Act pushing sell-off of assets, say residents

A new wave of Rogernomics by the Act Party will lead to the privatisation of Auckland assets under the Super City, MPs heard yesterday.

Grey Power Auckland publicity officer Margaret Bijl said the third and final piece of Super City legislation was being foisted on Aucklanders at speed to make way for the privatisation of $28 billion worth of assets.

"It is a politically motivated mindset, Rogernomics part two brought in by a party (Act) with less than 5 per cent support of the electorate," she said.

Concerns about the privatisation of Auckland assets, including shares in Auckland Airport, Ports of Auckland and water assets, has been raised by many submitters to the Auckland governance select committee at public hearings this week.

It has also led to tension among MPs on the select committee. Labour's Phil Twyford has repeatedly raised the repeal of the law requiring a referendum for the sale of Ports of Auckland shares, while committee chairman and Associate Local Government Minister John Carter has stated no Auckland assets can be sold by the new Auckland Council without public consultation.

The Local Government (Auckland Law Reform) Bill prohibits the sale of assets before July 2012.

Debbie Hager, of Woodlands Park in West Auckland, said the Super City process was undemocratic and designed to put the control of Auckland's public assets into private ownership for the few.

Not only did she want Auckland to hold and control public assets, such as water, ports and the airport, but also the Waitakere Ranges, which many West Aucklanders have said could shift from Auckland to Crown control under a clause in the third bill.

Patrisha O'Sullivan said the bill was scary and pointed to an amassing of power and control to a smaller number of people.

"It has been said that water is the gold of the future. Whoever has control of water, has control of the purse strings of the economy.

"The flabby proposals around Watercare, transportation and the harbour are transparently pointing to future privatisation," she said.

Nadine McDonnell said she was passionately opposed to the third bill, saying it was undemocratic and aimed at privatisation and asset stripping.

On Tuesday, Auckland City councillor Graeme Easte said there were also plans to allow the Auckland Council and council-controlled organisations to enter into long-term contracts with private companies to operate services for up to 35 years, which amounted to privatisation.