Residents 'against Super City bill'

A North Shore community leader says residents are against the Super City bill, in contrast to the views of local MP Jonathan Coleman.

Carol Scott, a member of the Birkenhead Residents Association, said she found most people were at least apprehensive about the plans.

"Most people are bewildered by the bill and would be apprehensive if not downright worried about the undemocratic nature of the bill.

"There is a lack of transparency, a lack of opportunity for voters to have any power."

Northcote Residents Association secretary Brian Plimmer said he was in favour of the change. "I don't know if this [bill] is ideal but I think it must be given a chance."

In a statement to the Herald this week, Dr Coleman said: "I wrote about CCOs in my recent electorate newsletter and the majority of feedback has been favourable."

Yesterday, he clarified that the feedback he was referring to was to his newsletter, not electorate feedback to the Super City bill.

He also said that a survey he conducted across the Northcote electorate last year showed 51 per cent in favour of the Super City bill, 35 per cent against and 14 per cent undecided.

In his newsletter, Dr Coleman said opponents of the bill claimed it was "undemocratic, taking power away from elected politicians".

"The counter argument might be to ask if elected politicians have managed to sort out Auckland's transport woes."

Hunua National Party MP Paul Hutchison said some of the criticisms around CCOs deserved closer inspection but he supported the legislation.

Other Auckland-based National MPs - including Wayne Mapp, Paula Bennett and Judith Collins - said they supported the CCO structure. Pansy Wong and Cam Calder said feedback was mainly in support of the bill.