John MacDonald: The Govt.'s into local decision-making - when it suits

The Government’s been making it increasingly clear over time that it doesn’t really give two-hoots about local democracy.  

But, in the last 24 hours, it’s gone next level.  

First up, we’ve got housing minister Chris Bishop, who announced yesterday that he’s going to be given special powers to ride roughshod over council plans if he doesn’t like them.

Essentially, if he thinks a council has a district plan that doesn’t support economic growth and development, or won't do anything to create jobs, then he can come in over the top and say “nah nah nah, you’re not doing that.” 

In fact, from what I’ve been reading, it seems any government minister is going to be able to modify or remove aspects of council plans that they don’t agree with.

Talk about big brother.

But that’s not all.

Chris Bishop also got himself involved in a spat with the Christchurch City Council, saying that the council’s failed attempt to push back on the Government’s housing intensification rules was “nuts”.

He’s saying: “It is an inarguable, and sometimes uncomfortable, fact that local government has been one of the largest barriers to housing growth in New Zealand."

Going on to say: “Christchurch City Council just outright defied its legal obligations.”Signing off with the accusation that the council was “nuts” if it thought it could get away with not doing what the Government wanted it to do. 

Now, even though I didn't have a problem with Chris Bishop declining the council’s request for Christchurch to be treated as a special case and not have to go along with the Government’s housing intensification policy, I think he needs to rein it in a bit. 

But this attack on local democracy doesn’t stop with Chris Bishop. 

Shane Jones is at it, as well. Saying in a speech to local government leaders that regional councils have had their day and he wants to get rid of them. 

“What is the point of regional government?” That's what he said when he stood up at the lectern in Wellington last night.

He seems to think that, with all the changes the Government is making to the Resource Management Act, we won't need regional councils anymore.

Saying: “There is less and less of a justifiable purpose for maintaining regional government.”

Which I do kind of get. Because I know a few people in local government and I have asked them recently where they see the likes of Environment Canterbury going if the Government is going to give the resource management act the heave-ho.

Because that’s what regional councils were set up to do in the first place. To implement the Resource Management Act. There have been a few add ons since then - like running bus services.

And I’ve long been a fan of local government amalgamation. But for a government minister like Shane Jones to stand up and give a speech to local government people and tell them that he wants to ditrch regional councils - that is arrogant.

Just like this plan to let ministers interfere in council plans if they don't like what they see. That’s arrogant too.

But it’s more than just arrogance. It’s an attack on local democracy.

Which, apparently, is something the government values.

When it suits, it would seem. Because, when he was announcing these new powers - which are going to be in force until all the changes to the Resource Management Act have gone through - he admitted it was a significant step. 

"But the RMA’s devolution of ultimate power to local authorities just has not worked.”

Which is code for saying: "Even though we say we’re all into local decision-making, we’re only into it when it suits Wellington". 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Canterbury Mornings podcast with John McDonald
from Newstalk ZB.

Speaker 2 (00:12):
I reckon the government, Well, I think you will as well.
It's been making it increasingly clear over time that it
doesn't really give two hoots about local democracy, and in
the last twenty four hours it's gone next level, absolutely
next level, and I think the government needs to pull
its head in. And I gather Phil Major's going to

(00:33):
tell us certain hour's time that the government's got a
fight on its hands. I think he thinks the government
needs to pull its head in as well. And why
is that? Or for a couple of reasons. First up,
we've got Housing Minister Chris Bishop, who announced yesterday that
he's going to be given special powers to ride roughshot

(00:54):
over council plans if he doesn't like them, district plans,
whatever plans. If he doesn't like them, he can step in. Essentially,
if he thinks a council has a plan that doesn't
support economic growth and development, or it has a plan
that won't do anything to create jobs, then he can
come in over the top and say no, no, no,
no no, you're not going to do that. No, no, no,
none of that nonsense. In fact, from what I've been

(01:17):
reading this morning, it seems any government minister is going
to be able to modify or remove aspects of council
plans that they don't agree with. Talk about big brother.
That's not all Chris Bishop. He's got himself into a
spat with the City Council overnight, saying that the council's

(01:38):
failed attempt to push back on the government's housing intensification
rules was quote nuts. He said it was nuts. He
sounded like amazinging He's saying, quote it is an inarguable,
inarguable and sometimes uncomfortable fact that local government has been
one of the largest barriers to housing growth in New Zealand,

(01:59):
going on to say, quote Croatia City Council just outright
defied its legal obligations. Signed off with the accusation that
the council was nuts if it thought it was going
to get away with not doing what the government wanted
it to do. A table thumping. Even though I didn't
have a problem with Chris Bishop declining that request for

(02:20):
christ Church to be treated as a special case and
not to have to go along with the government's housing
intensification policy, even though I thought I thought Chris I
said last week. Remember I thought Chris Bishop he'd made
the right decision. Nevertheless, I think he needs to pull
his head in a bit. But this attack on local democracy,
because this is what it is, This attack on local
democracy doesn't stop with Chris Bishop. Shane Jones. He's added

(02:43):
as well, saying in a speech to local government leaders
last night that regional councils have had their day and
he wants to get rid of them. What is the
point of local regional government? He said when he stood
up at the lectern in Wellington last night. He seems
to think that with all the changes the government's making
to the Resource Management Act, we're not going to need

(03:05):
regional councils like I can anymore, saying there is less
and less of a justifiable purpose for maintaining regional government. Lordie,
I do can't get that, because I know a few
people in local government and if asked them recently, where
they see the likes of ECAN going. If the government
is going to give the Resource Management Act the hepo

(03:25):
because that's what regional councils will set up to do
in the first place. Went there to enforce the Resource
and Management Act There have been a few oud on
since then, like running bus services. And look, I've been
a longtime fan, long term fan of local government amalgamation.
If you listen regularly, you'll know that I've always advocated
for christ Church, Selwyn and WEIMARKEREDI to become one organization.

(03:47):
But for a government minister like Shane Jones to stand
up and give a speech to local government people and
tell them that he wants to ditch regional councils, well,
that is nothing short of arrogant. Just like this plan
to let ministers like Chris Bishop interfare in council plans
and district plans or whatever plans, interfere in them if
he doesn't like what he sees, that's arrogant as well.

(04:10):
But it's more than just arrogance. It's an attack on
local democracy, which is apparently something the government values when
it suits. It would seem because when he was announcing
these new powers yesterday which are going to be enforced
until all the changes to the Resource Management Act have
gone through. When Chris Bishop was announcing these new powers yesterday,

(04:33):
he said, quote, we know this is a significant step,
but the rima's devolution of ultimate power to local authorities
just has not worked. End of quote, which is code
for do you know what that's code for. It's code
for saying, even though we say we're all into local
decision making, we're only into it when it suits us.

(04:53):
And in fact I'm going to go further. This isn't
just an attack on local democracy. This smells like a
government dictatorship to me.

Speaker 1 (05:01):
For more from Canterbory Mornings with John McDonald, listen live
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