ARC tells Govt to leave Auckland

Auckland regional councillors yesterday lined up to sign a letter urging the Government to stop its plan to give the upper and lower parts of the region away.

The letter was signed after the ARC unanimously voted to demand the Government leave Auckland boundaries alone, saying the proposed split was unworkable, divisive and would separate Auckland from key infrastructure and water supplies that were paid for by ratepayers.

Speakers at yesterday's emergency meeting said they felt robbed of their democratic rights because they were never consulted about the changes and that the plans left sensitive coastal areas open to developers.

They challenged the Government to explain the reasons behind the boundary changes that were labelled bizarre, "from the left field" and something akin to a "land grab".

Under the plan recommended by the Auckland Governance Legislation select committee, Rodney would be split in half, with Whangaparaoa and Orewa staying in the Super City and Waiwera north merging with the Kaipara district. Franklin will be split between Auckland and Waikato.

The meeting was told that the proposed changes would lead to the loss of 10 regional parks, 34 per cent of the water supply and $2 billion worth of assets.

"Instead of bringing Greater Auckland together by building a strong sense of community, the Government is breaking up long-standing cohesive communities," Mr Lee said.

As well as the petitions, he said council was looking "carefully" at its legal options. He hoped legal intervention wouldn't be needed and Prime Minister John Key would listen to what the affected communities wanted.

Hunua MP Dr Paul Hutchison said, as a Government MP, he hoped to be able to make an amendment that pushed the boundary as far south as possible.

Another local MP, Speaker of the House Dr Lockwood Smith, is holding a public meeting at the Masonic Hotel in Warkworth today in a final attempt to hear community views on what was "a difficult decision".