Several Auckland councillors oppose the Government's plan to remove the four well-beings.
Photo/Auckland Council/RNZ
Alf Filipaina says ‘this Government doesn’t care about social issues’ and warns the reforms could harm Māori, Pasifika, and vulnerable communities.
The removal of social, economic, environmental and cultural well-being considerations in council decisions has surprised and angered councillors, with further concern for the impact on Māori, Pasifika, and vulnerable communities.
Manukau Ward Councillor Lotu Fuli said removing the legal requirement to consider well-being factors would be detrimental.
“Removing that means that it's no longer a priority. There's nothing for us to point to in the law that says, by law, as a decision maker on this local government, on that council or on that local board, you must consider these things in your decision-making.”
Fuli was baffled by the move and said the four well-being considerations summed up the core purpose of local government.
“What kind of a community would we live in if we didn't have the arts, if we didn't have music, if we didn't have our festivals, if we didn't promote our culture and our well-being, if we didn't promote community cohesiveness and connectedness?
“If they remove that, then people can just go ahead and make whatever decisions they want without having any regard to our Pasifika communities, to our ethnic communities, to our people with disabilities, to the environment, to climate action and the climate crisis and any of those things.”
Maungakiekie-Tāmaki Ward Councillor Josephine Bartley says removing well-being provisions from the law will lead to “a different kind of Auckland.”
“Pasifika Festival, Polynesian Festival - all those things we fund for our communities, our events, social procurement in South Auckland, and all our Māori and Pasifika providers and businesses. That’s all affected.”
Less consideration for vulnerable groups
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon defended the Government’s decision earlier this week. He says removing the well-being considerations is necessary to refocus councils on core services and reduce rates.
“We need councils to focus on doing the basics brilliantly; there's been too much distraction with pet and vanity projects. It's about fixing the pipes, maintaining footpaths, and addressing graffiti.”
Minister for Local Government Simeon Brown says the reform is about narrowing the scope of councils to align with their core purpose and will avoid doubling up with the central government.
“When the four well-beings were in place, rates increased by an average of two per cent faster. The party’s over-councils should focus on providing core services efficiently and effectively.”
But Manukau Ward Councillor Alf Filipaina says the Government's reform “removes the community,” leaving those most in need unsupported.
“This government doesn’t care about social issues. They just want to focus on their big say.
Minister for Local Government Simeon Brown defends removing the four well-beings, calling it a necessary reform to refocus councils on core services and lower rates. Photo / RNZ Angus Dreaver
“If we say these well-beings aren’t our responsibility, how do we address climate change or support youth as part of our Auckland Plan?”
Filipaina says the move and ongoing funding cuts reflected a disregard for social impact and a view that local government involvement is unnecessary.
He recalled when well-being provisions were previously removed and said this left councils “disengaged” from communities. He is concerned about how it can impact their constituents.
“Not only for Māori but for our community, which includes Pacific people, and we know that when you look at economic development across Tāmaki Makaurau, the people being hit the hardest are Māori and Pasifika.”
Fuli needed clarification on the situation, with the government prioritising waste, roads, and transport.
Filipaina warns that prioritizing infrastructure over people neglects vulnerable communities. Photo / Wikipedia
“I just don't understand where the Prime Minister and this coalition government are coming from.
“We know our communities best, so they should just leave us alone and let us get on with it.”
Megan Tyler, Auckland Council’s Director Policy, Planning and Governance, said in a statement:
“We received the government’s update on the four well-being with interest, and we will be looking at how this might impact our work and programmes across the council.
“Our robust framework, developed over a number of years, promotes the social, economic, environmental, and cultural well-being of communities and recognises the intertwined nature of physical infrastructure, public services and broader community wellbeing outcomes. This approach is closely linked to the council’s ongoing drive to ensure value for money for the ratepayers and community across Tāmaki Makaurau.”
The council's commitment to Aucklanders' wellbeing is evident in key plans like the Auckland Plan, Kia Ora Tāmaki Makaurau framework, and strategies for thriving communities, climate action, waste, pest control, urban forests, and shoreline adaptation, supported by local board planning.
LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.