96% disapprove of super city

The Government must be getting really sick of hearing poll results about the Auckland super city. Rodney Hide certainly didn’t seem too happy answering questions about the Herald’s recent poll in question time yesterday.

But to add to his woes the Our Auckland people’s referendum results are now out. 96% of those who voted in the referendum said they disapproved of the way the Government has gone about setting up the super city.

8476 people took part in the referendum over an 8 day period. People voted on line, and through ballot papers published in The Aucklander newspaper. Votes were validated against the electoral roll, from people living in the area to be covered by the super city.

Our Auckland spokesperson Mels Barton said the referendum result was a loud and clear rebuke for the Government.

“It’s a very large sample for a poll, albeit self-selecting, but probably 10 times more respondents than your average Colmar-Brunton or Herald poll.”

As well as the referendum question, voters were also asked to answer a series of questions. The answers are here, and there is an overwhelming negative response to the Government’s super city: 95% think the Government has not paid enough attention to the wishes of Aucklanders, 92% against CCOs, 95% against the repeal of the requirement for a referendum before the ports are sold.

Well done to Our Auckland, a coalition of community organisations and individuals concerned about the super city changes. And hats off to The Aucklander newspaper which has campaigned energetically for the past year in defence of Auckland democracy. Together they have given Aucklanders a say when the Government has refused to do so.