Editorial: Knowledge makes hard choice easier

DigiPoll, the company that conducts opinion polls for the Herald, notices something interesting when the subject turns to the local body elections. It finds that people respond more readily to questions on local government than they usually do to issues of national politics. The reason, no doubt, is that local government has a more tangible impact on the lives of most of us.

Local government maintains the streets and parks, collects the rubbish, provides piped water and disposes of the effluent, regulates land use, enforces building codes, drains rainwater, picks up stray dogs, arranges public transport and provides myriad other services, either directly or through contractors. The impact of national decisions are seldom as immediate and visible.

It is a wonder, therefore, that local elections do not attract the turnout that parliamentary elections do, despite the greater convenience of postal voting. Seventy eight per cent of those in the poll we published yesterday said they intended to vote over the next three weeks. On past performance, maybe 48 per cent will do so. Many obviously do not get around to the task, despite having the best of intentions.

Others, faced with a selection of little-known candidates and nothing much to distinguish them, will find the task too hard. It is unfortunate that local body politics has not developed a method of labelling candidates' slates in a way that conveys their political character. New Zealanders have shown plainly enough that they do not welcome political parties in local elections, but they are presented with tickets and teams that are frequently party members in disguise.

Lucky localities have a big issue to distinguish the candidates, but there seem to be few of those around this year. Britomart, the multi-level public transport terminal that brought down an Auckland mayor at the previous election, is in the background this time. Mayor Christine Fletcher, who came in on a promise to "rethink" the scheme, has proposed a replacement. It is to be the hub of a municipal railway that all incumbent mayors and councils of Auckland support.

Mrs Fletcher's challenger this time, John Banks, presents a smart choice, in personality and priorities. The combative Mr Banks puts motorways before railways, buses before trains, promises to crack down on bad behaviour in Queen St, reduce business rates to household levels and sell council carparks and airport shares. Mrs Fletcher in response, emphasises her "collaborative" style and the progress she and others are making on the region's planning and public transport.

In Auckland's other cities, incumbent mayors Sir Barry Curtis (Manukau), Bob Harvey (Waitakere) and George Wood (North Shore) appear certain to return, although Mr Wood must defy tradition to do so. North Shore voters have never re-elected a mayor in the city's short history, and Mr Wood faces a capable challenge from a Devonport Green, Joel Cayford.

Mayoral elections are the most visible of local body contests but by no means the most important. Many a mayor is a figurehead for a council led by lesser-known team members. That is particularly so of "celebrity" mayors who have not risen from council ranks. Voters should pay far more attention to the composition of the councils and the calibre of those likely to dominate them.

Voters might also keep in mind this time that councils are about to acquire wider powers. Legislation before Parliament will give them more discretion in the services and functions they can take on. It is not quite the blank cheque, "power of general competence" that councils have long desired, but it may not be far short of it. So take particular notice of economic, social and cultural visions advanced at your expense this time.

Local body elections are never easy for the conscientious voter. Candidates usually avoid controversy and offer the most anodyne portrayals of themselves and their views. It is important to vote, but it is more important to know who and what you are choosing. Those not prepared to inform themselves should not feel obliged to cast a vote. Take care.

Feature: Local body elections 2001

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