The Government intends to have the new Auckland governance structure in place for the 2010 local government elections.
The key high-level decisions are:
- One unitary Auckland Council as the first tier of governance.
- One mayor for Auckland with governance powers, elected at large by the region’s residents and ratepayers.
- Approximately 20 to 30 local boards across the region as the second tier of governance.
- Twenty councillors to sit on the Auckland Council (8 elected at large and 12 elected from wards).
- The final number or local boards, the boundaries of the Auckland Council, wards and local boards will be determined by the Local Government Commission by April 2010.
A number of recommendations are still to be considered by the Government, with others to be decided by either the Establishment Board or future Auckland Council. For more information please visit, www.auckland.govt.nz
Auckland Council Legislation
The Government has introduced legislation for establishing the new Auckland Council.:
Local Government (Tamaki Makaurau) Act, was enacted on 25 May 2009. The Act:
- Establishes the Auckland Council as a legal entity;
- Establishes the Auckland Transition Agency (ATA), responsible for the transition process to the new Auckland Council
- Constrains the decision-making powers of existing Auckland councils and their subsidiaries.
The Local Government (Auckland Council) Act has now been passed into law. The Act:
- Provides for the high level framework for the structure of the Auckland Council.
- Empowers the Local Government Commission (LGC) to determine the boundaries of the wards of the Auckland Council and the Local Boards, and the Boards and their membership; and
- Provides for the integration of Auckland’s water infrastructure.
A third Bill will be introduced later this year and will complete the legal framework for Auckland governance, finalise transition provisions, and provide for the operation of the Auckland Council immediately on 1 November 2010.
Local Government Commission To Determine Ward And Board Boundaries
To download Rodney District Council’s submission to the Local Government Commission on ward and board boundaries, click here.
The Local Government Commission, is responsible for indentifying ward and local board boundaries for the new Auckland Council based on communities of interest e.g. communities from a defined geographical area, with similar values and characteristics. The Commission met with Rodney District Council in October to find out Councillors views on possible representation arrangements.
Council is suggesting the Commission consider dividing Rodney into three wards, to be represented by one Auckland Councillor each under the new Auckland Council structure. Two of the proposed wards would incorporate parts of neighbouring cities.
Legislation to set up the Auckland Council requires “a single-member ward based on the rural area of Rodney District.” Other wards should have populations of around 70,000 people per Councillor. In order to meet the population criteria, the more urban parts of Rodney would need to be included in wards that cross into what are now North Shore and Waitakere cities.
Council is also recommending three local boards be established with identical boundaries to the Councillor wards, but that each local board area be divided into a number of sub-wards with one or more local board members elected from each area to ensure each board is made up of a mix of individuals from different areas.
The commission has held meetings with the eight existing Auckland councils and other regional interest groups. It will release its draft proposals by 20 November, which the public will then be able to make submissions on.