ACT Party leader and Local Government Minister Rodney Hide has gained Cabinet approval to look into law changes that will strip city and district council spending back to ‘core services’ at the expense of cultural, environmental and social spending. Core services have been defined by Hide as transport and water services and public health and safety, such as sanitation.

The Public Service Association, which represents workers employed by local as well as central government, has stated that this review will open up council services to privatisation. Its no secret that Hide would like that to happen, after he was granted the local government portfolio in a confidence and supply agreement with the National Party, David Lewis described ACT’s local government policy as “pure orthodox neo-liberalism” the policy goes so far as to say even roads and piped water (core services by Hides own definition) should be supplied on a fully commercial basis.

What services could be lost if council spending is cut back? one example is Canterbury’s Clean Heat Project, which provides financial assistance to homeowners and landlords to switch to cleaner heating. Surely insulating homes is an important social good when 1600 New Zealander’s die every winter due to cold damp homes, and a central government insulation scheme can’t keep up with demand. By taking inefficient wood burning fires out of operation the project has also improved air quality in the city of Christchurch. Another example would be Waitakere City Council’s “Plus Four Redundancy Relief” program, which is currently giving four weeks employment to 23 redundant workers.

Cadet schemes helping the unemployed into permanent work are operating in Whangarei, Kaipara, Manukau, Rangitikei and Northland. These kind of services are increasingly important as unemployment continues to increase. If councils are limited to roads rubbish and water, even the public libraries could be at risk. Cut backs to public services should be opposed.