City Counselling

Last week, Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown announced plans to ‘dethrone’ Auckland Transport and instead put elected representatives in control. 

With additional plans to abolish the council’s development agency, Eke Panuku Auckland, and its events and economic development agency Tātaki Auckland Unlimited, the proposal is part of Council’s biggest restructure of council controlled organisations since the Super City was formed in 2010. 

Additionally, last week when Producer Sofia spoke to Councillor Shane Henderson about Council’s average 6.8% rates increase announced in its long-term plan this year we received two texts from listeners informing us their rates bills saw a 25-29% increase. 

In other news, figures released from an Official Information Act request found last week that in the last five financial years Auckland Council has paid out $315 million in ‘secret’ financial settlements for defective buildings, weathertightness issues, employment settlements and civil damages claims on behalf of ratepayers. 

Sofia spoke to Councillor Julie Fairey about these topics. 

As Auckland Council plans to review its operating model for pool and leisure services, the Public Service Association has criticised moves to privatise management without public consultation. 

Additionally, Auckland Transport has introduced a $50 fare cap for buses, ferries, and trains. 

Producer Sofia spoke to counsellor Shane Henderson about both of these topics.

Auckland Council has announced $60,000 in funding to youth crime prevention group, Turn your life around. This is part of a broader plan of the Council to increase community safety.

Wire Host Caeden asks Councillor Shane Henderson about this funding, and also about what’s happening in Tāmaki Makaurau this weekend for Matariki.

In late May, Auckland council unveiled their Draft Auckland Regional Land Transport Plan. While the plan is due to be submitted at the start of August, Auckland residents can submit feedback until the 17th of June. 

The plan goes over the council’s approach to funding and enacting policies to improve the city’s transport networks over the next decade, including the prioritisation of trains, buses, and cycleways over car based travel. 

Additionally, later today the government is due to announce this year’s budget, which follows cuts to the regional fuel tax leaving a hole in council funding. 

In our weekly catchup with Auckland Council, temporary Wire host Castor spoke to counsellor Shane Henderson about the Regional Land Transport Plan and the council’s hopes for the upcoming budget announcement.