Brian Rudman: An appeal to the ARC - Please don't kill this bill

From the "Only in Auckland" files. Today the Auckland Regional Council's regional strategy and planning committee will agonise long and hard over the merits of regional institutions such as the Westpac Rescue Helicopter and the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra receiving regional funding.

Where else but in a metropolis as balkanised as Greater Auckland would we have the need to debate such a no-brainer.

Encouragingly, senior officials Ann Magee and Alan Johnson preface their joint report by acknowledging "there is considerable merit in this proposal to provide reliable and adequate funding to regional organisations".

But then come the buts and maybes and the underwhelming recommendation that the report be "received" and the matter "be considered".

Two weeks ago, Ian Maxwell, Manukau City's director, community, was much more enthusiastic in his recommendation to his community development committee. He proposed that the council "support the concept of compulsory public funding drawn from across the wider Auckland region aimed at ensuring that the region is served by quality services and amenities".

But despite his enthusiasm, the committee decided it "does not support the concept" and "supports the continuation of the status quo".

The status quo being that the ratepayers of Manukau City and the other outlying cities and districts, freeload off Auckland City, the only public body willing to acknowledge that a civilised community needs to fund more than just roads and drains.

Last year, following the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra's latest funding crisis, Auckland City tried to spread the burden by proposing an Auckland Regional Amenities Funding Bill, to be promoted as a private Act of Parliament by the various organisations which stood to benefit.

Modelled on the legislation that enables the Museum of Transport and Technology and the Auckland War Memorial Museum to levy funds through local rates from across the region, the proposed act would secure a more stable and equitable spread of funding for not only the orchestra and rescue helicopter, but other regional assets like the Auckland Theatre Company, The Edge, Watersafe Auckland, Auckland Zoo and local coastguard and surf life-saving organisations.

Polls indicate overwhelming regional public support for the proposition, but local politicians remain unmoved. Only Auckland City has voted in favour.

This lack of local body backing doesn't necessarily kill the bill. In the run-up to the passing of the 2000 Motat Act, the same niggardliness was widespread. Only Auckland City backed it. At select committee hearings, Waitakere and Manukau spoke enthusiastically of Motat, but cried poor when it came to funding. North Shore, Franklin and Rodney were vociferously opposed. Like now, market research showed widespread public support. The parliamentarians decided the local politicians were out of touch with the public and passed the bill despite them.

In the report to today's ARC meeting, the writers fret about the governance implications of the "confederate approach" to regional funding which the Auckland City-backed bill proposes, as opposed to a regional approach. They warn that raising regional funds through the various city and district council risks "parochial" interests over-riding "an overall or region-wide view".

On the other hand regional funding directly through the ARC would, they say, benefit the council's image by positioning it "in a more clearly defined position as a regional leader". On the downside, regional rates might have to rise 20 per cent or in excess of $20 million - this, compared to a 1 to 2 per cent rates increase if the levy was linked to city rates.

Of course, from the outsider-looking-in viewpoint, regional funding levied by the regional council appears the sensible, uncomplicated and cost-effective solution. But however many fingers and toes one crosses, such a vote today would be a miracle. However, it would cost councillors nothing to offer their moral and vocal backing to the bill as proposed.

As the officials emphasise, the bill's passage through Parliament "depends critically on a high level of support ... within the Auckland region". They add that the ARC's "endorsement ... would certainly add weight to any case to Parliament". One can only agree.

The proposed model might not be the ideal solution to the funding woes of regional cultural and community facilities, but it's the only one on offer and the only one with a chance of success. It's a chance for the politicians to show some regional leadership, and as a bonus, their vote in favour won't cost the ARC a cent.