KEY POINTS:
A push to secure funding for some of Auckland's best-known rescue and cultural amenities looks certain to clear its first hurdle, after the National Party decided to back legislation to a parliamentary select committee.
The Auckland Regional Amenities Funding Bill proposes to levy each local council in the region so that they all contribute money to a chosen group of 11 organisations - including the Auckland Philharmonia, the Auckland Regional Rescue Helicopter Trust, the Auckland Theatre Company and the Coastguard Northern Region.
There is concern the move could push up rates because the amount of money expected to be taken from councils - $12.7 million in the first year, rising to $19 million in year three - is higher than the $5 million received now.
But backers of the bill argue it would lead to a fairer and more secure system of funding, allowing organisations to focus on improving what they do, to the benefit of residents and visitors to the region.
Auckland Issues Minister Judith Tizard is preparing to introduce to Parliament a private bill to enable the new funding system, but the level of political support for it has been murky until now.
The National Party had refused to express support for the bill, but at yesterday's caucus meeting it changed its tune and decided to vote for the legislation at its first reading on September 19.
The party's spokesman for Auckland issues, Wayne Mapp, said support was being given to get the bill to a select committee because there was a need to discuss the issue more broadly.
"The emergency services, by every opinion poll conducted, have huge support and are widely used by everyone in the region," Dr Mapp said.
"Also, many of my colleagues are supporting some of the key cultural ones as well."
He said National was not sure if the funding issue would be addressed in the terms of reference for the upcoming Royal Commission into Auckland's Governance, but hoped it would be.
In the meantime the party recognised that a funding issue remained and there was a need for an interim solution - although National was concerned about the potential impact on rates and would be looking at that "very carefully", Dr Mapp said.
National's support, with Labour's, clearly gives the bill enough backing for it to be sent to a select committee.
Ms Tizard was last night pleased to hear of National's decision to vote for the bill.
Asked if she was worried about a rise in rates, the minister said she had "deep sympathy", particularly for people on fixed incomes.
The bill is modelled on the levy used since 2000 to support Motat and the Auckland War Memorial Museum, approved by Parliament despite local council hostility.
The legislation would create a board that could levy the councils annually and then disperse the money to the amenities, which need to put forward yearly applications.
One of the driving principles behind the bill is the fairness of levying all councils for services and facilities used by people from throughout the Auckland region.
At the moment the Auckland City Council provides most of the funding received by the organisations, even though people from outside its rating area use the services and facilities.
The founder of nomorerates.com, David Thornton, said the bill could be dangerous because other amenities could be added to the list.
"What do you classify as a regional facility? I don't have a problem with paying for things like surf lifesaving, for instance, but are people in the suburbs going to want to pay for the Vector Arena? It could easily get added.
"Ratepayers, I think, in future will look closer at what councils are doing with their money. I hope no council agrees to this until they talk to the ratepayers first."
The beneficiaries
* Auckland Observatory and Planetarium Trust Board.
* Auckland Philharmonia.
* Auckland Regional Rescue Helicopter Trust.
* Auckland Theatre Company.
* Coastguard Northern Region.
* New Zealand National Maritime Museum Trust Board.
* New Zealand Opera.
* Surf Life Saving Northern Region.
* The Auckland Festival Trust.
* WaterSafe Auckland.
* Auckland Zoo (not yet confirmed).
- additional reporting: Alanah May Eriksen
