The Battle for Auckland

It is September 1; Auckland has entered its final month of gestation.

The original spark for the Super City arose from the “Symposium for Auckland”, promoted in 2006 by the Labour led government of Helen Clark. The concept that arose from that gathering was of a unified, super city that would drag the cities, boroughs, and district local bodies, along with regional councils into one authority. Not surprisingly, parochial interests drove a great deal of opposition, particularly from the rural interests of Franklin and Rodney.

The establishment of the unified Super City of Auckland has been led by Rodney Hide, Minister of Local Body Affairs, and the leader of the Act Party, who is on record as saying that, in accepting and pushing through the legislation establishing the framework and drivers of the new Auckland, he was taking a 50-50 chance that it could spell the end of his political career.

We could be excused for believing that he is anticipating the end, although we can be sure it will not be because of his work on Auckland’s transformation. But he is wise to establish an out when he is dumped by the election of 2011. He can now blame Heather Roy, or the ingratitude of Auckland electors.

On the other hand, the job demanded a dogmatic, bombastic, Napoleonic type to drive the concept to some conclusion. Rodney listened to all the opposition, and, generally, went ahead with his intensions, cocking a nook at all opposition. The end result, it has to be said, is a reasonable plan that has the chance of success. The initial work demanded of the Council is in the hands of Council Controlled Organisaions appointed by Government, no doubt under instructions to follow a pro-government line, with particular regard for fiscal restraint.

Attention now focuses on the battle for the Mayoralty, a powerful position ranking second only to the Prime Minister. It is an interesting concept, and the battle is between the second-time mayor of Auckland, John Banks, who is supported by the right wing, Citizens and Ratepayers Association, and the left leaning Len Brown, the very popular, independent mayor of Manukau City. At the time of writing, it is proving a closely run race.

Which of them will take over the chain of office in one month’s time, is anybody’s guess.