Modern democracies work best when there is a balance between the role of democratically-elected representatives and direct participation in the development of policies by citizens

The media, and the opposition, always like to portray it is a 'back-down' if elected representatives change a policy proposal as a result of consultation. It's the media's job to make stories interesting, and the opposition's job to oppose, so I don't hold it against them. But I do think it is important to recognise the benefit that participation brings to the process of developing any policy.

The select committee system allows citizens to talk directly to some of those who will take the final decisions on important matters. It does not replace the responsibility of elected representatives to make the final decisions, but provides them with good information about the risks and benefits the people see in their proposals.

A Royal Commission is another way of providing for public participation in developing policies - but again, it would be wrong of elected representatives to put aside their responsibility to make up their own minds and just take recommendations from a Royal Commission as a 'done deal', and implement them without further thought.

I hope there will be lots of media attention to the Select Committee on Auckland Governance over the weeks ahead. I hope, also, that teachers will find time in their busy schedules to relate what is happening to the curriculum. Aucklanders are seeing history being made, and participating in it.

I am pleased with the quality of the submissions. We have received approximately 2450 and of these about 1100 are form submissions. There are around 780 oral submissions to be heard by the select committee and 670 written submissions.

A Maori sub-committee of the Auckland Governance Legislation select committee will take hearings to marae across the city. The whole select committee will sit in the north, west and south of the region and on Waiheke, with a smaller sub-committee going to Great Barrier Island.

This has been an exciting process with good positive public participation through the public meetings and submissions process. There will be more public consultation through the next stages of the bill process as we work together to make Auckland an even more super city.

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.

It's great to see consensus is building for a unified Auckland.

The newspaper headlines in recent days are reflecting what I'm hearing in the many public meetings I've been holding throughout the city to discuss plans for a single region-wide council that has the ability to get things done.

"If ever the case for a single city was clinched it was last week on Queens Wharf," said the Herald. "Such a fragmented approach to developing the waterfront is a strong argument for the Super City. At the very least, there would be fewer heads to bang together," wrote columnist Bernard Orsman.

And their comments are now being echoed by most of the region's mayors.

Waitakere's Bob Harvey said his vision was " to unify the interests of New Zealand with the interests of Auckland into a single commercial, environmental and political approach to face the world," while Manukau's Len Brown says he wants to see a city "where we work towards common goals that will ensure Auckland moves forward economically and socially". ARC chairman Mike Lee calls for “more democracy, less bureaucracy”.

And it's hard not to agree with them.

Indeed, after initial political posturing, even the Labour opposition is swinging in behind the vision for a unified Auckland, which can capitalise on opportunities and act quickly on issues of regional import.

It was also good to see a Greens spokesperson making the very strong point that conservation objectives are likely to be better achieved by a unitary authority. This is the sort of contribution that could be supported by a submission outlining how that can be the case. As chairman of the select committee considering the case for change in Auckland I certainly hope we see useful submissions from individuals and groups right across the community.

The proposals that the Government has on the table are up for discussion. What has become clear, is that communities want their unique identities protected, they want local representation that reflects their diverse needs.

That is precisely what the Government wants, and that is why we are listening to Auckland. It's why we welcome the efforts of groups helping people prepare submissions and get their voices heard by the special select committee considering local government reform in Auckland.

I'm heartened by the thoughtful contributions I'm getting from communities and interested ratepayers, and delighted by the constructive approach that we're beginning to see.

The Queens Wharf announcement is an example of what communities, local authorities, and central Government can do when they work together. 

Long may it continue.

Auckland is set for the change it desperately needs to compete as a world-class city.

The Royal Commission called for a united city with one council. That is now in train to be achieved in time for the local government elections in November 2011.

As recommended by the Royal Commission, the Government has created the Auckland Council as a legal entity and established the Auckland Transitional Agency.

We have set up a select committee so you can have your say about the Auckland Council and the local boards. The committee will call for public submissions and hold two series of hearings: one on the make-up of the Council and boards, and the other on their powers.

This will give you two opportunities to have your say on top of the ongoing programme of public meetings being held across the city. Your submissions will help define the role of the 20 to 30 local boards, so it is worthwhile making submissions that address what you want your local council to do for you.

The local councils will have funding for local activities, and, unlike the current community boards, aspects of their role will be supported by legislation rather than wholly delegated as they are at present.

The Auckland Transition Agency (ATA) will work with the existing councils through the changes. The Agency will deal with the day-to-day issues like managing the transition of employees, appointing key staff, and setting up offices.  As the Bills go through Select Committee the Agency will be listening closely to what Aucklanders want. The goal is to help ensure Auckland continues to grow and develop as smoothly and seamlessly as possible.

The ATA will not affect the work of your existing councils through the transition stage. The ATA, and the Ministers responsible for local government,  would only become involved if a council wants to spend large sums of money on projects outside its existing planning and budgeting.

Otherwise, your local government service delivery will roll out business as usual, and in 2011 you will elect 20 councillors to the Auckland City Council and the members to your local boards once there makeup is decided. Your submissions, made now, will help decide what your local board looks like and what it does.

The following are the main contact points for more information on the change Auckland is now undergoing:

Department of Internal Affairs information: www.auckland.govt.nz
National: www.national.org.nz/auckland

How to make a submission: http://www.parliament.nz/NR/rdonlyres/ACB8A16D-D905-416C-AE98-A6BFB07E34B5/103484/makingasubmission2007_1.pdf

Re Auckland Bills: http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/SC/MakeSub/9/8/6/49SCAGL_SCF_00DBHOH_BILL9146_1-Local-Government-Auckland-Council-Bill.htm