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Resolution
number AE/2016/12
MOVED by Member GD Easte, seconded by Deputy
Chairperson GJ Fryer:
That the Albert-Eden Local Board:
a) Receives
the Notice of Motion – Urgent call for real consultation on the TPPA.
b) Notes that;
i. The
Prime Minister intends to sign the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPPA) on
February 4th without a clear indication of mandated support from the New
Zealand public, or any discussion in parliament.
ii. The
TPPA text released on October 5, 2015, reveals that New Zealand would be
required to change laws and regulations where these are inconsistent with
those of treaty partners or the treaty itself.
iii. 12
councils representing about 67% of New Zealanders have passed resolutions
seeking further transparency and clarification of the effects of signing the
TPPA.
iv. In
a TV3 Reid Research Poll from November 2015, 52% of the public said they not
support the TPPA.
v. The
Government has deliberately avoided responding to or debating the range of
concerns raised about the TPPA in spite of the urgency of these issues and
promised public and parliamentary debate before signing the agreement.
c) Considers
that;
i. The
risk of local decision-making being over-ridden by the TPPA itself or the
threat of Investor-State Disputes is too severe to be ignored or neglected.
ii. Now
is the time for those with concerns about the impacts of the TPPA to speak
out particularly since there has been no explicit discussion with local
government about them.
iii. The
TPPA has the potential to cause significant financial and environmental risk
to Auckland Council and its ratepayers, including rising cost of compliance
and procurement, costs in realigning bylaws and the district plan to align
with requirements of the TPPA, and the possibility of investor-state
disputes.
d) Requests
Auckland Council to;
i. Urgently
assess the potential costs to Auckland Council of compliance with the TPPA,
effects on decision-making processes, and Treaty of Waitangi implications.
ii. Seek
urgent clarification from the Minister of Trade on how the previous requests
for public and parliamentary consultation have been or will be addressed.
iii. Make
available to Local Boards and Auckland citizens the government’s response as
well as an analysis of the adequacy of their undertakings to address
Council’s concerns as raised in their resolutions of December 2012 &
October 2015.
iv. Request
Central Government to undertake 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 have this information made publicly available.
v. Request
that central government institutes a process for public and parliamentary
debate before the agreement is ratified, where the above feedback can be
considered and there can be open debate on the issues including the effects
on local and central governance.
e) Requests officers forward
these resolutions and background information to the Mayor, Governing Body and
all other Local Boards.
CARRIED
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