Transition chief quits local govt posts

Mark Ford. Photo / Supplied

Mark Ford has stepped down from two local government jobs to avoid any impression of a conflict of interest to head the agency designing Auckland's Super City.

Mr Ford - chief executive of the region's water wholesaler, Watercare Services, and chairman of the Auckland Regional Transport Authority - was yesterday named as chairman of the five-member Auckland Transition Agency.

The other members are Queen's Counsel Miriam Dean, accountant and BNZ chairman John Waller, former Rodney Mayor John Law and businessman and former Maori Television chairman Wayne Walden.

Local Government Minister Rodney Hide said concerns about conflicts of interest and Mr Ford taking an executive chairman role held up the announcement of the agency at the Cabinet on Monday.

Prime Minister John Key said after the Cabinet meeting that it was important to find a chairman with the right leadership skills for such a big job.

Yesterday, Mr Ford said he was resigning with "sadness" from running Watercare for the past 15 years and from the Auckland Regional Transport Authority to "avoid any possible impression of conflict".

What's more, the 59-year-old said he would not look for any future employment with the Super City once the agency wraps up in October next year.

The agency has the large, complex, controversial and public job of restructuring Auckland's eight councils, 6300 staff and $28 billion worth of assets into a single entity by October 31 next year.

It has been given wide powers to effect the transition.

Mr Hide said Mr Ford would be paid a salary of $540,000 with a performance bonus up to 10 per cent. Mr Ford is currently paid between $560,000 and $570,000 as chief executive of Watercare and a further $80,000 for chairing the transport authority.

Mr Ford said: "I want to do this job because I'm absolutely optimistic on the result ... I think the future for Auckland is magnificent under this process."

Mr Hide said the agency had the most demanding and important corporate assignment in New Zealand. It would be accountable to himself, the Ministers of Finance and Transport, the Secretary of Local Government and the Office of the Auditor-General.

Waitakere Mayor Bob Harvey said Mr Ford was a safe set of hands to guide Auckland through a delicate moment in New Zealand's economy.

Labour leader Phil Goff said the agency members appeared competent but Auckland would for the first time be run by a non-democratically elected body to ram through major reforms without proper consultation.

Q & A WITH MARK FORD

Why have you taken the job to head the Auckland Transition Agency?

I came back to New Zealand (in 1987) with one purpose, to live in Auckland. This gives me a great opportunity to do something for Auckland. I do agree with the broad principles of the Royal Commission on Auckland Governance that Auckland does need to talk with one voice, it does need to be accountable more, it does need to be transparent and effective.

What do you think is the hardest part of the job?

It is a very tight timeframe. That is my skill. I have delivered projects and this is a technical process. This is not public policy. This is following project guidelines and delivering on time.

What do you say to those who claim you have a conflict of interest?

We are all conflicted from the standpoint that Auckland is our home. That is an emotional conflict but from a legal standpoint I am certainly not conflicted in this role. I have removed all opportunities for perception of conflict of interest by resigning those two regional positions.

What are your plans for the water industry?

I believe the consumer will get better service and lower pricing through consolidation and I hope I'm proved right. I will be absolutely ruthless at board level to make sure any issues to do with Watercare are not dealt with by me, even though I will no longer have a technical conflict.

Do you envisage large job losses from restructuring the eight councils into a single entity?

It is too early to say. But I can assure you that when that process has been undertaken, nobody will suggest there hasn't been fairness. Is Mark Ford going to be the public face of the transition?I will certainly front it but I'm not going to get into issues that I'm not an expert on.