Bevan Rapson: Few tears shed as Auckland farewells 21-year-old councils

Photo / Supplied

Opinion

Finally, we farewell the cities Michael Bassett built.

Who really mourns their passing? Apart from those employed by them or elected to run them, of course.

Yes, a few tears were shed when a couple of the councils created under Bassett's local government reforms of 1989 had their final meetings last week.

Out west, "more than 100" of Waitakere City's 186,000 residents gathered to see Waitakere Mayor Bob Harvey take off his robe and chains for the last time.

In the south, "about 100" of Manukau's 335,000 people turned up for the last rites at Manukau City, although Mayor Len Brown was hanging on to his finery for the moment.

You couldn't really call either event a mass outpouring of grief.

Few of us felt that kind of bond to our cities. The only emotional response most of us ever had was squeals of impotent rage when the rates went up. That will happen when someone's got their hand in your wallet.

Otherwise we took it for granted when the footpaths got fixed, the libraries worked okay and the beaches were clean. We weren't moved to any special allegiance to the organisation responsible.

Mostly, we feel little attachment to the four cities and three districts being replaced by the Super City. We won't miss their chains and crests, their logos and letterheads, their slogans and countless sister cities.

You wouldn't want to deny those involved their moments of teary-eyed reflection on the end of an era. A lot of public service has been performed under those banners. And the cities and districts seemed a logical enough progression when they first replaced countless smaller bodies across Auckland.

But the lines drawn on the map back then have held us back. Our cities have been big enough to become faceless bureaucracies but not co-ordinated enough to get the region running as it should.

The new councillors have the advantages of scale and a clean slate.

And while neither of the leading mayoral contenders could be considered a dream candidate, they have over the past few months at least proven their stamina, not to mention their willingness to provide a photo opportunity.

Heart patient Brown was seen scampering youthfully over playground equipment this week, and neatnik Banks stripped off his jacket to help a road gang with the black stuff. At this rate expect to see one swimming with orcas before Saturday, the other on a high trapeze, possibly naked.

You have to acknowledge the intensity of their desire and be heartened by their apparent physical fitness.

We should also be glad the new city arrives as spending by politicians and officials comes under greater scrutiny, tripping up Brown among others.

The chastened Brown may have bigger plans than Banks for spending on transport projects but in the day-to-day running of a new council, neither shapes as a profligate goodtime Charlie. Expect an era of tea and sandwiches rather than pinot gris and fancy hors d'oeuvres.

Any wasteful spending, whether on cocktail functions or unnecessary logos and letterheads, stands to be exposed.

Small beer? Maybe, but the culture bedded in during the council's first three years will be important. A council seen as wasteful on the little things won't be trusted to get the big things right.

Aucklanders will be sceptical. But if this first mayor and a majority of the first council can do a good enough job for long enough, we might even miss them when they're gone.