Auckland Regional Amenities Funding Bill

I move, That the Auckland Regional Amenities Funding Bill be now read a first time. I am delighted, for the second time in my parliamentary career, to introduce a private bill on behalf of a group of far-thinking and public-spirited Aucklanders—and, in this case, on behalf of a group of organisations—that will be of enormous benefit to all Aucklanders, and, I truly believe, to New Zealand. As a new member for Auckland Central in 1996, one of the first calls I received was from Mr Grant Kirby, the acting manager of MOTAT, Auckland’s Museum of Transport and Technology. Mr Kirby, along with the then councillor Bruce Hucker, who was the chair of that trust board, asked me to introduce a private bill on their behalf so that the Museum of Transport and Technology, which is undoubtedly a museum of enormous benefit to all Aucklanders—and, as I say, to New Zealand—could get regional funding.

I am delighted that that bill, after a great deal of work and consideration, was the first bill passed by the Labour-led Government in the year 2000. Indeed, it was the first bill passed by this Government, after the ignominious defeat of the then National Government. I am absolutely delighted, on behalf of a group of Auckland organisations that includes the Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust, Surf Life Saving Northern Region, WaterSafe Auckland, the New Zealand National Maritime Museum, the Stardome Observatory and Planetarium, the Auckland Festival Trust, the National Opera of New Zealand, the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra, and the Auckland Theatre Company, to introduce a bill that is modelled in many respects on that Museum of Transport and Technology legislation.

Just to reassure members, I will read a little from the 2005-06 annual report of that museum. The chairman of an enormous group of volunteers and enthusiasts, Peter Drummond, said: “I would also like to acknowledge the continuing support and encouragement given by the Auckland territorial local authorities to MOTAT, not only for their vital financial contribution but also for their genuine interest and the support shown by elected Councillors, council officers and staff.” The general manager went on to say: “The museum continues to gratefully receive the support of the members of the TLA Electoral College and the councillors and officers of the contributing Auckland local authorities without which most of the progress over the last five years would not have been possible”.

I assure members of the House that the Museum of Transport and Technology is now regionally funded, to the great acclaim of Aucklanders. Its ability to provide facilities around the astonishing collection of Auckland’s transport and technology heritage has been developed in all sorts of ways, to the benefit of all of our children and, indeed, for the generations that are not yet born.

The bill that has been brought together, which has a website called www.together.org.nz—with the heading: “Creating a better Auckland for everyone” on its home page—has similar support from the extensive survey that has been done of many Aucklanders. Ninety-five percent of Aucklanders see benefits in the Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust to Aucklanders with special interests, and to most Aucklanders; 97 percent support the Auckland Zoo, which is not included in this legislation but I hope one day will be; 93 percent support Surf Life Saving Northern Region; 75 percent support WaterSafe Auckland; 92 percent support the New Zealand National Maritime Museum; 91 percent support the Stardome Observatory and Planetarium; 83 percent support the Auckland Festival; 90 percent support the National Opera of New Zealand; 90 percent support the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra; and 92 percent support the Auckland Theatre Company.

This legislation, I believe, is an extension of the partnership philosophy that this Government said was the only way that central government, local government, communities, and businesses could work for the well-being of New Zealand. This legislation is the result of the challenges I have put to Auckland as Associate Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage. I have constantly been told by Aucklanders that taxpayers should fund the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra—a wonderful orchestra, an absolutely marvellous orchestra, which contributes an enormous amount to the Auckland region.

My challenge to Auckland—and to every area in New Zealand—is to ask why taxpayers should support local and regional facilities, when in many cases our local councils are absolutely niggardly in their response. I have to extract one local council in Auckland from that accusation and say that the Auckland City Council has routinely and generously supported regional institutions, for an awfully long time. I want to assure the House, again, that the Auckland City Council does not see this legislation, which it has supported and will support, as a way of paying less. Indeed, the Auckland City Council is making a commitment to pay more.

The shape and form of Auckland is changing. Auckland is New Zealand’s major international city, and we are seeing massive population increases coming very quickly. For example, in the 1996 census fewer than 2,000 people were living in the central business district, whereas in the last census more than 29,000 people were living there. One of my challenges to Auckland City and the Auckland region is to ask how we are going to change the recreational opportunities and the open-space opportunities. Where are those opportunities for kids who grow up in the central business district, whether they are from Auckland City, Waitakere City, or North Shore City? As sure as change will happen, the changes we are seeing in Auckland City will be replicated around other cities in Auckland. I will be fascinated to see how those cities and how the Auckland region are going to change the way we have traditionally provided opportunities for physical recreation, for mental recreation, and for community engagement.

I am very proud that Auckland is leading the charge in this area. I am very proud to see that the contribution that the Government is making has inspired those organisations to look at what partnership really means.

This legislation, which should go, at the appropriate time, to the Local Government and Environment Committee, will be controversial. But I do not believe that this House has the right to steer away from controversy just because legislation will be unpopular with some of our residents. I have heard from people who are vehemently against this legislation, and I have heard from many, many more who are vehemently in favour of it.

I thank other parties in this House that have indicated their support, particularly the very vocal member opposite, and I thank the National Party for finally coming to the party—very grumpily and with lots of arms being twisted up backs, but it is very nice to see. I particularly want to thank Brian Donnelly from New Zealand First, and the Green Party. Many other people in this House have said that this is legislation that they would actually like to see in their regions. I have received that comment from National Party members as well as from other members.

The Auckland Regional Amenities Funding Bill, I believe, is the second bill in the wave of legislation that is showing communities standing up for themselves, and asking that we provide clear regional opportunities and education. As some of the inspiring visionaries in Secondary Futures have pointed out, not all education in the future will necessarily take place in schools or tertiary institutions. Places like the Museum of Transport and Technology and the Auckland War Memorial Museum clearly show that there are enormous opportunities to create the next generation of creative thinkers—people who are able to solve problems and who will be able to take New Zealand economically, socially, culturally, and environmentally into a better future. Those people need these facilities now.

I am really proud that these organisations have said: “Let’s help ourselves first.” There is an enormous volunteer contribution. A recent Statistics New Zealand report estimated that throughout the country volunteers give over 270 million hours of unpaid labour, which is worth some $3.5 billion. It is time that local government, with its purposes of regional economic, social, environmental, and cultural well-being, made sure that it provided the services that a modern international city and region needs. I commend this bill to the House.

Debate interrupted.