No easy path for Super City legislation

Legislation setting up Auckland's new super city council is going to have a rough passage through Parliament.

Opposition parties today started picking fights with the Government within minutes of the amended bill being released by a select committee.

Labour said the bill was flawed, undemocratic and compromised by bad decisions, poor process and a sham consultation process.

"The result is an unbalanced model which centralises power in the hands of a privileged few," said Labour leader Phil Goff.

"It is highly unlikely to achieve the Royal Commission's goal of increasing community engagement in Auckland's local governance."

The Greens said the new council would be so huge and powerful it would be a form of state government.

"We are opposed to the excessive executive powers of the mayor," said MP Sue Kedgley.

"If unchecked we could end up with a mayor who is a sort of Czar of Auckland."

Ms Kedgley said the local boards would be tiny compared with the council.

"The local boards - without any staff of their own and with only four to nine elected representatives - won't be able to effectively counterbalance the power of the Auckland Council, one of New Zealand's largest organisations with up to 6000 staff and controlling $28 billion worth of assets."

The Maori Party said Local Government Minister Rodney Hide's assurances about the way the council would work were "hollow and worthless".

MP Hone Harawira said the select committee process had been pointless because National and ACT had made up their minds without even looking at the report.

"To add insult to injury, the majority of the select committee recommended not having dedicated Maori seats despite overwhelming support for Maori representation from the 2000-plus submitters," he said.

"We have noted the upsurge in frustration being expressed by Auckland civic, commercial and community leaders at the completely undemocratic way Rodney Hide and National are handling this."

- NZPA