Brian Rudman: Costly death throes as parochial dinosaurs refuse to go quietly

With the birth of the Super City fast approaching, the existing councils are supposed to be working together to ensure the delivery is as painless as possible, and the newborn, up and running from day one.

But hoping that those who have to die to make this happen will do it quietly was always going to be a big ask. The death rattles that echoed around the recent meeting of the Territorial Local Authority Electoral College are proof of that.

This weirdly named entity consists of councillors from the seven territorial councils and acts as the statutory link between the councils and assorted regional amenities.

Ten days ago it met to rubber-stamp the size of ratepayer contributions for the 2010/11 year for the Auckland Museum, Museum of Transport and Technology and the 10 amenities lumped together under the 2008 Auckland Regional Amenities Funding Act.

Funding for the two museums was nodded through without a blink, but when it came to the 10 amenities, three of the councils that fought so hard against the act in 2008 reignited the battle and voted against the levy.

The absence of two of Auckland City's three representatives - Greg Moyle and Glenda Fryer - gave the opponents the numbers to stall the process.

As a result, an arbitrator - thought to be retired High Court Judge Peter Salmon, QC - has had to be brought in at ratepayers' expense to decide between the expert funding board and the six parochial councillors who fluked the victory.

There's hope of a decision within three weeks so the 10 amenities, which include the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra, Auckland Regional Rescue Helicopter, Auckland Theatre Company and WaterSafe Auckland, will know what level of regional funding from July 1 they can expect.

Opponents of the new regional levy have focused on the fact that, at $11.6 million, it is 29 per cent higher than this year's.

Manukau City councillor Michael Williams told his local paper the increase was "shark-like". Not to be out-hyperboled, his fellow councillor Daniel Newman called it "highway robbery".

They conveniently ignore that, under the legislation, the levy is to be phased in over four years: $9 million the first year, no more than $12 million this year and no more than $15 million in year three. From year four, it's to be no more than 2 per cent of the regional rate income, excluding water charges.

In the electoral college, the opposition came from Manukau, Franklin, Papakura and, to no one's surprise, the perennially deep-pocketed misers of the North Shore. Tony Millar, the one Auckland City representative to show up, got the backing of the two Waitakere City representatives and, hallelujah, Rodney deputy mayor John Kirikiri.

A week after the defeat, Mr Kirikiri was still steaming. He had defied instructions from his own council to vote against the levy, saying he and his fellow college members were duty bound to follow the wishes of the government legislation.

He also respected the views of the funding board, which, he pointed out, he and his college colleagues had helped to appoint.

"We chose them because they had the knowledge, skill and ability to come up with decisions that the electoral college plainly can't."

He adds: "For the electoral college to vote against it is abhorrent. These amenities are relying on this funding. The Super City's got to be better than what we've got now. Good riddance to this committee, it's plainly not doing what it was set up to do."

Auckland City's Toni Millar was equally annoyed, saying it doesn't augur well for the future "if they're going to be like this".

"We need people who can think regionally. Yes, you represent your local area, but you also have to work for the city as a whole."

Waitakere City councillor Vanessa Neeson chairs the electoral college, and wanted to vote with the opponents, but honoured orders from her council to support the proposal. She says the opponents support the amenities - "they really do" - they just wanted recognition that times are tough.

The reality is that for these amenities, times have always been tough. The regional funding act of 2008 recognised that. If your support for the Super City is wavering, here's a reminder of what it's all about.