Rodney's bid snuffed out

Manly Beach in Rodney. Photo / Supplied

Rodney district's last chance to avoid becoming part of the Auckland Super City in October was snuffed out yesterday in a sparsely attended debate and vote at Parliament.

Speaking at the first reading of her local bill supporting Rodney District Council's bid to establish a unitary council, Labour list MP Darien Fenton said the council and citizens had consistently said they wanted no part of the Super City.

"They've been saying consistently that Rodney's future should not be decided in Queen St instead of Warkworth, Wellsford, Matakana or Whangaparaoa."

The bill was "the only option" left to the people of Rodney following "a highly flawed and cynical National and Act Party process" over the Super City.

The council had done exactly the right thing by going to the constituents and asking what they wanted.

But National list MP Tau Henare said the bill was put together by the council, people whose concern was protection of their wages and power.

Act MP David Garrett said: "The best you can say is the people of Rodney are highly divided on this issue."

The bill was defeated 58-64, with National, Act and United Future opposing it and Labour, the Progressives and the Maori Party supporting it.