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The spectre of an Auckland "super city" has been resurrected with the Government asking local councils to vote secretly on a radical overhaul to rule the entire region.
Only two months after the failed coup by Auckland's four metropolitan mayors to carve the region into three cities, the eight councils will vote on a preferred model of regional government this week - shortly after the city tells the Government its preferred site for a rugby stadium.
Documents obtained by the Herald on Sunday have revealed that the Government has asked the councils to choose one of three options:
The status quo but with a regional forum established with representatives from all councils to prepare "One Plan" for Auckland.
Councils cede some power and autonomy to a regional assembly of appointed representatives from existing authorities.
The most significant change. The creation of a new regional authority to, effectively, replace the powers of the Auckland Regional Council.
Cabinet will make a decision on the favoured model next month and start drafting legislation to be introduced mid-February.
Ratepayers could make submissions at select committee level soon after that - not at public consultation meetings - allowing enough time for Government to pass any laws before the local body elections in October.
However, councils could lose billions of dollars worth of public assets under the proposal, with cynics labelling the potential sharing of utilities like Watercare "local government Rogernomics".
"Where's the fire, what's the rush? The public are not being consulted on the most significant changes proposed in decades as is required under law," said long-time political activist Penny Bright.
Once again, Auckland leaders are divided on the issue with several Mayors concerned at the haste at which the Government expects an answer, and little indication as to its preference.
A "super city" has been mooted as the silver bullet to stop the fragmentation of Auckland, highlighted by the indecision of the city's civic leaders to choose either Eden Park or a waterfront stadium.
Auckland Mayor Dick Hubbard told the Herald on Sunday yesterday that the stadium saga illustrated the divided nature of the City of Sails. "If there was a strong regional governance, we wouldn't be making the decision on the stadium one year after the Rugby World Cup was announced.
"These issues would have been decided in January this year."
With debate raging over the proposed waterfront stadium, critics have lamented the lack of leadership - and also the binding chains of local government bureaucracy.
Minister for Auckland Judith Tizard, criticised last week for refusing to give a radio interview, failed to return Herald on Sunday phone calls.
Act leader and Epsom MP Rodney Hide said Tizard was conspicuous by her absence on the stadium saga.
"I'm not sure if Judith Tizard knows we are hosting the World Cup yet, or that there is a proposal for a stadium. She is so out of the loop in Auckland, it's a joke."
Much was made of the divided Auckland City Council when nearly half the councillors went behind Mayor Hubbard's back to petition the Prime Minister for Carlaw Park to be considered.
Cameron Brewer, head of the Newmarket Business Association, said the relationship between the Auckland City Council and the mayor was the most dysfunctional he had seen.
"Mr Hubbard is used to calling the shots as a chief executive but in public life you've got to play the cards that are dealt to you," Brewer said.
A former aide to Jenny Shipley, Rodney Hide and John Banks, Brewer said the mayor's first, and most important, role was that of a parochial advocate for the city.
However, being the biggest cheerleader for Auckland is not enough, says a former mayor.
Christine Fletcher, also a National MP, said local councils were hamstrung by divided regional governance and argued that central government must lead the change.
"I have passionately believed that Auckland must be one city. But for central government to kick for touch and say the city has to sort it out is patently ridiculous."
Fletcher, who successfully steered the Auckland City Council through the controversial Britomart project, said mayors were unable to take action because of bureaucratic red tape.
"We live in a celebrity driven culture but really the mayor is just one voice in the wilderness. But if we had one voice for Auckland, you wouldn't have people like Mallard coming in and throwing his weight around."
Heart of the City chief executive Alex Swney said the Auckland councils were too dysfunctional, divided and fragmented to rally together.
"We don't need hundreds of politicians running this city of Auckland, it's a bloody nonsense. If ever there was a case for improved case of governance, the waterfront stadium is it.
"It's no good being the fastest driver in the race when you're in a Lada," Swney said.
The eight councils must report back to central government by December.
