New Auckland City’s governing structure under Reform

From November 1, 2010 Auckland governmental structure is reformed to a single unitary authority to lead the whole Auckland region, and to replace the past existed seven territorial authorities and one regional council.

The reform of Auckland governance is driven by the work of three bodies: the Royal Commission on Auckland Governance, the New Zealand Government and the Auckland Transition Agency (Hucker, 2010). The Auckland Council’s establishment is in accordance with the eighteen months investigation and analysis report from Royal Commission on Auckland Governance. The constituents under current institutional framework are the governing body led by the mayor and twenty elected councillors, the twenty one local boards as well as the seven council controlled organisations.

In accordance with the Royal Commission’s 18 months analysis on Auckland governance, the Royal Commission’s analysis report on Auckland governance consisted with two key points: 1, Auckland’s governance system was weak and fragmented; 2, as a consequence of the structure the engagement between the territorial local authorities and communities was poor (Royal Commission on Auckalnd Governance, 2009). The provisions of a unitary authority are now expected to increase transparency while reducing bureaucracy, duplication of functions, provide more precise decisions with focuses on specific issues, avoiding decision making power overlapping, and thus to deliver more effective and efficient services to the citizens of Auckland in accordance with policy instruments newly made by the new unitary council.

Currently, the unitary authority – Auckland supercity Council as the key and only governing institution, has two constituents in government decision making parts: the governing body led by elected Auckland mayor, Len Brown and twenty councillors elected from thirteen wards; and the twenty one local boards. As the Local Government Act 2002 states, Government cannot and should not do everything, the governing body is in charge to have visionary plans, policies, and strategic instruments; local boards on the other hand are specifically dealing with local issues, and decision making on behalf of local community etc. According to the Local Government (Auckland Council) Act 2009 (New Zealand Government, 2009)

The new Auckland council is transforming with intention of creating a more liveable new Auckland super-city, which will definitely influence the economic development in a positive manner, and let us hope we are coming to a brighter future with more emphasis on economic development by the new council, whereas a world-class Auckland requires a better economic environment as fundamental.