By GEOFF CUMMING
The Government's resolve to solve "Auckland problems" faces an early test over a collection of vintage planes, trains and automobiles.
The Minister for Auckland Issues, Judith Tizard, plans to drive a bill through Parliament allowing the Museum of Transport, Technology and Social History (Motat) to obtain funding from all Auckland ratepayers.
The compulsory regional levy that the bill provides for looms as a lifeline for other underfunded facilities from surf lifesaving to the art gallery and National Maritime Museum.
But five of the region's seven local bodies oppose the concept that landowners from Tuakau to Wellsford should prop up big city attractions.
Ms Tizard, the MP for Auckland Central, introduced the bill in Opposition last year but time ran out for the House to debate it, despite a select committee recommending it for approval.
With Prime Minister Helen Clark placing Auckland issues and cultural funding high on the Government's agenda - and Judith Tizard her Auckland envoy - the bill is set to proceed.
"The Government has a passionate view that good things such as Motat need to be regionally funded," Ms Tizard said.
"We would like it to proceed with the support of Auckland local government but they can't duck it.
"Everyone has to accept there's no free ride for regional services."
She says similar arguments can be waged for surf lifesaving, the art gallery, the Auckland Philharmonia and the maritime museum.
Motat is the test case. A treasure trove of bygone technology, artefacts, buildings and science exhibits, it gets by largely on the generosity of Auckland City ratepayers, whose annual contribution has crept towards the million-dollar mark.
But it draws visitors from throughout the region and its supporters - who have the figures to prove it - have long argued that all Aucklanders should pay.
If the bill proceeds, Motat will be able to raise nearly $4 million a year from councils to maintain and develop the attraction.
"It's not good enough for Waitakere and Rodney and North Shore to acknowledge that they have a proportion of Motat visitors but are not prepared to put anything into it," Ms Tizard said.
"It is my strong view that we need to give regional government the power to fund regionally important institutions."
But Papakura Mayor David Hawkins fears a levy for Motat will be the thin end of the wedge.
"Where does it stop? You are talking about a significant number of organisations at considerable cost. And the moment you get public money available, the amount of funding these organisations think they need will go up year after year after year."
Mr Hawkins said the outlying districts of Papakura, Franklin and Rodney faced big costs providing new services to cope with growth over the next 10 years.
"It may be only $20 a year now but many people can't afford that on top of all the extra that's needed to fund infrastructure."
Franklin Mayor Heather Maloney said her council's boundaries spanned two regions - Waikato and Auckland. "We would like to be out of the Auckland region but that's not possible. I don't really think it's fair for us to pay for attractions in the city."
North Shore also opposed the Tizard bill but Mayor George Wood wanted to see the funding of Auckland-wide institutions addressed. He blamed city and district council parochialism for underfunding of regional facilities.
"Fundamentally, we are all Aucklanders and we do benefit from these activities."
Mr Wood and Manukau Mayor Sir Barry Curtis wanted the region to reach agreement on a "fair and equitable" way to fund regional services.
The Auckland City Council attractions committee chairwoman, Victoria Carter, said ratepayers from other cities had indicated they were prepared to pay more for regional services.
She cited the zoo as a facility which was 1km from Waitakere, "yet they contribute nothing" while Great Barrier people did.
Row looms on regional levy
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