Holding public meetings across Auckland, listening to concerns and aspirations for the new united council and answering questions has been, for the most part, very enjoyable.

It is widely accepted that the best way to tackle the problems and lay a foundation for the future for the greater Auckland region is to put a united council in place.

At a meeting at Takapuna the North Shore Mayor Andrew Williams told me he and three other mayors had combined to make a detailed submission on how they felt the city should be structured. They had also encouraged other groups and individuals to make submissions.

That was exactly the response we hoped for. It reflects the growing consensus that I have seen emerging at each meeting as people consider how they want to participate in shaping this new united council.

That unitary authority will deal with regional issues – make sure water comes out the pipes where it should, sewerage works properly, transport flows better than it is at present – the main aspects of service delivery people expect of their local authority.

To empower the diverse communities of this great city further there will be a number of local boards. The process is moving along. The first Bill created the platform for the reorganisation and was enacted on May 14. The second Bill, with your submissions helping to shape it, will give the democratic structure to the new council and the boards. It will also give a stronger outline to the responsibilities you want your boards to have in your community. Submissions to that have now closed and I will be taking the select committee to various locations around Auckland to hear those submissions.

The select committee will report to Parliament on September 4. The Local Government Commission, with your submissions also helping them, will determine the boundaries for the new united council and the boards. There will be targeted consultation in this process and it will be in place, with your help, by April 2010.

The third Bill will also attract your submissions through the end of this year and into 2010. The select committee will again consider your submissions – this time on exactly what you want the council and the boards to do, and report to Government by no later than April 2010.

The new structure will be in place for local government elections in October 2010. Achieving a unified structure to govern Auckland has been talked about for almost 100 years. Let’s get on with it.

Associate Local Government Minister John Carter says he is pleased four of Auckland’s mayors have worked together on a detailed submission to the select committee on Auckland governance.

North Shore mayor Andrew Williams told Mr Carter at a public meeting at Takapuna last week that he and three other mayors had prepared a plan for how they think the city should be shaped under the unitary merger now in train.

“This is great. Four mayors from across the spectrum have worked together to produce their concerted submission on Auckland governance,” Mr Carter said.

“They are all encouraging submissions from their communities as well. This is exactly the type of input we hoped for within the democratic process for uniting Auckland. I’m happy with that,” Mr Carter said.

He said first stage submissions close on June 26 and the select committee would be sitting from July 6 to consider the submissions.

“Get them in. They can be as simple as a single point about what you consider important for your own area, or as complex and detailed as the approach taken by the four mayors,” he said.

More than one million Australian tourists visited New Zealand in the past year and Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, John Key says that proves the wisdom of recent Government investment into the Australian market.

Statistics New Zealand figures released today show that 1,001,880 visitors arrived from Australia in the year to May, the first time more than a million visitors arrived from Australia in a 12 month period.

“Our decision in March to boost marketing in Australia by $2.5 million was based on very sound principles. In tough economic times the New Zealand market is still very accessible to Australians wanting to holiday, and we recognised the need to take advantage of that.”

Since the 100% New Zealand Pure campaign started 10 years ago the number of Australian visitors has almost doubled.

“Tourism New Zealand has seen increased awareness of New Zealand in Australia in recent months and highly competitive airfares, good seat capacity, and a favourable exchange rate are all working in our favour."

Tourism New Zealand today launched a promotional campaign to celebrate the one millionth visitor. The ‘Thanks a Million’ campaign will see two people win a millionaire’s holiday to New Zealand.

“The one millionth Australian visitor is a major milestone for the New Zealand tourism industry and a great achievement given the challenges being faced at the moment.”

Check out and comment on my latest video diary here on YouTube.

ALL BLACKS V FRANCE

It was great to see so many school rugby captains – girls and boys – from secondary schools around Wellington at the parliamentary reception for the French team and the All Blacks on Monday.

I think they were almost as excited as I was about meeting the All Black and French Captains (see photo) and so many international rugby players.

Watch and comment on video from the event here.

WARMING UP NEW ZEALAND

I was in Christchurch yesterday to help launch the Government’s home heating and insulation scheme “Warming up New Zealand: Heat Smart”. The scheme will provide grants of up to $1800 for houses built before 2000 that need ceiling and under-floor insulation or a clean-heating device. More than 180,000 homes will have access to these grants regardless of household income.

I’m really proud of this scheme. It will help warm and dry the homes of up to 500,000 New Zealanders, reduce the risks to health that come with cold and damp houses, boost energy efficiency, and grow jobs for people who produce and install insulation and clean heating.

I’m also really pleased that all the main trading banks have agreed to join the scheme. They have waived their fees for top-up loans that homeowners can get as part of insulation retrofits.

Get more information on the scheme here.
Watch the launch of the scheme here.

SECURING QUEEN’S WHARF FOR THE RUGBY WORLD CUP

On Tuesday I announced that the Government and Auckland Regional Council have put up $20 million each to buy Queen’s Wharf in Auckland. Queens Wharf will be a superb cornerstone asset in the development of the Auckland waterfront.

By buying this site we have secured the wharf long after the Rugby World Cup has finished so that it will give pleasure to visitors and locals for generations to come.

The challenge now is to Auckland’s city leaders. They must move swiftly to start an infrastructure programme that transforms the wharf into a world-class waterfront attraction as party central for the Rugby World Cup, and as a high-quality international cruise ship terminal for Auckland and New Zealand.

THE SOUTH ISLAND FORUM

Last week The Press newspaper hosted the Prime Minister’s South Island Forum. This was a great chance to talk about our progress in government.

I summed up at the end of the forum by explaining that governments get elected to concentrate on what actually matters to people.

My perception is that when you go down to the polling booth, you vote on whether the economy is going to be managed properly, whether your communities are safe, whether your kids have got an opportunity, whether we have a health system that really works, and whether you feel like we're actually going in the right direction. And all the other stuff is just white noise that bubbles along.

And what I say to the cabinet and the caucus on a regular basis is – for as long as we stay focused on the issues that matter to New Zealanders, and we come up with solutions, and we're honest with them, we'll enjoy their support.

The simplest, fastest way to get thrown out is to forget why you were put there. We were put there to make New Zealand a better place. That's going to be my intention. And that's what I'm going to deliver.

Watch the first video from the forum here.
Find the rest of the videos from the forum here.

LISTENING TO OUR RURAL COMMUNITIES

I had a great day at Fieldays in Mystery Creek last week catching up with people from across the agricultural industry and talking about the Government’s $190 million investment in the Primary Growth Partnership.

Did I see you there? Check out my photos from the day here.

Best wishes,

John Key
Follow me on Twitter here www.twitter.com/johnkeypm