Our 2011 election manifesto - Labour Party

Restoring the democracy in Auckland and Christchurch
Local communities have lost their voice under the super city laws. Too much power is
centralised in the Auckland Council, and 75 per cent of local government activities have
been transferred to council-controlled organisations.
Labour will fix the undemocratic aspects of the Super City.
We will do a review two years after the establishment of the Auckland Council. We will
repeal the legislation that imposes a corporatised transport agency. We will guarantee in law
real powers for local boards.
Labour will work at the highest levels to ensure central government works hand in
hand with Auckland Council to make the new Auckland a success: on transport, high
quality jobs, urban renewal, and the goals of the Auckland plan, which prioritises the
needs of children, and the need to reduce the effects of inequality.
The provisions of the Royal Commission around monitoring of social issues and outcomes
will be re-examined for how they can contribute to better, more accountable policy and
budget resource allocation affecting Auckland.
The sacking of Environment Canterbury was a hit on local democracy in the region. Labour
believes that residents in the region need a democratic voice, especially given the
importance of getting reconstruction right following the Canterbury earthquakes.
Labour will restore Environment Canterbury and hold elections as soon as possible.
In recent years there have been a number of moves to reduce the number of elected
councillors in the interests of efficient governance. There is a risk that fewer elected
representatives reduce citizens‟ access to their councillors.
Labour in Government will investigate the size of local authority wards, including the
possibility of a maximum Councillor to voter ratio.
Responsive and affordable local government
Consents and user fees have become too expensive, and Councils often are too slow in
processing them.
The effect of litigation in relation to leaky homes and resource management has made
Councils risk-averse and bureaucratic.
Local government legislation is highly prescriptive. The result is that citizens find their
Councils to be too slow and too expensive.
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