Just what is the National/Act Government's legislative plans for Auckland Super city...

What is the Government's legislative plans for Auckland Super City? What are they going to tell the people who live there?

Shane Jones MP: Labour is calling on the National/Act Government to spell out what the Super City legislation it plans to ram through under urgency will entail, says its Local Government spokesman Shane Jones.

"Mr Hide said last week that he planned to try to pass legislation under urgency on the issue when Parliament resumes. He has suggested that the legislation is only technical and would revolve around enabling the establishment of a transition agency."

"However there have been other suggestions that the legislation may be more substantial and could include a determination on the Government's plans to create at large councillors and to ban the Maori seats," Mr Jones says.

"The Government needs to come clean on whether there is any truth to these suggestions and tell the public exactly what the legislation will and won't entail. Right now it's becoming hard to know what to believe.

"Prime Minister John Key is out there telling Aucklanders the Government is prepared to listen to their views on the issue, while at the same time Mr Hide is keeping everyone in the dark when it comes to the legislation.

"The Government's approach to this issue has already angered Aucklanders. If it now plans to rush through legislation which prevents changes to its proposals being made, while at the same time promising further consultation, it will seriously inflame the situation," Mr Jones says.

Mangere MP Su'a William Sio last night went to a public meeting organised by the Manukau City Council on the proposed Super City and attended by several hundred people.

"Residents were very clearly opposed to a number of the Government's plans and were united in their opposition to the introduction of at large councillors. They also want the proposed community boards to be given a lot more teeth," he said.

"They are determined to engage in the select committee process and to begin writing submissions. But if the legislation being rushed through under urgency is more substantial than Mr Hide has suggested, there may be little point. If the Government has in any way misled the public on this issue, they will be furious."

Power to the people - not the John Key mob...

I was strolling through the streets of northern Avalon last Sunday and was struck by the affluence in the area, just a few blocks from working class Taita; Avalon being part of the original and historical area of Taita, which includes present Naenae and environs.

In one particular cul-de-sac,or grove, a new house was accompanied by two new four wheel drive vehicles, a caravan and a boat, all parked in by the garage. What screamed out at me in silence was this family appeared to have all the wealth in the world and nothing more to spend their money on...but they were most likely one of those obsessed with John Key and the pursuit of power.

It suddenly dawned on me that that was what it was all about...this John Key phenomenon in 2007-2008. The rightwingers of New Zealand have done so well out of the Helen Clark -led Labour minority Government during the last eight and going on for nine wonderfully economicly grown years. They don't want to continue to share their wealth with those minorities the Government has assisted through its social agenda of the last few years - the ones the political right denigrate as being part of a hidden agenda - but in reality a few sad cases of socially dispossessed minorities.

Because, readers, it is actually all about POWER, or the lack of it! The political right have all the dosh but lack the grunt. They don't have the political clout or power these days, unlike the Bolger MOB of the 1990's or the Muldoon Days of the mid 70's-80's. That is why they are supporting the "Key" phenomenon. He is their saviour - the messiah of the Right this millionaire money man named Key!

They want great state provided tax cuts for their businesses and personal income - and the unwashed masses will have to give up all their gains from the Working For Families program and other state support programs to pay for it, whether they like it or not,brother!

It's not a done deal, unfortunately for the political Right. MMP is definately a different ballgame - National may end up with the most votes just like Labour in 1978 and 1981, but not office - they will need a coalition partner; and a partner won't be found with the Greens or the Maori Party.

The power belongs to the people, those who have held it since 1990, and may well retain it in 2008. There is no future with a rusty key in the Finance Minister's lock.