Super-city welcomed by commercial property sector

Media Statement 7 April 2009

Super-city announcement welcomed by the commercial property sector

Confirmation of the Government’s decision to establish an Auckland ‘super-city’ council has been welcomed by Property Council.

Connal Townsend, Chief Executive of Property Council, said commercial property owners and investors pay a huge proportion of land rates, and those same people have been calling for significant changes to the way the Auckland region is governed.

“For too long Auckland has been governed in silos. Property Council congratulates the Government on its decision to back the establishment of a single unitary authority for Auckland. Finally the Auckland region has the opportunity to move forward with a sense of leadership and purpose.

“It is possible to make the necessary changes to abolish the eight current units of local government and establish the Auckland Council by October next year. It is now time for everyone to work with the Government to successfully implement these long overdue reforms,” Connal Townsend said.

While accepting the Commission’s proposal to amalgamate eight territorial authorities, the Government has agreed to between 20 and 30 community boards, as opposed to the six subsidiary ‘local councils’.

While the details of this decision have to be examined, the concept could protect local democracy and community input into the decision-making process.

“Property Council argued in favour of reform before the Commission, and we are pleased that it agreed with our call for amalgamation. We are also pleased that the Government has chosen an alternative to the six ‘local council’ options. It is important that residents and businesspeople have the opportunity to engage with their elected representatives at a grass-roots level, and today’s announcement will enable that to happen,” Connal Townsend said.

Auckland’s current representation arrangements provide for the election of seven mayors at large, 110 city, district and regional councillors, and 30 community boards. The Government’s decision announced today will enable more regional decisions to be made at a regional level, while preserving the role of community boards.

End.

About Property Council New Zealand Property Council is New Zealand’s property voice. Property Council represents New Zealand's Commercial, Industrial, Retail, Property Funds and Multi Unit Residential Property owners, investors and managers.

Property Council has branches throughout the country and its members represent some of the largest commercial property portfolios in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Tauranga, the value of which exceeds $20 billion.