Brian Rudman: Keeping it simple key to regional institution funding levy

Last week I pleaded for some local politicians to stick their heads above the parapet and take a lead in the campaign for regional funding of regional institutions.

I was hardly swept away by the tsunami that followed. Indeed, the only response I received was from a councillor from outlying Rodney, asking whether any thought had been given to a scaled levy based on the distance you lived from central Auckland.

Rather exasperated, I asked whether, as one who lives as far as possible from a west coast surf beach and who has never felt the urge to joust with mother nature, I could be exempt from the proposed surf lifesaving levy? And if you begin to levy by distance, why not by family size or income? My fear was, unless we keep it simple, it'll never happen.

The most encouraging news leaking from the recent secret mayoral forum meeting is that Auckland Regional Council chairman Mike Lee surprised his mayoral colleagues by promising that the ARC would rethink its opposition to the funding of regional organisations such as the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra.

This follows an earlier commitment from Mr Lee to Auckland Issues Minister Judith Tizard and APO chair Rosanne Meo to sponsor a local bill in favour of regional funding for the orchestra. Last night Mr Lee confirmed these reports, saying: "We have famous other priorities on funding but we will give regional funding serious consideration."

He said the full ARC would revisit the issue on June 15.

Just getting the ARC to reconsider the issue is a major breakthrough. For years it has been intransigently opposed to expanding its role to take on the cultural obligations given to it under the Local Government Act. However overdue, it is wonderful news. One can only hope they come up with the right result.

I say that with a certain desperation, because I fear the back wheels of the Auckland City-driven regional funding initiative, which up until now has been the main hope of change, are coming off.

This project depends on all seven territorial authorities backing a bill promoting regional funding for a group of nine organisations - including the APO, surf lifesaving, Watersafe Auckland and the zoo. Yesterday, Rodney Mayor John Law told me that his council had not had a formal vote on it, but after discussion at last Thursday's council meeting, "I don't believe it will be supported ... It was obvious there was not going to be much support at all".

The only organisation he was in favour of backing was surf lifesaving. "Where does it end?" he asked.

Where indeed? Down the gurgler because of the insularity of one small council out in the wop-wops, it seems.

Worse still was Mr Law's warning that "I think you'll find one or two other councils are being careful about it as well".

The logistics of this are quite complicated. The Clerk of the House has advised the Auckland bureaucrats that it would be best to promote it as a private bill. This is a bill promoted by one or more private organisations. But as it involves rating, it would need the backing of all seven TLAs. The alternative would be a local bill, but again it would need all seven councils operating in concert. Come in Rodney or all is doomed. Well, not quite.

Apparently the ARC could promote a local bill itself, though that would be rather superfluous, because the ARC already has the power to levy a rate to help support regional institutions. And this would be the most efficient and effective solution, avoiding the need to trot off to Parliament, asking it to do for us what we don't seem to be able to do for ourselves - co-operate on a regional basis for our own good.

More than a decade ago, a National Government, out of spite, clipped the wings of the ARC's predecessor and tried to restrict its activities. The Local Government Act 2002 granted the ARC new freedom to branch out.

A recent survey showed Aucklanders overwhelmingly endorsed regional funding for the nine organisations. On June 15, ARC councillors will have the chance to show they're listening.