NZ Herald on Auckland Super City

The Herald editorial supports a more unified local government structure for Auckland.

Almost nothing of a civic nature happens unless it is done by one of the big four cities alone or an agency of the Government such as Transit NZ. The stalemate over the single city proposal is becoming a convincing argument for it.

A worthwhile solution to the city’s discord is unlikely to come from the bodies that are part of the problem. Once again, Auckland has to look to the Government to make something happen.

The leaders of both main political parties are Auckland residents and agree on the need for change. Little more has been heard on the subject from the Prime Minister but the National Party leader offered the project tentative support yesterday. John Key said a government led by him would reform Auckland’s set-up, though “now is not the time to make any decisions”.

He saw “a danger of rushing in and designing all sorts of new structures at the expense of actually thinking about what outcomes we are after”.

National politicians, even Auckland ones, are reluctant to risk offending the local loyalties of so many voters. But surely the Auckland MPs know that the real identity of their fellow citizens is not North Shore or Manukau or the other suburban units. When asked where they come from, citizens of all of those places are likely to reply, “Auckland”.

There is broad support for a more unified urban government, as long as the local element is not lost. A powerful single city council answerable to communities with their own representatives could fulfil that prescription. It is a plan members of the public should take upon themselves to consider. If they wait for their disparate councils to decide on it, they will wait forever.