City Counselling w/ Shane Henderson: 12th February, 2026

Auckland Museum is in a precarious situation around funding, requiring significant support to manage the asbestos concerns of last year and other maintenance issues. Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown says the government should pay for some of the repairs, especially as they provide financial support for Te Papa in Wellington. 

Also this past week has seen proposals for a merger between the Kaipara and Rodney district councils. This would split Rodney away from the rest of Auckland, a move with various pros and cons for the region.

Finally, yesterday saw the Auckland International Events Centre opening after thirteen years of construction. For City Counselling this week, News Director Castor spoke to Auckland Councillor Shane Henderson about each of these issues, starting with Auckland Museum.