KEY POINTS:
Half of the North Shore residents who took part in a survey believe all Auckland councils should chip in ratepayers' money towards funding regional amenities such as rescue services and the zoo.
Nearly 46 per cent agreed with proposed rates rises to fund them.
The telephone survey was
done last month for the North Shore City Council, which also has a web survey going until the end of the month.
Mayor Andrew Williams said yesterday the survey results would not stop the council opposing the Regional Amenities Bill, which is before a parliamentary select committee.
"Parts of the bill need serious reconsideration. But, as the survey shows, there's overwhelming sympathy in the community for supporting the rescue services - but not in the area of arts and music."
Councils have until November 30 to state their views.
The bill aims to put 11 regional arts and community organisations on a more secure financial footing by an annual levy of $13 million, divided among all councils based on rates revenue.
Mr Williams said the North Shore's share equalled a rates rise of up to 2 per cent. "We couldn't hack it ... You can't force people to that; it's undemocratic."
Of the survey's random sample of 420 people, 153 thought all councils should pay, 110 said users of the facilities should pay and 63 thought the Auckland Regional Council alone should pay.
One hundred and fifty people thought the money should come from property rates; 123 thought it should be earned through donations and admission charges; and 75 suggested central government taxes be used.
The facilities that were seen of benefit to most Aucklanders were Surf Life Saving, the Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust, Coastguard, Watersafe Auckland and the zoo.
People were split over whether the Maritime Museum and the Auckland Festival were of more benefit to those with special interests.
But most put in the "special interest" user category the Auckland Observatory, Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra, Auckland Theatre Company and Opera New Zealand.
Councillors were told yesterday that the amenities deemed to be of benefit to most Aucklanders had greater support for joint funding by all councils in the region.
More than half of respondents believed all amenities should be funded either through joint council funding or ARC funding.
The Maritime Museum and Auckland Festival scored more than 50 per cent support for joint funding, and the lowest score was for the Auckland Theatre Company.
The second most preferred way to fund the 11 amenities was through the ARC, which would still cost ratepayers because it levies rates on properties in addition to the local councils.
Opera NZ drew the least enthusiasm for overall ratepayers' support.
Fifteen per cent strongly disagreed with rates rises, mainly because they were paying too much already and also because they felt they should not pay for facilities they did not use.
Favourite things
Percentage of North Shore residents' support for regional facilities that "benefit most Aucklanders":
* Surf lifesaving 89.9.
* Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust 89.7.
* Coastguard 85.7.
* Auckland Zoo 85.2.
* Watersafe Auckland 77.
* Maritime Museum 48.9.
* Auckland Festival 46.8.
* Auckland Observatory 35.8.
* Auckland Philharmonia 25.5.
* Auckland Theatre Company 24.1.
* Opera New Zealand 22.2.
