Political views divided on Auckland's future

'Hell will freeze over' before Manukau City Council disappears into a larger city of any form, mayoral candidate Len Brown says.

Mayoral rival Craig Little says one super-city for Auckland won't happen because it would terrify Wellington politicians and bureaucrats.

Manukau's mayoral candidates have differing views about Auckland's local and regional governance shape, which might change after a royal commission of inquiry.

The government announced the royal commission of inquiry last month but its terms of reference and commissioners have yet to be released.

The commission will examine and report back on what political arrangements Auckland needs.

Mr Brown wants Auckland's present councils left as they are but says the regional council should be given more clout to improve public transport and roading.

He has hit out at the idea of Manukau being amalgamated into a larger territorial authority as several pundits have advocated and is confident it won't happen.

Both the three-city and one-super-city options already floated would cause 'massive increases in bureaucracy and significant increases in cost', he says.

Economies of scale could be attained but this could also happen under a strengthened regional council.

"One super-city would be hari-kari for Manukau," Mr Brown says.

Mr Little says the most intelligent option would be one council for Auckland.

"But that doesn't allow for the strong emotions people all across the region feel for their own communities of interest."

Mr Little says a more likely outcome is three cities with one based in the north, one in central and west and another in the south plus a smaller regional council with responsibilities for truly regional matters.

Politicians and bureaucrats in Wellington would be terrified of the power of a united Auckland, he says, so the government probably wouldn't allow it.

Mr Little says a royal commission is the only way all matters will get a thorough examination.

"I think the government was surprisingly bold in making this move."

He says the upheaval of moving to a single city would be colossal and would take many years.

Mayoral candidate Arthur Anae says everything that affects the whole region should be governed by one body.

But that doesn't mean doing away with local council structures because 'councils will still have their work to do'.

He says the most likely outcome is three cities for the region and he could support that as long as the best overarching regional structure is in place.

Mayoral candidate Dick Quax welcomes the royal commission of inquiry and wants the terms of reference to be broad.

He says the recent plan put forward by councils lacked vision and boldness and he opposed them.

"Everyone knows Auckland is the powerhouse of our national economy and currently it is being contained.

"Improved governance will help unleash the region's potential," Mr Quax says.

- © Fairfax NZ News