Govt pandering to its mates and donors, Norman claims

Russel Norman. Photo / Glenn Jeffrey

Green Party co-leader Russel Norman has mounted a scathing criticism of the National Government's plans for the Auckland Council and reform of the Resource Management Act, accusing it of pandering to "mates and donors".

Dr Norman's address to the Green Party annual conference in Dunedin yesterday clearly aimed to reassure members that Green MPs did not intend to go softly on National because of the agreement it has to work on specific projects.

He said National and Act were making decisions according to the wish lists of speculators, developers and the roading lobby with its plans for Resource Management Act reform, roading and the Super City.

A candidate in the Mt Albert byelection, he dubbed the Government's Super City plans "Grand Theft Auckland".

"Melissa Lee was right when she said people are coming along the motorway to steal our stuff. But they don't come from South Auckland, they come from Auckland Airport. They don't wear balaclavas, they wear suits; and they don't drive beat-up Subarus, they are driven in Crown limousines."

He used sarcasm to convey his protests, saying the Government's actions would reduce local representation.

"[Auckland] will be left with just 20 councillors who will have even larger electorates than MPs and even less connection with their communities, and will be less under the sway of the park-loving, library-loving, community hall-loving unwashed masses."

Labour also came under fire. Dr Norman accused it of running a "say anything, say nothing" campaign. He said the "Labour machine" believed it could win the by-election simply by covering the electorate in red. However, Labour candidate David Shearer's rhetoric on the hustings contradicted his party's record in government on issues including refugees, transport and factory farming.

"Labour in Mt Albert will say anything to get elected, but Labour in government did the opposite."

Dr Norman also spoke of recent gains by the Green Party - including the home insulation fund, which drew strong applause from the delegates. But he did not mention the National Party's role in it, saying only that it built on what the party had agreed with Labour and would not have gone ahead without pressure from the Greens.

The conference wraps up today when new co-leader Metiria Turei is due to make her first formal speech in the role.