Auckland undecided

BY SCOTT MORGAN

A lack of unity among Auckland city councillors over supercity ward boundaries has put it out of step with other councils in the region.

The Waitakere, Manukau and North Shore city councils have all told the Local Government Commission how many wards they’d like to see in their areas.

But while the Auckland City Council has shared some information with the commission, it hasn’t indicated how many wards Auckland city should have under the supercity.

The commission is responsible for deciding how many wards and local boards the new city ends up with and is set to release draft recommendations today.

Mayor John Banks says a disagreement between Citizens and Ratepayers and City Vision-Labour meant the council decided to present all points of view expressed by councillors to the commission.

Right-leaning Citizens and Ratepayers want three wards with two councillors each, though its initial proposal suggested one mega-ward with six councillors.

Left-leaning City Vision-Labour favours six wards with one councillor each.

Currently there are 20 councillors elected from seven wards, which is set to be reduced to six councillors, though no decision has been made on the number of wards in the area.

The council will decide on a formal position once the commission releases its recommendations.

"I’m very relaxed about the ward structure. We all want to see the best fit matching the community," Mr Banks says.

Deputy mayor and Citizens and Ratepayers leader David Hay says his group favours larger wards with more councillors because it means less patch protection, allowing a regional focus.

City Vision-Labour leader Richard Northey says they favour smaller wards based loosely on current ward boundaries because it promotes more diversity among candidates and extra accessibility for locals.

Waitakere mayor Bob Harvey, whose council would like to see one ward and five local boards out west, isn’t surprised his counterparts at Auckland city haven’t been able to agree on a unified approach.

"I think Auckland city is always precious, fragmented and difficult and that’s the problem.

"Waitakere is vibrant and very gutsy."

Manukau mayor and supercity mayoral candidate Len Brown says he finds Auckland city’s approach "very strange".

He says Manukau councillors came to a compromise despite a number of different views being expressed around the meeting table.

Manukau is pushing for four wards with seven local boards within its current boundaries, while North Shore wants three wards and six local boards for its residents.

Once the commission releases its draft proposals, councils and the public have until December 11 to respond.

The commission will assess any changes in January, with a final decision due by March 1.

- © Fairfax NZ News