Transition Agency knocked back

Written By: - Date published: 2:13 pm, May 18th, 2009 - 24 comments
Categories: auckland supercity, democracy under attack - Tags:

Stuff is reporting that cabinet has failed to approve the make up of the Auckland Supercity transition agency.

In case you’re out of the loop, that’s the unlected oligarchy that will now effectively govern Auckland without any democratic accountability, running roughshod over the results of the 2007 local body elections.

The prediction had been that Rodney Hide would attempt to stack the board with his cronies from the Auckland business elite. The failure to get cabinet approval suggests Key and his advisers have clicked to the political fallout this would cause and have slammed on the brakes.

What this shows us is that all the noise from the Left is putting real pressure on the Government. Stand by for the announcment of a revised board in a day or two, featuring some identity politics window dressing (a brown face, maybe a woman) but essentially the same right-wing political bias.

UPDATE: In the comments andy points us to this from last week’s NBR:

Mark Ford, who has run utility businesses for the Auckland region since the early 1990s, has been shoulder-tapped as the chairman to drive the super city council through its transitional phase.

[snip]

NBR understands one is John Waller, a former insolvency expert at PricewaterhouseCoopers. He is now chairman of Bank of New Zealand, chairman of the Eden Park Redevelopment Board and recently became a Fonterra director.

Two others are Rich Lister Chris Mace and Wayne Walden, both of whom have extensive business interests.

I can see why Key flinched.

24 comments on “Transition Agency knocked back ”

  1. Pascal's bookie 1

    Leaked photo’s of the cabinet meeting available here.

    • Ron 1.1

      That’s actually funny. I laughed.
      I’m also shocked. Appalling waste of tax payers money as politicians sit in darkened rooms behind closed doors arguing and being indecisive about appointments. How long is this going to go on for? Who’s heads should roll? How many public servants are being tied up waiting for a decision. How much did the tea and bickies cost?

  2. gobsmacked 2

    It’s a Cabinet filibuster!

  3. I think it’s already too late for this misguided ramming through of laws usurping democracy. Granted, most kiwis don’t give a rat’s arse about democracy until the bulldozer parks in front of THEIR house….but enough people seem to get it that a 3% to 4% slide in support for NACTional in 2011 may well be on the cards.

  4. toad 4

    Maybe they tried to put Rankin on it too. Or perhaps bring back Peter Doone for the job!

    • serpico 4.1

      Peter Doone was good old school, but Aunty Helen hated him. Talk about a knock back for my frontline colleagues.

      • Margaret 4.1.1

        Serpico, I dissagree with you, I dont hink Helen hated anyone, some people she had a dislike for, but that is different from hating.

  5. the sprout 5

    that is heartening

  6. Kaplan 6

    So glad they rushed this through under urgency…

  7. Jum 7

    People Key never imagined would turn against him in the bluest of seats are now doing so.

    He and Hide never explained to these people what the first bill actually destroyed of their democratic rights, but now they’re spitting mad.

    They have worked out for themselves that they have been betrayed. It’s hard for me not to say “I told you so” as I pat them gently on the arm and suggest they write to government and tell government where to stick their NAct supercity for rich scavengers, vultures and hyenas – nicely of course.

    A woman on the board – great for community balance and broad-based thinking. But, if it’s Diane Foreman, Ruth Richardson, Jenni McManus? or Christine Rankin, I’ll be joining the attack. There is nothing remotely empathetic or visionary about any of them in my personal view. We need women who can think and act creatively, technically and with empathy. On the other side you get Rodney Hide, with the ‘I will not be stopped’ jaw.

    However, these attacks on the women in the NActional party – are they perceived to be the weaker targets? Or, are the media gun shy of Gerry and co. These guys are far worse in what they are perpetrating at our expense. Picking on the women for very unpolitical reasons allows the men to bully through bad legislation under the radar. No doubt another nasty little gameplay by Key, no doubt intending to get rid of them asap, as political excess baggages.

    • Anita 7.1

      I’m curious, which women in the “NActional party” do you think are being attacked? While I agree that the attacks themselves are gendered, I haven’t noticed disproportionately more attacks on women.

    • Margaret 7.2

      Oh Jum what passion!

  8. Philonz 8

    I guess it’s too much to wish for that NACT take a bi-partisan approach to the appointments. They complain bitterly about Labour’s politicising of electoral reform and now they are quite happily doing the same to Local government. The voters of Auckland need to be the ones who decide what happens to their city.

  9. andy 9

    Mark Ford, who has run utility businesses for the Auckland region since the early 1990s, has been shoulder-tapped as the chairman to drive the super city council through its transitional phase.

    [snip]

    NBR understands one is John Waller, a former insolvency expert at PricewaterhouseCoopers. He is now chairman of Bank of New Zealand, chairman of the Eden Park Redevelopment Board and recently became a Fonterra director.

    Two others are Rich Lister Chris Mace and Wayne Walden, both of whom have extensive business interests.

    http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/watercare-ceo-tipped-lead-auckland-super-city-transition-102268

    Looks like they are testing the waters after the wreckage of the Rankin announcement.

  10. The Voice of Reason 10

    Nice call on a bipartisan approach, Philonz. Does anyone have Judith Tizard’s number?

    • Philonz 10.1

      I just snorted tea out of my nose. A comment worthy of a Tui billboard. Bravo.

  11. andy 11

    RNZ is also reporting (5pm today) of rumours of these possibilities for transition agency:

    Mark Ford
    John Waller
    Wayne Walden

  12. wtl 12

    Does anyone think it might be possible that some of the candidates rejected the position? The rushed reorganisation of Auckland might be a hot potato which no one wants to touch.

  13. Tom Semmens 13

    National – or more to the point, ACT – have completely misread the Auckland public on this issue. They’ve proceeded on the arrogant assumption that because not many vote no one would care enough to read the details of their blitzkrieg. But lack of voting only indicates complacency, not necessarily a lack of interest in local governance. Everyone I know, even students, read the free local give aways scaning them and the Herald for building or zoning notices and for changes in services and the like.

    People ARE interested in local government. ACT is a party of kleptocrats and plutocracts, whose downfall is always an arrogant and reflexive contempt of democracy and the ordinary, hard working voter.

    The ACT gerrymandered oligarchy will be a slow burning disaster for National in Auckland. A constant drip-drip-drip of negative stories of how an unelected dictatorship is cancelling community funding for all sorts of worthy projects will fill the local papers regularly until the next election.

    Aucklanders will remember at the next general election that National let ACT create this dictatorship.

    • Zaphod Beeblebrox 13.1

      It amazes me how little understanding of local government has been demonstrated throughout the entire process. Whether its a romantic notion or not people love the idea of belonging to a community, having common interests with their neighbours having a particular identification with a locality- sort of like an extension to your identity. They also value their community assets- parks, playgrounds (where we spend most of time when our children are young), libraries, sporting clubs, swimming pools even our public spaces.
      What has been completely missed in this process is that these things more than strategic assets, to be sold or managed as a business.
      To strip away our local identity and give control of these assets to a group of faceless unseens (whatever their political persuasian), strikes at the self identity of Aucklanders.
      Maybe if they got out and talked to some people outside Remeura and Parnell, the coming anger might be understood.
      PS they might also want to talk to their local Auckland MPs about how this is being received. I don’t think messers Bennett, Collins, Carter, Smith and Key are going to enjoy visiting their electorates for the next 3 years.

  14. gobsmacked 14

    Wayne Walden (one of the nominees mentioned) is the former chairman of Tranz Rail.

    Perhaps Key didn’t want people to be reminded of that company’s existence, given his past performance talking about his share dealings (what Audrey Young memorably called his “Tranz Rail eyes”).

Links to post

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • EV road user charges bill passes
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed the passing of legislation to move light electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) into the road user charges system from 1 April.  “It was always intended that EVs and PHEVs would be exempt from road user charges until they reached two ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Bill targets illegal, unregulated fishing in international waters
    New Zealand is strengthening its ability to combat illegal fishing outside its domestic waters and beef up regulation for its own commercial fishers in international waters through a Bill which had its first reading in Parliament today. The Fisheries (International Fishing and Other Matters) Amendment Bill 2023 sets out stronger ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Reserve Bank appointments
    Economists Carl Hansen and Professor Prasanna Gai have been appointed to the Reserve Bank Monetary Policy Committee, Finance Minister Nicola Willis announced today. The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) is the independent decision-making body that sets the Official Cash Rate which determines interest rates.  Carl Hansen, the executive director of Capital ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Stronger protections for apartment owners
    Apartment owners and buyers will soon have greater protections as further changes to the law on unit titles come into effect, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “The Unit Titles (Strengthening Body Corporate Governance and Other Matters) Amendment Act had already introduced some changes in December 2022 and May 2023, and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Travel focused on traditional partners and Middle East
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters will travel to Egypt and Europe from this weekend.    “This travel will focus on a range of New Zealand’s traditional diplomatic and security partnerships while enabling broad engagement on the urgent situation in Gaza,” Mr Peters says.   Mr Peters will attend the NATO Foreign ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Keep safe on our roads this Easter
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown is encouraging all road users to stay safe, plan their journeys ahead of time, and be patient with other drivers while travelling around this Easter long weekend. “Road safety is a responsibility we all share, and with increased traffic on our roads expected this Easter we ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Cost of living support for over 1.4 million Kiwis
    About 1.4 million New Zealanders will receive cost of living relief through increased government assistance from April 1 909,000 pensioners get a boost to Superannuation, including 5000 veterans 371,000 working-age beneficiaries will get higher payments 45,000 students will see an increase in their allowance Over a quarter of New Zealanders ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Tenancy reviews for social housing restart
    Ensuring social housing is being provided to those with the greatest needs is front of mind as the Government restarts social housing tenancy reviews, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says. “Our relentless focus on building a strong economy is to ensure we can deliver better public services such as social ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary plan halted
    The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary will not go ahead, with Cabinet deciding to stop work on the proposed reserve and remove the Bill that would have established it from Parliament’s order paper. “The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary Bill would have created a 620,000 sq km economic no-go zone,” Oceans and Fisheries Minister ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Cutting all that dam red tape
    Dam safety regulations are being amended so that smaller dams won’t be subject to excessive compliance costs, Minister for Building and Construction Chris Penk says. “The coalition Government is focused on reducing costs and removing unnecessary red tape so we can get the economy back on track.  “Dam safety regulations ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Drought support extended to parts of North Island
    The coalition Government is expanding the medium-scale adverse event classification to parts of the North Island as dry weather conditions persist, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced today. “I have made the decision to expand the medium-scale adverse event classification already in place for parts of the South Island to also cover the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Passage of major tax bill welcomed
    The passing of legislation giving effect to coalition Government tax commitments has been welcomed by Finance Minister Nicola Willis.  “The Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill will help place New Zealand on a more secure economic footing, improve outcomes for New Zealanders, and make our tax system ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Lifting economy through science, tertiary sectors
    Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Judith Collins and Tertiary Education and Skills Minister Penny Simmonds today announced plans to transform our science and university sectors to boost the economy. Two advisory groups, chaired by Professor Sir Peter Gluckman, will advise the Government on how these sectors can play a greater ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government announces Budget priorities
    The Budget will deliver urgently-needed tax relief to hard-working New Zealanders while putting the government’s finances back on a sustainable track, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says.  The Finance Minister made the comments at the release of the Budget Policy Statement setting out the Government’s Budget objectives. “The coalition Government intends ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government to consider accommodation solution
    The coalition Government will look at options to address a zoning issue that limits how much financial support Queenstown residents can get for accommodation. Cabinet has agreed on a response to the Petitions Committee, which had recommended the geographic information MSD uses to determine how much accommodation supplement can be ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government approves extension to Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care
    Cabinet has agreed to a short extension to the final reporting timeframe for the Royal Commission into Abuse in Care from 28 March 2024 to 26 June 2024, Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden says.                                         “The Royal Commission wrote to me on 16 February 2024, requesting that I consider an ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • $18m boost for Kiwis travelling to health treatment
    The coalition Government is delivering an $18 million boost to New Zealanders needing to travel for specialist health treatment, Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says.   “These changes are long overdue – the National Travel Assistance (NTA) scheme saw its last increase to mileage and accommodation rates way back in 2009.  ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • PM’s Prizes for Space to showcase sector’s talent
    The Government is recognising the innovative and rising talent in New Zealand’s growing space sector, with the Prime Minister and Space Minister Judith Collins announcing the new Prime Minister’s Prizes for Space today. “New Zealand has a growing reputation as a high-value partner for space missions and research. I am ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Concerns conveyed to China over cyber activity
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government.     “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity, attributed to groups sponsored by the Chinese Government, targeting democratic institutions in both New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Independent Reviewers appointed for School Property Inquiry
    Independent Reviewers appointed for School Property Inquiry Education Minister Erica Stanford today announced the appointment of three independent reviewers to lead the Ministerial Inquiry into the Ministry of Education’s School Property Function.  The Inquiry will be led by former Minister of Foreign Affairs Murray McCully. “There is a clear need ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Brynderwyns open for Easter
    State Highway 1 across the Brynderwyns will be open for Easter weekend, with work currently underway to ensure the resilience of this critical route being paused for Easter Weekend to allow holiday makers to travel north, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Today I visited the Brynderwyn Hills construction site, where ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Speech to the Infrastructure Funding & Financing Conference
    Introduction Good morning to you all, and thanks for having me bright and early today. I am absolutely delighted to be the Minister for Infrastructure alongside the Minister of Housing and Resource Management Reform. I know the Prime Minister sees the three roles as closely connected and he wants me ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Parliamentary network breached by the PRC
    New Zealand stands with the United Kingdom in its condemnation of People’s Republic of China (PRC) state-backed malicious cyber activity impacting its Electoral Commission and targeting Members of the UK Parliament. “The use of cyber-enabled espionage operations to interfere with democratic institutions and processes anywhere is unacceptable,” Minister Responsible for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • NZ to provide support for Solomon Islands election
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Defence Minister Judith Collins today announced New Zealand will provide logistics support for the upcoming Solomon Islands election. “We’re sending a team of New Zealand Defence Force personnel and two NH90 helicopters to provide logistics support for the election on 17 April, at the request ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • NZ-EU FTA gains Royal Assent for 1 May entry to force
    The European Union Free Trade Agreement Legislation Amendment Bill received Royal Assent today, completing the process for New Zealand’s ratification of its free trade agreement with the European Union.    “I am pleased to announce that today, in a small ceremony at the Beehive, New Zealand notified the European Union ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • COVID-19 inquiry attracts 11,000 submissions
    Public consultation on the terms of reference for the Royal Commission into COVID-19 Lessons has concluded, Internal Affairs Minister Hon Brooke van Velden says.  “I have been advised that there were over 11,000 submissions made through the Royal Commission’s online consultation portal.” Expanding the scope of the Royal Commission of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Families to receive up to $75 a week help with ECE fees
    Hardworking families are set to benefit from a new credit to help them meet their early childcare education (ECE) costs, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. From 1 July, parents and caregivers of young children will be supported to manage the rising cost of living with a partial reimbursement of their ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Unlocking a sustainable, low-emissions future
    A specialised Independent Technical Advisory Group (ITAG) tasked with preparing and publishing independent non-binding advice on the design of a "green" (sustainable finance) taxonomy rulebook is being established, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says.  “Comprising experts and market participants, the ITAG's primary goal is to deliver comprehensive recommendations to the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Chief of Army thanked for his service
    Defence Minister Judith Collins has thanked the Chief of Army, Major General John Boswell, DSD, for his service as he leaves the Army after 40 years. “I would like to thank Major General Boswell for his contribution to the Army and the wider New Zealand Defence Force, undertaking many different ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Minister to meet Australian counterparts and Manufacturing Industry Leaders
    25 March 2024 Minister to meet Australian counterparts and Manufacturing Industry Leaders Small Business, Manufacturing, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly will travel to Australia for a series of bi-lateral meetings and manufacturing visits. During the visit, Minister Bayly will meet with his Australian counterparts, Senator Tim Ayres, Ed ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Government commits nearly $3 million for period products in schools
    Government commits almost $3 million for period products in schools The Coalition Government has committed $2.9 million to ensure intermediate and secondary schools continue providing period products to those who need them, Minister of Education Erica Stanford announced today. “This is an issue of dignity and ensuring young women don’t ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Speech – Making it easier to build.
    Good morning, it’s great to be here.   First, I would like to acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of Building Surveyors and thank you for the opportunity to be here this morning.  I would like to use this opportunity to outline the Government’s ambitious plan and what we hope to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Pacific youth to shine from boost to Polyfest
    Minister for Pacific Peoples Dr Shane Reti has announced the Government’s commitment to the Auckland Secondary Schools Māori and Pacific Islands Cultural Festival, more commonly known as Polyfest. “The Ministry for Pacific Peoples is a longtime supporter of Polyfest and, as it celebrates 49 years in 2024, I’m proud to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • 2024 Ngarimu VC and 28th (Māori) Battalion Memorial Scholarships announced
    ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Speech to Breast Cancer Foundation – Insights Conference
    Before moving onto the substance of today’s address, I want to recognise the very significant and ongoing contribution the Breast Cancer Foundation makes to support the lives of New Zealand women and their families living with breast cancer. I very much enjoy working with you. I also want to recognise ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Kiwi research soars to International Space Station
    New Zealand has notched up a first with the launch of University of Canterbury research to the International Space Station, Science, Innovation and Technology and Space Minister Judith Collins says. The hardware, developed by Dr Sarah Kessans, is designed to operate autonomously in orbit, allowing scientists on Earth to study ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Speech to the New Zealand Planning Institute
    Introduction Thank you for inviting me to speak with you today and I’m sorry I can’t be there in person. Yesterday I started in Wellington for Breakfast TV, spoke to a property conference in Auckland, and finished the day speaking to local government in Christchurch, so it would have been ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Support for Northland emergency response centre
    The Coalition Government is contributing more than $1 million to support the establishment of an emergency multi-agency coordination centre in Northland. Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell announced the contribution today during a visit of the Whangārei site where the facility will be constructed.  “Northland has faced a number ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Celebrating 20 years of Whakaata Māori
    New Zealanders have enjoyed a broader range of voices telling the story of Aotearoa thanks to the creation of Whakaata Māori 20 years ago, says Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka. The minister spoke at a celebration marking the national indigenous media organisation’s 20th anniversary at their studio in Auckland on ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Some commercial fishery catch limits increased
    Commercial catch limits for some fisheries have been increased following a review showing stocks are healthy and abundant, Ocean and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The changes, along with some other catch limit changes and management settings, begin coming into effect from 1 April 2024. "Regular biannual reviews of fish ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-03-29T08:32:21+00:00