新西兰英语 129 Auckland Super-City Changes

　　Just two weeks ago, the Royal Commission¹ recommended that Auckland should have one City Council² for the whole of Auckland instead of eight smaller councils³. See March 27th 2009. Today the government agreed that there should be just one council of 20 people and one mayor⁴, but they did not agree with everything that the Royal Commission recommended.
The government is worried that it would be hard to know about local problems if there was just one big city council. The Royal Commission recommended six small local councils but the government thinks there should be 20 to 30 local councils so that more local people have a voice. However, these councils would not have staff or funding so it is not clear if they will have any power.
The government also did not agree that there should be three Maori representatives. It is better to have Maori people elected to the council. All Aucklanders will be able to vote for eight council members. The other 12 will be voted by their own ward⁵ which is another word for district. People who live in the Rodney, Waitakere, Manukau, North Shore and other local districts will all pay rates to the Auckland city. Some people, especially those people living in Manukau, are worried that their rates will increase.
The Royal Commission report was only 11 days ago and already the government is moving fast to make the changes happen before next year.

1 commission   

n.委托，授权，委员会，拥金，回扣，委任状

参考例句：

• The salesman can get commission on everything he sells.这个售货员能得到所售每件货物的佣金。
• The commission is made up of five people,including two women.委员会由五人组成，其中包括两名妇女。

2 council   

n.理事会，委员会，议事机构

参考例句：

• The town council passed a law forbidding the distribution of handbills.市议会通过法律，禁止散发传单。
• The city council has declared for improving the public bus system.市议会宣布同意改进公共汽车系统。

3 councils   

n.委员会( council的名词复数 )；（郡、镇等）政务会；（尤指旧时讨论特定步骤的）协商会议；市政（或地方管理）服务机构

参考例句：

• It is one of the most notoriously corrupt city councils. 那是贪污腐败最为臭名昭著的市参议会之一。 来自辞典例句
• Local councils should use their powers to ensure strict observance of laws. 地方政务委员会应当行使权力以保证人们严格遵守法律。 来自辞典例句

4 mayor   

n.市长

参考例句：

• The new mayor said he would clean the city up.新市长说，他要整顿本市。
• The mayor hurried into his office,brushing off the reporters.市长赶快走进办公室，拒不接见记者。

5 ward   

n.守卫，监护，病房，行政区，由监护人或法院保护的人（尤指儿童）；vt.守护，躲开

参考例句：

• The hospital has a medical ward and a surgical ward.这家医院有内科病房和外科病房。
• During the evening picnic,I'll carry a torch to ward off the bugs.傍晚野餐时，我要点根火把，抵挡蚊虫。