Supercity protest planned for Rodney tomorrow

Most Rodney residents believe Local Government Minister Rodney Hide has failed to listen to their concerns. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Aucklanders heading north for the long weekend could face chaos with a go-slow protest planned by a breakaway group.

The Direct Action Group want to see northern Rodney kept out of the Auckland Supercity and spokesman Dennis Brown said he hoped Auckland drivers would be receptive.

"Hey guys, you're driving through my area, so be tolerant," Mr Brown said.

He said the group plans to have tractors and possibly the odd horse take part in the protest, which leaves Puhoi for Warkworth at a slow pace at 3pm tomorrow.

"We targeted the long weekend for a reason. On a normal day you would travel between 80km and 100km an hour heading north but on a long weekend it is more like 20km to 40km.

"So the impact on the travelling public will be less. We have thought about Aucklanders," Mr Brown said.

Mr Brown said the group did not believe the needs of a sheep farmer have anything in common with a homeowner in Mission Bay.

He said he would like to see northern Rodney become a part of the Kaipara District Council, in line with the boundaries suggested by the Royal Commission.

Mr Brown said there would be at least three coffins in the procession, representing the "death of democracy". One will represent local MPs John Key and Lockwood Smith while a third will bear the name of Local Government Minister Rodney Hide.

He said all three politicians had failed to listen to the people of northern Rodney, who do not want to be part of Auckland's supercity.

Asked if he held out any hope for Labour MP Darien Fenton's bill to exclude Rodney from the supercity, Mr Brown said he did not.

"Darien and the Labour Party are doing a fabulous job to assist but the problem is they are the minority," Mr Brown said.

New Zealand Transport Agency spokesman Tommy Parker said anyone heading away for the long weekend would need to pack a bit of extra patience.

He expects the roads to be clogged for at least a few hours.

Mr Parker said pre-paying tolls would help to speed up the trip.

However, he suggested the best way to minimise delays was for motorists to use State Highway 16, leaving the motorway at Silverdale and rejoining it at Wellsford.

- With NEWSTALK ZB