Auckland Councillors oppose the government's plan to remove the four well-beings, calling them core to local government. Photo: Auckland Council / RNZ
The removal of considerations for social, economic, environmental and cultural wellbeing 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 wellbeing 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 wellbeing 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 said the removal of 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, and said the removal of the well being considerations was 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 projects and vanity projects. It's about fixing the pipes, maintaining footpaths, and addressing graffiti."
Minister for Local Government Simeon Brown said the reform is about narrowing the scope of councils to align with their core purpose, and would avoid doubling up with central government.
"When the four well-beings were in place, rates increased by an average of 2 percent faster. The party's over-councils should focus on providing core services efficiently and effectively."
But Manukau Ward Councillor Alf Filipaina said the reform by the Government "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.
"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 said the move and ongoing funding cuts reflected a disregard for social impact, along with a view that local government involvement was unnecessary.
He recalled when wellbeing provisions were previously removed, and said it left councils "disengaged" from communities, and was concerned for how it could 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 was baffled by the situation, with the government prioritising waste, roads, and transport above all.
"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."
LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.