Single council makes sense to CEO

Logical plans impress David McConnell. Photo / Supplied

McConnell Group chief executive David McConnell says the plans for a single Auckland Council are "wonderfully logical" and people like them.

"I don't think there is any issue out there ... The devil is in the detail."

McConnell, long committed to a united Auckland, says a greater alignment of local body decision-making will mean greater efficiencies.

"You get down to solving things like the width of a road in one council area which is different to the width in another."

McConnell hopes the super city would attract more talent and greater intellect because of its sheer scale.

"What we are dealing with here is an opportunity to position Auckland to be a competitive regional city and to be a leader as an international city in terms of attractiveness to talent.

"Here is an opportunity for the council to be a leader in the world stage so that we can retain talent in this country.

"It would be great if we can attract and retain top businesses here because people want to live here. For me the Auckland Council will free up Auckland to do this."

McConnell says local government reorganisation provides the opportunity for Auckland to "raise its head on the international stage".

"I think it is all positive stuff. All I would say is that no one is going to get it right [all the time] when going forward."

He says his work on the Metro Project, where he led the "visit Auckland" workstream, reinforced his view that the region's resources could be channelled and focused to achieve "some big wins out there".

"I am very excited at the opportunity we have to give Auckland the potential to compete on the international stage."

McConnell says good governance, one of five key themes of the Metro Project, is essential.

He is also calling for greater local government productivity, a cut in the number of council staff and for the council to focus on providing core services, and wants the Port of Auckland to be moved and for Auckland to have a world-class convention centre.