He said National had opposed legislation passed by the previous Labour government which resulted in referendums not being required to introduce Māori wards. (That legislation allowed for a petition signed by 5% of ratepayers to force a public referendum on Māori wards after a council decided to introduce them.)
Luxon said their coalition partners held similar views.
“All we are doing is returning that decision back to local communities and local democracies. That’s all we are doing. If people decide to have a Māori ward - brilliant, absolutely fantastic.
“We are not against Māori wards.”
Gisborne District Council estimates its referendum will cost $7000 plus GST, while in comparison, Wellington City Council’s estimate is $350,000.
Asked about that unbudgeted cost, Luxon again reiterated the Government’s position was one of “a big principle about democracy”.
It was a matter of local democracy rather than mandating from Wellington, he said.
Some councils have criticised the Government for “overreach”.
Luxon said his criticism of local government spending was serious. Too many councils “mucked around with stuff” that was not important.
Asked about Gisborne’s healthcare situation of having no after-hours services, little opportunity for new enrolments and hospital doctors and GPs speaking of long-term chronic underfunding, Luxon referred to the Budget.
The Government had put an unprecedented $17 billion into healthcare - a record investment, he said.
“It was a big effort for us to put $16b into health additionally. That is fantastic.”
The Government was moving funding out of the bureaucracy and into “the front line”, he said.
The workforce was facing major challenges, but the Government had acquired 2900 extra nurses and there were now more nurses in the country than ever.
Another challenge was to get nurses into provincial New Zealand, mental health and other areas, he said.
Healthcare in New Zealand was complex with long-standing issues and challenges.
“We’ve put a lot of money into health funding - it’s not a funding problem. We’ve got to get the funding right. We’ve got to get the workforce right. We’ve got to get very clear health targets, and Health NZ has been an appalling performing organisation.”
Appointing a commissioner to run Health NZ for 12 months was not “a light step”, he said.
Luxon was asked whether changes to the National Environmental Standard for Commercial Forestry (NES-CF) would achieve a balance between economic and environment factors as it seemed councils would not have such stringent regulatory power.
The Prime Minister said there had been many forestry reviews and talking, but no action.
The aim was to ensure forestry companies did not just “commercialise the benefits and socialise the cost”.
Companies had a responsibility to step up and have good operating practices.
Central government and local government had “to get it together to work out the regime” to manage commercial forestry.
“It’s about balancing all of those pieces.”
Luxon said the Government had put $500 million into cyclone recovery in Tairāwhiti, with another “almost” $500m for state highways and local roads.
The role of the Government was to ensure there were resources, money, expertise and capacity to allow Gisborne District Council to deliver recovery.
“We always want things done quicker and better. I know there is still frustration in the community.”
Luxon said Toitū Tairāwhiti was a great example of iwi, Government and business coming together as one under Builtsmart to provide warm, affordable homes for those in need.
The Government’s job was to remove red tape, open up land and allow houses to be built more quickly, he said.
