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Resolution
number WHK/2016/15
MOVED by Member S Brown, seconded by Member JP
Meeuwsen:
That the Waiheke Local Board:
a) notes that:
i. The
intention is for the Minister of Trade to sign the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement
(TPPA) on or near 4 February 2016 in Auckland, without a clear indication of
mandated support from the New Zealand public, or any discussion in Parliament.
ii. The October
5, 2015 released TPPA text show that NZ laws would need to be changed to
comply with TPPA regulations where these are inconsistent.[1]
iii. To date12
councils covering about 60% of New Zealanders have passed resolutions seeking
further transparency and clarification of the effects of signing the TPPA.[2]
iv. In a TV3 Reid
Research poll from November 2015, 52% of the public polled said they don’t support
the TPPA.
v. There does
not appear to be any response or consideration from Central Government on the
issues raised, (see Background) in spite of the urgency of this issue, and
the previous indication of parliamentary debate before the signing of the
agreement. [3]
b)
considers that:
i. the risks to
democracy, national and local law and elected member decision-making posed by
New Zealand’s inclusion in the TPPA are too severe to be neglected and should
be thoroughly debated before any agreement is signed.
ii. the Waiheke
Local Board would be acting in a foolhardy manner and fail in its
responsibilities towards its constituents if it did not speak about its
concerns in respect to the TPPA – particularly as there is nothing on the
implications for local government decision-making.
iii. there is too
great a financial and environmental risk to the Auckland ratepayer and NZ
taxpayer from the possibility of investor state disputes, rising costs of
goods and services from costs of compliance, and costs to the Council in
realigning local laws to be consistent with the requirements of the TPPA.
c) requests
Auckland Council to:
i. urgently
request information on the costs of compliance of the TPPA and effect on
Auckland Council elected representative decision-making processes, and how
this affects Treaty of Waitangi issues and for this to be discussed at the
Regional Strategy and Policy Committee meeting of the Auckland Council.
ii. urgently
seek clarification again from the Minister of Trade on how previous requests
for parliamentary and public consultation have been addressed.
iii. make available to Local Boards and Auckland
Citizens the government’s response as well as an analysis of the adequacy of
undertakings to address Council’s concerns as raised in the 8 October 2015,
Regional Strategy and Policy Committee meeting.
iv. in the light
of the leak text being made public since October 2015, urge Central
Government to undertake independent social, financial, health, environmental
and climate change impact assessments of the potential effects of the TPPA on
the people and land of New Zealand, particularly in relation to central and
local government decision-making, and make this information publicly
available.
v. request that
Central Government institutes a process for parliamentary debate before the
agreement is signed, where the above feedback can be considered and there can
be open debate on the issues including the effects on local and central
governance.
d)
declares that:
i. until such time
as there is robust debate and convincing protection of local government
decision-making for the benefit of residents, citizens and ratepayers, and an
analysis of how these issues will be addressed at local government level,
Waiheke and the Hauraki Gulf is a TPPA free zone where the constraints
imposed by the TPPA, and the changes to national and local legislation to
make our area comply with TPPA requirements are not supported by the Waiheke
Local Board.
e) requests
that this resolution and background information be circulated to the
Mayor and Governing Body, all other Local Boards in Auckland and
other Councils and local and community boards around New Zealand and
that it is sent immediately to the New Zealand Minister of Trade and Prime
Minister.
CARRIED
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