KEY POINTS:
Seven of Auckland's eight councils want a proposed levy on ratepayers to help finance rescue, safety and cultural groups to be made part of the Royal Commission on Auckland Governance's brief.
But the 10 groups promoting the Regional Amenities Funding Bill say it will be years before the commission's findings are acted upon - too late to prevent cuts in services to 1.4 million people.
The commission is expected soon to call for views on whether Auckland needs reform of local government and report back to the Government by the end of the year.
Councils say the levy plan, if passed into law, would push up property rates by 2 per cent, which would be unacceptable to ratepayers.
Yesterday, the region's councils - with the exception of Auckland City - urged MPs hearing submissions on the funding bill to withdraw it.
"This is putting the cart before the horse, because after the royal commission Auckland may be a different beast to that we see today," said North Shore Mayor Andrew Williams.
Franklin Mayor Mark Ball said funding of regional amenities was discussed between councils as part of the wider review of Auckland's governance before the Government announced the commission's inquiry.
A level of agreement was reached on an appropriate regional body, Greater Auckland, to fund regional facilities.
As the commission has started its work, it was considered that the appropriate funding mechanism for regional amenities should be covered as part of its review.
Auckland Regional Council also said the question of funding of regional organisations was best left for investigation by the commission.
But Auckland City's view was that the commission might not address funding problems, and if it did, any recommendations might be several years away from being acted upon.
The council warned the MPs that if the bill was not passed, the city would be reluctant to provide any further additional funding to the organisations covered by the bill.
The city gave the groups promoting the bill $3.2 million last year. The other local authorities gave a total of $392,850, though they have 90 per cent of the region's population.
Groups' spokesman Steve Johns told MPs the 10 groups could not raise more money through ticket sales, donations and sponsorship.
Volunteers were spending more time "shaking buckets" instead of providing core services.
"Waiting for the royal commission is not realistic," he said. "We need this funding now."
The MPs are members of Parliament's local government and environment select committee. They heard 50 submissions from individuals, councils and groups.
GROUPS COVERED BY THE BILL
Surf Life Saving Northern - 108,000 preventative actions a year
Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra - 380,000 people see performances each year
Stardome Observatory and Planetarium - 60,000 visitors a year
Auckland Theatre Company - 75,000 see performances a year
Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust - 360 patients assisted a year
New Zealand Opera - 16,000 people see performances a year
NZ National Maritime Museum - 10,000 visitors a year
WaterSafe Auckland - drownings fell 33 per cent in three years
Coastguard Northern Region - 2100 incidents attended each year
Auckland Festival - 342,445 people took part in AK07
