Aucklanders split over single city

Murray Dyson predicts efficiencies but is worried about a potential drop in local service. Picture / Dean Purcell

Public opinion is divided on the possibility of Greater Auckland having one big city council although most people agree they suffer too much bureaucracy.

The Herald spoke with people throughout the region yesterday after it was revealed that Auckland's four big-city mayors were planning to present a proposal reducing the number of councils to Prime Minister Helen Clark on Thursday.

The on-the-street results were similar to the latest Herald-DigiPoll survey which found that 47.8 per cent of Aucklanders favoured one council for the metropolitan area and 49.5 per cent opposed it.

Hayley Smith, a 26-year-old dental hygienist working in Newmarket, believed the single-city concept would cut excessive bureaucracy but she had concerns about the magnitude of operations the new council would have to deal with.

"We have got the biggest urban sprawl in the country and I don't know if it's managed particularly well at the moment so I'm not really sure if it's a good idea or not."

Ms Smith also felt the different demographics throughout the region reflected different needs.

Her thoughts were echoed by Takapuna real estate agent Murray Dyson, who said one central body would achieve greater economies of scale and better efficiency.

"But the downside of that is that individual areas might not receive the same localised treatment they get from their local authorities at the moment."

One shopper, who asked not to be named, was "all for the idea" and said local authorities should look at Sydney as an example of what could be achieved under a single-city structure.

"They have four million people and a far bigger area to manage yet they seem to be going okay.

"Maybe if they do amalgamate they could drop my bloody rates."

However, some people were against the idea of one administering body. Anne Brown, a 64-year-old cashier working in Manukau, believed local councils had to sort out their respective issues before any merger could occur.

"Things are in a bad way at the moment with race issues and law and order so I don't think amalgamating with anyone else right now is a good idea.

"I don't think it will make any difference as they are split now and can't get their ratings right - so what will they do when they amalgamate?"

Maureen Page, a 55-year-old cleaner who has lived in Henderson her entire life, was also against any move to a single-city approach.

"Different areas need different things and any change like this would mean Henderson would lose its personality and identity," she said.

"This place - and Waitakere - has its own personality and it's becoming a multicultural and happening place."

A OneAuckland Trust, fronted by the immediate past chairman of the Local Government Commission, Grant Kirby, is about to be launched with the aim of replacing the councils with one body led by a mayor and 25 councillors.

CITY FATHERS' VIEWS

DICK HUBBARD

The Auckland City Mayor supports one city and says it must be done quickly to deliver a successful Rugby World Cup in 2011.

He says if Auckland were a business, you would never dream of having such a convoluted governance structure.

SIR BARRY CURTIS

The Manukau City Mayor supports three cities for Auckland - North Shore (comprising North Shore City, Rodney and the northern part of Waitakere City), Auckland City (comprising Auckland City and southern part of Waitakere City) and Manukau (comprising Manukau City, Papakura and Franklin districts and Otahuhu).

The ARC would be replaced by a regional board including the three mayors, one of whom would be lord mayor.

BOB HARVEY

The Waitakere City Mayor supports one city provided "our own areas do not lose their culture, their history or their future". He says the current governance system is very complex and not working as well as it could.

GEORGE WOOD The North Shore City Mayor does not believe Auckland would benefit from becoming a super city at this time but supports a debate on further amalgamation.

MIKE LEE

The Auckland Regional Council sees benefits from further amalgamation provided the "local" stays in local government and any new structure is more cost-effective than the current system. He says there are arguments in favour of "smaller is better".

JOHN LAW

The Rodney District Mayor supports having fewer councils, thus creating efficiencies and a common goal, but does not believe rates would drop as a result. He is worried about political tickets controlling a single city.

MARK BALL

The Franklin District Mayor supports a one-city approach by the four metropolitan cities. He says parts of Franklin could join a big city but large parts are inside the boundaries of the Waikato regional council, Environment Waikato.

JOHN ROBERTSON

The Papakura District Mayor favours the status quo and working to make organisations like the Auckland Regional Transport Authority run better. He is not sure what the problem is that restructuring is meant to address.