Single-city campaign seeks cash from public

The group lobbying for one city, one voice and one plan for Auckland has decided to register the "OneAuckland Trust" and is inviting the public to join the cause.

Former Local Government Commission chairman and public body consultant Grant Kirby said a meeting last Thursday of about 25 selected people highlighted the need for a leadership role to push the principle of one-city as soon as possible.

Mr Kirby, who floated the idea in August before the region's four big-city mayors hatched a radical plan to overhaul the region's local government structure, said the trust wanted an input into a subsequent review of regional governance.

While the four mayors' contentious plan to re-structure Auckland into three enlarged councils under one Greater Auckland Council was ditched just a week after being mooted, it did spark a review of regional governance that could lead to changes in time for next year's local body elections.

Mr Kirby said the trust hoped to research how Aucklanders felt about the one-city concept.

Mr Kirby, who was also a former Auckland Council director, is the public face of the trust. Other trustees are businesswoman Rosanne Meo and businessman Bob Fenwick. Veteran public relations operators Cedric Allen and Malcolm Boyle, and lobbyist Tony Garnier, have also been working behind the scenes on the trust.

Mr Kirby said about 100 people had so far wanted to join the trust.

The region has 264 elected mayors, councillors and community board members for 1.3 million people.

A Herald survey of the seven councils and Auckland Regional Council found a workforce of 5482, gobbling up $337 million a year in wages, and eight chief executives costing nearly $2.2 million in salaries. Local politicians cost a further $8.9 million in salaries and allowances.

* People interested in joining the trust can contact Mr Kirby at PO Box 145, Postal Centre, Kaukapakapa.