KEY POINTS:
The Mayor of Auckland City, John Banks, was not shedding any tears yesterday over the loss of the Auckland Issues portfolio, nor the end of strained relations with the now-former minister, Judith Tizard.
The Auckland portfolio, held by Ms Tizard since it was established by Prime Minister Helen
Clark in 1999, was axed in the Cabinet reshuffle.
It was established to ensure Auckland had a strong advocate in the Government and to nurture a strong relationship with the region's local body leaders.
But in 2001 when Mr Banks was first elected mayor, Ms Tizard said the jury was out on whether he was "mad", earning her a public rebuke from the Prime Minister.
After Mr Banks was elected for a second term last month, Ms Tizard responded to his promise to block ratepayer funding for Eden Park's upgrade by saying that if Aucklanders did not pay, they risked losing the 2011 Rugby World Cup final to Christchurch.
Mr Banks said yesterday: "I think she still thinks I'm probably mad, but I don't hold that against her.
"I hope my long-term relationship with the Prime Minister means if I need to see her and talk to her about Auckland issues I can do that.
"The Auckland Issues portfolio became bigger than Everest, and it was always going to be a letdown from there," Mr Banks said.
But Auckland Regional Council chairman Mike Lee had nothing but praise for Ms Tizard.
He said she was not only an excellent interface between local and central government but played a big role in projects such as the completion of the "Spaghetti Junction" motorway upgrade in central Auckland.
"Having a specific minister for a geographical area is unique in the New Zealand context and experimental and I believe it worked," he said.
"Judith ensured Auckland was put at the top of the agenda for the whole of Government and required a bunch of ministers to be focused on Auckland."
Act leader and Epsom MP Rodney Hide said there were only two possible reasons for dumping the portfolio.
"Either Ms Tizard had solved all of Auckland's problems or she never did anything in the first place and wasn't needed."
Helen Clark said yesterday that she had decided "not to have that particular label any more".
"Judith will continue to convene the Auckland members and continue her work, particularly in transport, which was one of the reasons for putting her into that area in the first place."
Asked why the portfolio had disappeared, the Prime Minister said it was no longer necessary because there was a lot going on involving Auckland and several different ministers.
Asked if the decision was a reflection of Ms Tizard's performance in the role - she has been the subject of ridicule at times from National - the Prime Minister said it was not, and described Ms Tizard as a "tireless minister".
- Additional reporting by Andrew Koubaridis
