Mayors clash with Hide on changes to Super City plan

Tensions are mounting over the Super City council for Auckland with Local Government Minister Rodney Hide and mayors taking potshots at each other.

The skirmishes follow growing anxiety over what Government plans for a Super Auckland Council and 20 to 30 local boards will mean for a third of the country's population.

Mr Hide has told six mayors who banded together to change parts of the Super City plan to forget it.

Auckland City Mayor John Banks described his colleagues' efforts as a "dog's breakfast".

Mr Hide said: "It is too late for them to develop new proposals for Auckland. The mayors didn't do it when they had the responsibility to take the initiative.

"Aucklanders can be assured that the main decisions announced this week are Government policy, and are expected to be included in the legislation passed by Parliament," he said.

Legislation on the changes and transition to the new structure was advanced, and the first bill would be introduced to Parliament in weeks.

Local boards and the super mayor would have more power than under existing arrangements, said Mr Hide.

North Shore Mayor Andrew Williams said the Government had shown total arrogance, acted in an anti-democratic fashion and made a mockery of the Royal Commission on Auckland Governance.

Mr Williams said he was picking up strong opposition to the Government's plans in the community, including from National Party members.

"I'm warning the Government: Don't get hijacked by the extreme right-wing policies of the Act Party," he said.

Waitakere Deputy Mayor Penny Hulse said: "Damn right we are angry."

She said the mayors had wanted to work with the Government to improve the commission report.

"No response. Seven days later the Hide report comes out, which flies in the face of everything recommended by the royal commission after $3.5 million, 3500 submissions and 18 months of work."

Franklin Mayor Mark Ball said he was ignoring Mr Hide's "little hissy fit" and the prospect of a juggernaut being cranked up by the two main political parties for a fight to control Auckland.

"If Rodney is feeling irked because mayors are meeting behind his back, his answer is that of a backbench opposition MP. That is, to come out on to the attack," Mr Ball said.

Manukau Mayor Len Brown said he did not want to get drawn into personalities, but expected Mr Hide and Prime Minister John Key to front up to meetings to put the Government's case and hear community concerns.

He said a majority of people did not like what the Government had in mind. Without a referendum or further consultation, they were relying on the select committee process to make changes.