Exposed! How new city bodies will control your life

Auckland's controversial CCOs — the Council-Controlled Organisations that will effectively run the region after the forced amalgamation of eight local bodies in October — will have wide-ranging powers that will reach deeply into the pockets of every one of the 1.4 million residents from Wellsford to Pokeno.
In recent weeks, the NZ Herald and other media have focused attention on the broad-brush roles of these organisations, whose members will be appointed by Local Government Minister Rodney Hide and Transport Minister Steven Joyce.
They will be in power for at least three years, with Aucklanders having no say in who runs their regional amenities including water, buses, roads, stadiums, events, rubbish collection, libraries and so on.
They can make their own rules, set their own prices, and do not have to hold their meetings in public or explain their decisions. The elected Mayor and Council cannot remove them.
Today, for the first time, thanks to material leaked to us and inquiries under the Freedom of Information Act, The Aucklander can reveal the true range of the CCOs' powers.
Their priorities have been set so that the Auckland Transition Agency accountants can provide Wellington with some indication of revenue opportunities under the new regime.
We cannot reveal our sources, but we have verified our conclusions with an independent auditor, Sizdah Bedar. He estimates these measures, and even more, will be needed to keep rates bills near to current levels.
He points out that these new rules and regulations will take effect at noon on Saturday, October 9 — the minute the polls close on the first election under the new council.
Homeowners, bus users, sports clubs and recreational fishers are just some of the targets of the new revenue-generating bodies.
We can reveal:
Civic Amenities such as libraries and swimming pools have been ordered to identify and action new opportunities to raise revenue. Both are likely to section off most areas of their premises for clients willing to pay premium fees.
Sports clubs playing on council-owned grounds will be required to adopt the names of the new wards and local bodies, or pay market rents for their pitches.
Some historic names will disappear from the Auckland sports scene — Howick-Pakuranga hockey club will become "Te Irirangi Hockey Club" and Ponsonby rugby club will be known as "Maungawhau-Hauraki RFC".
Eastern Suburbs soccer club will have to adopt the unwieldy monicker of "Orakei-Maungakieie AFC" or lose any community grants for encouraging young footballers.
Perhaps the most controversial recommendations cover newly privatised cemeteries, under the Property Holdings wing. Our sources reveal that, under OSH regulations, the numbers of mourners will be strictly limited at graveside services.
Cemetery car parks will become pay-and-display areas, and gates installed so customers - previously known as "family" or "friends" - can be charged for visits during out-of-office hours, such as Saturday and Sunday afternoons.
The new Transport agency will be able to fine people who smoke in bus shelters. It can also fine people who get on buses without having the right ticket or change ready.
Drivers with bus companies such as Metrolink, Howick & Eastern or Birkenhead Transport will be empowered to refuse to carry passengers with body odour or bad breath.
The Waterfront agency will be required to convert all harbourside residential properties into licensed venues in time for the 2011 Rugby World Cup, in order to extend the Prime Minister's pet project, "Party Central", from St Mary's Bay to Mechanic's Bay. St Stephen's Ave in Parnell, Mr Key's street, is specifically exempted.
All kerbing and and channelling in the CBD will be removed to allow easier access for street sweeping between the all-night carnivals.
Watercare — considered the blueprint for the other CCOs — lists its priority as "refining high-quality water from the Waitakere Ranges, Lake Pupuke and Western Springs for export". It claims this will raise revenue and subsidise Auckland's domestic supply. However, local households will be fined for "water crimes" such as leaving the tap running while people brush their teeth.
Under special legislation, timetabled to be produced in Parliament before noon today, the Council Investment agency will be entitled to print its own currency.
In addition, it will be registered as a real estate agency and instructed to recruit the best agents in the country.
The Economic Development arm has shortlisted the marine industries as a priority for the region.
To protect the kaimoana industry, recreational fishing will be restricted to unmotorised craft within the council's harbours and bays — which covers both coasts from Te Arai Point to the Firth of Thames, and the Manukau and Kaipara Harbours.
Says Mr Bedar, "Some Aucklanders may be surprised at the extent of the intrusions that the Government, and its agents, are claiming under the guise of reforming local councils.
"It is also fair to point out that all the community spokespeople — including media such as The Aucklander, the NZ Herald, and smaller suburban newspapers — have voiced their concerns about the process of reforming local government and removing everyday people's voices from the equation.
"However, the Government continues to ride high in the polls. An independent observer can only assume that Aucklanders don't care what's going to happen, or they're happy to accept whatever John Key and Rodney Hide and Steven Joyce say is good for them."