KEY POINTS:
A grand coalition has emerged at the Auckland Regional Council with left-leaning Mike Lee taking the chairmanship and right-wing councillors taking the deputy chair and finance posts.
Four days of political lobbying since Saturday's local body elections ended yesterday with a statement from Mr Lee and Michael Barnett calling for an "All Auckland" approach to dealing with regional issues.
As well as formal meetings, councillors plan to meet regularly in a "caucus of 13" to exchange information and discuss issues in a non-partisan way.
The previous council took several non-partisan decisions on big issues, including opposition to the waterfront stadium, the Tank Farm development and capping rate increases to 5 per cent a year.
The huge Tank Farm waterfront development will continue to be a big issue over the next three years. The royal commission of inquiry to reorganise local government in Auckland is another testing issue for the regional council.
Mr Barnett, who leads the Citizens & Ratepayers ticket of four councillors and is chief executive of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce, had been promoted by the right-leaning C&R executive and National Party interests for the chairmanship.
But he was unable to get seven of the 13 votes needed and came to an amicable arrangement with Mr Lee over the leadership and deputy-leadership.
The two politicians also agreed on a broad-based coalition to move forward.
Bill Burrill, a right-leaning fifth-term councillor from Manukau, will be made chairman of the finance committee at the first council meeting next Thursday.
Other chairs go to Christine Rose (transport and urban development), Sandra Coney (parks and heritage), Paul Walbran (regional strategy and planning) and Dianne Glenn (environmental management).
Judith Bassett will continue to chair Auckland Regional Holdings, the investment arm of the regional council with assets of $1.5 billion, including Ports of Auckland.
