Auckland commission advocates 'bold change," unified city council

Friday 27th March 2009

Auckland would come under the control of a new region-wide council and existing territorial authorities within the city replaced by six local bodies with reduced powers under recommendations of the Royal Commission on Auckland Governance.

The commission this week reported back to John Key's administration on its 18-month review of New Zealand's biggest urban centre, saying "bold change" is required if Auckland is to hold its own against regional centres such as Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane or even Singapore.

"Auckland combines many of the ingredients for social and economic success," the commission said in its report. But the city is also characterized by "messy and inefficient urban growth, infrastructure constraints, social disparity and poor urban design" requiring urgent attention.

The three commission members, David Shand, Peter Salmon, Margaret Bazley, said current structures are "weak and fragmented and community engagement "poor". They urged the government to begin work immediately on an 19-month transition to a new governance structure for Auckland with major economic events looming for the city including the Rugby World Cup.

The report proposes ways to improve governance of a city where local authorities have battled and argued over resources, major infrastructure planning and services.

Local Government Minister Rodney Hide said he expects to provide an update to the Cabinet on Monday and the government hopes to announce its response to the Commission's report within two weeks.

"I can see merit in having one Auckland organisation to drive, manage and be responsible for all planning and delivery of services," Hide said in a statement. "The proposals around management of assets, including water and wastewater, appear well thought through. Having one organisation manage all the regional assets makes a lot of sense."

Still, he said he had some concerns about whether the proposed structure would provide adequate local representation.

Under the proposal, the Auckland Regional Council and seven territorial authorities will be abolished and their powers absorbed by the new Auckland Council. The super-council will take on the assets and staff of the bodies it replaces, with the region having a single district plan and rating system.

Answering to Auckland Council will be six elected local councils, broadly inhabiting the same territory as the seven they replace. A separate community board will oversee the development of Auckland's CBD and waterfront.

The boundaries of Auckland will be redrawn, with Onewhero and Kaiaua and the area bordering the Firth of Thames being transferred to Waikato District, while the Waikato region north of the Waikato Rver, including Tuakau, Pokeno and Mercer will be subsumed into Auckland.

The enlarged Auckland Council will have a mayor elected by all Aucklanders. The mayor will have the power to appoint a deputy, propose the council's budget and establish a Mayoral Office.

There was mixed initial reaction to the report. Local Government Forum chairman Charles Finny said central government should reject any bigger role in social policy for Auckland's local government.

Manukau Mayor Len Brown said the proposal means local communities may lose some control.

The commission's report can be found here: http://www.royalcommission.govt.nz/

Businesswire.co.nz

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