Ministers renege on vow to consult mayors on Super City boards

Rodney Hide. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Government ministers Rodney Hide and Steven Joyce are in the gun for failing to consult Auckland mayors on unelected directors to run most of the Super City services.

Mr Hide, the Local Government Minister, promised to consult the mayors on the directors for seven council-controlled organisations (CCOs) before making recommendations to the Cabinet. Mr Joyce, the Transport Minister, promised much the same about appointments to the mega transport CCO.

Manukau Mayor and Super City mayoral contender Len Brown yesterday said the ministers' promise had, so far, failed to materialise.

"Appointment without consultation is unacceptable. The CCOs will manage over 70 per cent of the assets owned by Auckland ratepayers.

"Aucklanders should have direct input into the composition of their boards. Given the failure to do so, no wonder people across the region are angry with the way the Super City has been set up," Mr Brown said.

It is understood that the Cabinet approved the directors of the seven CCOs this week and Mr Hide will announce them on Monday.

The decision by the Government to lock Aucklanders out of decisions affecting their greatest jewels, such as the waterfront and transport, and putting them in the hands of unelected directors caused a public furore.

This led the Key Administration to introduce stronger accountability provisions for the CCOs, including the public glare of holding public meetings.

Last night, Mr Hide said he had written to all Auckland mayors in May and June asking them to forward nominations to the agency setting up the Super City to be considered as directors. Mr Brown had not nominated anyone, he said.

Mr Hide said he did not think it was appropriate to consult mayors on the provisional list for CCO directors, but, in most cases, the Government had left two or three appointments on each CCO to be made by the new Auckland Council after November 1.

Auckland City Mayor John Banks, North Shore Mayor Andrew Williams and Auckland Regional Council chairman Mike Lee have backed up Mr Brown's claim that neither Mr Hide nor Mr Joyce had consulted them about the provisional list of directors.

Waitakere Mayor Bob Harvey, who is understood to be in line to chair the Auckland Waterfront Development Agency CCO, could not be reached for comment.