News from the Auckland Transition Agency

Tuesday 7 July 2009

For immediate release

Appointments to the team at the ATA

Four appointments to the team at the Auckland Transition Agency (ATA) have been announced by the agency’s Executive Chairman, Mark Ford. They are:

• Laila Harré, the former Cabinet Minister and trade unionist, who will be engaged on project work involving human resources and change management.
• Rob Fisher, the former chairman of leading law firm, Simpson Grierson.
• Andy Coupe, senior advisor for investment banking at UBS New Zealand and a member of the Takeovers Panel.
• Colin Dale, the former chief executive of the Manukau City Council and a well-respected regional community advocate.

The ATA was established by the Government to amalgamate the councils across the Auckland region into the new Auckland Council by October 2010.

Mr Ford said: “I am delighted with the breadth and depth of experience in the team that is working for the ATA. There is a huge amount to be done according to a very tight timeframe.”All four will work as and when required, Mr Ford said.

Ms Harré was an Alliance MP from 1996 to 2002 who served as Minister of Women’s Affairs, Minister of Youth Affairs, Minister of Statistics and Associate Minister of Labour and Commerce. She went on to work for the New Zealand Nurses Organisation and is currently the National Secretary of National Distribution Union.

Ms Harré said: “I see this as an opportunity to make the Auckland Council an excellent workplace. How staff find the change process will be at the heart of that. I expect to start by doing a lot of listening.”

Mr Fisher said: “After 40 wonderful years at Simpson Grierson, including the last ten as chairman, I am delighted to have been given the opportunity to work on the transition project and help make a great city even greater.”
Mr Coupe said: “Establishing the financial structures of the new Auckland Council is an exciting and challenging task and I look forward to working with this team over the next 16 months.”
Mr Dale said: “It is critical to ensure that the people and community-focussed services enjoy a smooth transition to the umbrella of the new city. It is a privilege to work on such an enormous project dedicated to the wellbeing of communities and the prosperity of the region.”
The members of the transition agency’s board appointed by the Government are Mark Ford (Executive Chairman), Miriam Dean QC, John Waller, John Law and Wayne Walden.

The Board is now supported by a small team of people working either under contract or seconded from councils or council organisations to work full- or part-time as required. The team includes: Rodney District Council chief executive Rodger Kerr-Newell; former Treasury official and Ministerial advisor Chris Mackenzie; Heather Harris, previously executive officer at the Royal Commission on Auckland Governance; Craig Shearer; Clive Nelson; David Blow; David Hawkins; Jacques Victor and Kerry Connolly.
To meet the transition timeframe, tasks are being divided into workstreams While the list of workstreams has not yet been finalised, it is likely to include some or all of the following: governance, human resources, customer and community services, finance and treasury, business systems, communications, legal, regulatory and environmental services, planning and policy, council-controlled organisations, trusts and investments, property, infrastructure, and economic development (including events).
The ATA is also required to consider certain spending decisions submitted by councils and council organisations during the transition phase.

More information on the Auckland Transition Agency is available at www.ata.govt.nz

ENDS

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