Councillor to set rates row rolling in Waitakere

By BERNARD ORSMAN

The revolt over the Auckland Regional Council rates increases moves to the Waitakere City Council debating chamber today, against the wishes of Mayor Bob Harvey.

Councillor Derek Battersby plans to move a notice of motion calling on councillors and community board members to build support among residents, ratepayer groups and local MPs against the rates rises.

Mr Harvey said the notice of motion was extremely unwise because it raised people's expectations, when the ARC clearly was not going to review the rating system this year.

ARC chairwoman Gwen Bull has resisted a request from the North Shore City Council and Glenfield Ratepayers & Residents Association to hold a special meeting this week and review the rates.

Mr Harvey said the ARC should be looking at next year to review the rates and make them more equitable.

But Mr Battersby said while the council was not responsible for the ARC rates, ratepayers were looking to councillors for a lead.

"We as a council and community must work with the region to resolve a fairer and more equitable way of addressing transport and other issues so as not to cripple the community's ability to pay," he said.

North Shore Mayor George Wood has invited all of Auckland's MPs to a meeting in Takapuna on Friday to discuss the rating issue. At least nine MPs are attending from National, Labour, New Zealand First and Act.

The North Shore City Council issued figures yesterday to dispute claims that a business differential of nine times was one of the main reasons for many residents getting ARC increases of 200 per cent or more.

The figures showed a business differential of up to six times but that this fell to 3.63 times once businesses had deducted GST and tax.

Finance Minister Michael Cullen also told Parliament that the North Shore differential was more like two to three times, not the figure of nine he used on Monday.

Auckland Issues Minister Judith Tizard said yesterday that the ARC had met its legislative requirements for consultation over the rating system and it would be unwise for the Government to interfere.

"This is a big increase. There is no doubt about that. Everyone will be concerned.

"What I'm concerned about is that it is well spent. I can see no other way to fix Auckland's problems but all of us paying more."

National MP Wayne Mapp said Aucklanders should brace themselves for an 18 per cent rates rise next year on top of this year's 34 per cent ARC rise.

Quoting figures in the ARC annual plan, Dr Mapp said the council was showing no willingness to unwind the rates. The overall rate increase over the two years was 50 per cent.

Wake Up Auckland, set up to oppose the policies of Auckland City Mayor John Banks and his allies, has organised 10 meetings starting on August 6 to oppose the rates.

Protest calendar

Wake Up Auckland protest meetings:

August 6: Parnell Community Centre, 7.30pm.

August 7: Avondale Deaf Association, 7.30pm.

August 8: Mt Eden War Memorial Hall, 12.30pm.

August 11: Onehunga Community Centre, 7.30pm.

August 12: Freemans Bay Community Centre, 7.30pm.

August 13: Otahuhu Town Hall, 7.30pm.

August 16: Tamaki Ex-Services Association Hall, St Heliers, 12.30pm.

August 17: Ostend War Memorial Hall, Waiheke Island, 2pm.

August 18: Fickling Convention Centre, Three Kings, 8pm.

August 22: Pioneer Women's Hall, Freyberg Pl, central city, 12.30pm.

For Further information Email Marney Ainsworth or Tel: 376-6213.

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