We're not Aucklanders, so leave us out, says Rodney residents' group

The Kaipara Harbour. Photo / Supplied

The residents of northern Rodney are not Jafas and therefore should not be eaten up in the Auckland Super City, a lobby group has told Parliament.

The Northern Action Group flew to Wellington yesterday to present Rodney MP Lockwood Smith and Northland MP John Carter with a bag of 6000-odd Smarties and a few Jaffas, as well as a petition to split northern Rodney from the proposed Auckland Super City.

Group member Mona Townson said the signatures represented 80 per cent of residents and ratepayers in northern Rodney, although she added that the group could not contact every eligible voter.

"We couldn't afford to bring 6000 people down here, so we got the Smarties so he [Dr Smith] actually has a visual, concrete example," Mrs Townson said. "The Jaffas he can eat because that's the 20 per cent of people who did not sign the petition."

The petition requests that northern Rodney break away from the Super City and form a new council based on previous select committee recommendations. Kaipara Mayor Neil Tiller showed his support, saying northern Rodney could join Kaipara as a new council.

The third and final bill for the Super City is before the Auckland governance legislation select committee. Submissions close tomorrow.

Mrs Townson said the group was like a "pimple" on the side of Local Government Minister Rodney Hide's face, and it would only get bigger.

"We're going to fight until it's finished and even then we're not going to give up because it's too important for our lifestyle," Mrs Townson said.

"We need our community interests catered for. We're rural people. And we have very little in common with an Auckland Super City.

"They're telling us that we have to pay for the stadium, and that money instead of going into our facilities and our area will be going to Auckland."

The group had the backing of Farmers of New Zealand national operations director Bill Guest.

"It's very important that those Northland MPs understand that it's farmers and rural people that vote for them, and the farmers do not want to come into Auckland," Mr Guest said.

"There's no affinity whatsoever. They see Auckland as sucking off the money and resources."

Mr Hide, who met the group on the steps of Parliament, said it was their democratic right to submit the petition, which will be considered by the select committee.

"There is clearly is a strong feeling, and it's one of the tough things that this Government has had to decide.

"It's now for the select committee, so it's not for me to pre-judge the select committee."