Kind words at Auckland City Council's last meeting

John Banks was in a gentle mood at last night's meeting. Photo / Dean Purcell

With a mixture of moves aimed at soothing residents' fears - and winning votes - New Zealand's largest local authority last night held its last full meeting before becoming the core of a Super City.

Mayor John Banks said early on that the last meeting after 138 years of the Auckland City Council would not extend to in-depth debate about dog control on Waiheke Island.

But he did recognise that the night was the 70th birthday of Bill Christian, one of the six councillors who are not standing for the new Auckland Council in next month's election.

Mr Christian later returned the compliment in his valedictory speech.

He said that when he came on to the council in 1989, he held Mayor Dame Catherine Tizard in awe.

Her successor, Les Mills, "helped me stay alive" by keeping his weight down through workouts at Les Mills World of Fitness gym.

Then came Christine Fletcher, "a joy to behold" and a "great lady", and then Mr Banks began his first term as mayor in 2001. He was a "breath of fresh air" with a "little pugnacious go get 'em about you".

Then Dick Hubbard upset Mr Banks. "He had his own way of thinking and he was a good guy. And then, John, you came back and beat Dick."

Deputy Mayor David Hay, who is also retiring, was fulsome in his praise for Mr Banks and led a vote of thanks by applause.

"Congratulations for taking on the challenge of this mayoralty. It's not going to be easy; whoever is there is going to be challenged."

There was applause too for council chief executive David Rankin, who has no role in the new Super City set-up.

Mr Rankin said the council's priority during his more than five years was improving consistency and quality of customer service.

He estimated that the average cost to the customer for a resource consent in the past decade had been reduced by 20 per cent.

Mr Banks was in a gentle, good-natured mood for what perhaps is the last time he will wear the city's mayoral chains, should challenger Len Brown deny him his dream role.

Mr Banks is one of only two mayors of the city who have made a comeback after election defeat.

The other was Sir Dove-Myer Robinson (1959-1965 and 1968-1980), who was the longest-serving mayor.

The first full meeting of the Auckland City (Borough) Council was on May 29, 1871, and it struck its first rate (1 shilling in the pound) on August 31 that year. The first mayor (elected by councillors) was P.A. Philips.

As from November 1, council services will be provided by the new Auckland Council, with headquarters at Auckland Town Hall.

However, the eight councils merging into the Super City already co-operate for most frequently used services. These include liquor licensing, building control and resource consent applications.

LANDMARKS
Auckland City Council highlights:

* 2450 fulltime-equivalent staff, a balance sheet of $9 billion, operating budget of $650 million, annual capital spend of $450 million.

* Longest serving mayor: Sir Dove-Myer Robinson (18 years).

* He and John Banks were the only mayors to regain office after defeat.

* Dame Catherine Tizard was both the first woman mayor and the only Labour Party mayor.