Water chief targeted in smear claim

A senior Auckland public official tipped to oversee the Government's Super City plans is being smeared in an anonymous document circulating in the city.

Mark Ford, the chief executive of Watercare Services, is believed to be the frontrunner to head the Super City establishment board, due to be named this month.

But someone with an interest in the water industry has been circulating a document that claims Mr Ford is behind a "secret transition plan" for the water industry in Auckland that could cost more than 500 people their jobs.

The document said Mr Ford had spent more than $100,000 on his plan without the approval of the company's six shareholding councils.

The bulk of the plan was written by the company's corporate relations manager, David Hawkins, who as a former mayor of Papakura pushed through privatisation for the management of the district's water services, it said.

The Herald has been sent a copy of the four-page document, which includes a list of 16 questions that it suggests should be put to Mr Ford, Local Government Minister Rodney Hide, Internal Affairs Minister Richard Worth and Internal Affairs chief executive Brendan Boyle under the Official Information Act. At least two more people in Auckland have received a copy.

In a written statement, Mr Ford said a draft implementation plan had been prepared to ensure a smooth, efficient transition to a single water company that would give lower prices to Aucklanders.

It was not appropriate to make the plan public because it contained confidential information.

"I will confirm that there is no plan for redundancies in this document," Mr Ford said.

He would not speculate why someone would want to "peddle this type of stuff. It is not signed and I think that says it all."

Mr Ford would not comment on taking the job of restructuring the region's eight councils into a Super City.

Mr Hide said he was not interested in commenting on anonymous claims such as those in the document. If anyone had concerns about Watercare they thought he should be aware of, "they should talk to me about it".

Mr Hide declined to comment on Mr Ford's possible appointment to the establishment board, saying no decisions had been made on the membership. The Cabinet would be deciding in the next couple of weeks.

The Royal Commission on Auckland Governance recommended an establishment board headed by an independent person with knowledge of local government and significant change management experience.

"The chair should enjoy a high level of respect and credibility, and would be expected to quickly develop strong, constructive working relationships with Government, council officials and management," the commission's report said.

Mr Ford has been the chief executive of Watercare - the region's bulk water and wastewater provider - since 1994.

He has overseen the upgrade of the Mangere sewage plant, installation of the Waikato pipeline and the nearly completed burying of the ageing sewer line across Hobson Bay.

He is also chairman of the Auckland Regional Transport Authority.

He has a strong management style, keeps a low public profile and is the highest paid local government official in Auckland, making between $560,000 and $570,000 a year.