A Select Committee has been told new council-controlled organisations for the Auckland super-city lack democratic accountability.
The committee is in its first day of hearing submissions on the Local Government (Auckland Law Reform) Bill, the third and final bill required to implement the Government's decisions on governance arrangements for the Auckland region.
Rodney District Councillor Suzanne Weld told the hearing that between 75% and 90% of Auckland council activities will be moved to council-controlled organisations.
Ms Weld said this was a deliberate attempt to keep citizens at arm's length from the assets they own, and that the organisations do not provide adequate accountability back to the council.
The organisations are also not requried to work in a way which will be consistent with the council's own planning, she said.
The select committee hearing is due to take two weeks and will listen to 500 submissions.
