it goes through the House.

"The Bill takes the local out of local government in Auckland, yet Aucklanders have been kept in the dark about the details of the Bill and its wide-ranging changes. People have not been given a chance to have a say and that is arrogant and irresponsible."