Auckland Governance
General questions (rates, pools, airport shares)
LibrariesWardsTransitionStructure of new unitary Auckland councilMayorRoyal Commission
General questions
Will my rates go up?
Ratepayers across the region will receive one rates bill. At present, there are three different rating systems used across the region and which will be adopted is yet to be decided.
How will this affect my rates?
Nothing will change until after the local elections in October 2010.
Under the new unitary Auckland Council you will receive one rates bill based on one rating system regardless of where you live in the Auckland region. This will cover local and Auckland-wide services.
How will this affect my water rates?
There will be one water company under the new unitary Auckland Council that will be responsible for all water and wastewater services in the Auckland region. Papakura will be the exception as it currently has an external contract provider. Uniform charges for drinking water and wastewater will apply across the entire region and your water rates bill will be based on the amount of water (including wastewater) you use.
When will I see the impact of the changes on my rates bill?
The government’s decision indicates that a new unified rating system will be developed as part of a new planning and budgeting cycle from 2012. It is unclear at this stage what will happen for 2011 / 2012.
Where will I pay my rates, dog registration, and water rates?
The finer detail of how this will work within the new unitary Auckland Council is still to be worked out, however you can be assured that residents and ratepayers will be kept informed.
We do know that up until 10 October 2010, you can continue to pay your Manukau City Council rates and any other bills as you would normally i.e. at our Customer Centre, by mail or online.
Will my rubbish still be collected?
Absolutely!
What will happen with the free swimming pools in Manukau?
This will be decided by the new unitary Auckland Council but it’s important the community is represented in that debate.
Who will be monitoring the quality of water and our waterways?
The new unitary Auckland Council will be responsible for monitoring and enforcing standards for water quality.
Will Manukau lose the airport shares?
Ownership of Manukau City Council’s airport investment will, along with Auckland City’s, be transferred to the new unitary Auckland Council.
Where will staff of Manukau City Council be located?
We don’t know the details at this stage however services will still need to be delivered to our communities.
Why is there a need to change the status quo?
The government wants Auckland to perform better as the economic powerhouse of New Zealand. It thinks fragmented governance in the Auckland region prevents timely decision-making on major regional issues such as transport, infrastructure development and managing growth.
Why is the council still planning certain projects when there's no point with the ‘super city’ being set up?
The council is currently looking at re-prioritising its projects and work programme. And while there will be some projects that won’t go ahead, it’s important that we don’t lose any momentum on planning and looking after the needs of our communities. Our city will continue to grow and we need to plan for this, and we are doing so with the changes around Auckland governance in mind.
Regardless of how Auckland will be governed, the needs of our communities still need to be taken into consideration and planned for. Any projects that get the 'green light' from the council over the next 18 months will not be ‘a waste of time’ but will be of long-term benefit to these communities.
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Libraries
How will it affect staff at any of the libraries?
The new unitary Auckland Council will still need staff to run efficiently and our communities will still need to have services such as libraries.
Will library users be able to use their MCC library card at other libraries under the new ‘super city’?
At this stage we do not know. As you can imagine the merger of all of Auckland’s councils is a huge process and all the finer details still need to be worked out. However, we can assure you that customers will still continue to have libraries in their communities.
Will there be any changes in hire charges for library items?
We do not know at this time however our ten-year plan for the city, which is out for consultation with our communities, does look at charges across libraries. There may be uniform charges across the new city, but we will keep you informed.
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Wards
Who will determine the ward and local board boundaries?
The Local Government Commission will determine ward boundaries using a "broad policy" set by the government. There will be more local boards than electoral wards for the new unitary Auckland Council. It is not yet known whether the ward boundaries will coincide with the boundaries of several local boards.
Any idea about how Manukau city would be divided?
We don't yet know what the boundaries will look like. The boundaries for the wards will be decided by the Local Government Commission by April 2010.
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Transition
What happens to Manukau City Council after 10 October 2010?
The present Manukau City Council will go out of existence as a result of these changes.
What happens now that the government has put out their decision?
The Auckland Council Transition Agency has been formed. Visit their 
website for details on their work programme and who its members are.
Who is paying for all of this?
All costs will be borne by the existing councils and the new unitary Auckland Council, depending on timing.
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Structure of new unitary Auckland council
Who will have the responsibility to design the new management and reporting structure?
The Establishment Board is responsible for this but it is likely that it will be assisted by council officers and consultants.
How many councillors will there be on the new Auckland Council?
The new unitary Auckland Council will be made up of 12 councillors elected to represent wards and an additional eight councillors who will be elected at large. It is understood the government is giving further thought to this matter.
Will our swimming pools be part of the new unitary Auckland Council?
Yes. Manukau Leisure Services Limited which runs our recreation centres and pools is a Council Controlled Organisation and all CCOs will belong to the new unitary Auckland Council.
What is a council-controlled organisation?
An organisation that is owned or closely controlled by a council.
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Mayor
Will the new mayor be elected by all voters?
Yes, the mayor will represent all of Auckland, and all Aucklanders.
Who is running for mayor?
At this stage, John Banks, the current mayor of Auckland city and Len Brown, Mayor of Manukau.
Will Len Brown run for mayor of the new Auckland Council?
Yes
What checks and balances will there be on the mayor?
The mayor will be ultimately accountable to all voters via the ballot box every three years, starting with the October 2010 local government elections. For most things the mayor can only make recommendations to the new unitary Auckland Council who will make the final decisions.
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Royal Commission
What is the Royal Commission?
The Royal Commission on Auckland Governance inquiry was set up under the previous government to look at local government decision-making structures and processes in the Auckland region.
Who is the Royal Commission?
The commission’s chair was the Hon. Peter Salmon, QC, who is a retired High Court judge.
The commission's other members were experienced public servant Dame Margaret Bazley and David Shand who headed the 2007 inquiry into rates.
What are the Royal Commission’s recommendations based on?
The Royal Commission’s Inquiry has involved:
- Over 3500 written submissions
- 550 oral submissions over 27 days of hearings in nine locations in Auckland
- Five hui with Maori and workshops with Pacific and other ethnic groups
- Informal consultations with individuals and organisations
- Visits to cities in Australia, America, Canada and England
- A number of research papers commissioned from various people with expertise in particular subjects relevant to local government
Where can I find out more about the Royal Commission?
For more information on the Royal Commission and to read its report in full visit www.royalcommission.govt.nz.
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