Super City blueprint to be unveiled today

The Government will today unveil its blueprint for the Auckland Super City, including more power at the local level and no place for Maori at the table.

Deciding on the powers and functions for 20-30 local boards under the Super City has been the biggest challenge facing the Auckland governance select committee, which releases its report at 3pm today.

Prime Minister John Key has assured Aucklanders that there will be more powers for the local boards after a public backlash to an earlier proposal to give them narrow authority.

The special select committee will drop a controversial plan to have councillors elected at large to the Auckland Council.

This follows widespread opposition to the proposal for eight at-large councillors and 12 ward councillors.

The main fear was that the at-large system would favour the wealthy, celebrities and political blocks who could afford citywide campaigns.

It is understood the select committee will recommend six, multi-member urban wards and two rural wards for Franklin and Rodney with one councillor each.

The exact make-up of the wards and boundaries will be determined by the Local Government Commission by April next year.

A plan, revealed last week by Auckland Regional Council chairman Mike Lee, will see Rodney District split in two. Urban Whangaparaoa and Orewa will stay in the Super City and the area north of Waiwera will be merged with Kaipara District.

Franklin District is expected to be split in two between Auckland and Waikato.

The boundary will be based on the water catchments for Manukau Harbour and the Waikato River.

Last week, Mr Key said there would be no Maori seats on the Auckland Council after it became known that Local Government Minister and Act leader Rodney Hide had threatened to resign over the issue.

The Local Government (Auckland Council) Bill is expected to be passed in Parliament next week. It will be followed by another bill next month or in November setting out a lot of the detail for the Super City.