Fourth Auckland Council sworn in with climate change focus

Friday, 1 November 2019

Auckland Mayor Phil Goff says there will be a full review of agencies such as Watercare, Auckland Transport, Panuku Development and Regional Facilities Auckland.

Freshly sworn-in Auckland Mayor Phil Goff is creating a committee to focus on climate change.

Goff told the council inauguration ceremony on Friday evening the Environment and Climate Change committee will ensure all council policies report their impact on carbon emissions.

Auckland Mayor Phil Goff after being sworn in for his second term

In his speech at the Town Hall, Goff also announced he would appoint a councillor to each of the council-controlled organisations in a liaison role, the first step in reviewing how well the agencies are working.

A full review of agencies such as Watercare, Auckland Transport, Panuku Development and Regional Facilities Auckland would be conducted by an independent panel to be confirmed by the incoming council.

* Auckland mayor Phil Goff's top advisor David Wood has gone

* Panuku CEO Roger MacDonald resigns after mysterious leave

* Was this Auckland Council's most ineffective three years?**

Goff said the review would consider whether the functions carried out by the CCOs could be done inside the council organisation itself, and areas such as whether the agencies' cultures and how they deal with the public are 'fit for purpose'.

Earlier on Friday, the chief executive of Panuku Roger MacDonald resigned, after events which had drawn criticism from the Mayor, such as the introduction of an executive bonus scheme and the taking of a luxury trip offered by a developer dealing with the agency.

'I am proposing a new CCO oversight committee which will be focussed on interrogating CCOs - and ensuring they are responsive and accountable,' Goff told the Town Hall audience.

The council has four new faces, Pippa Coom who defeated veteran Mike Lee by 319 votes in the Waitematā and Gulf Ward, Tracy Mulholland who beat finance chair Ross Clow in Whau by 190 votes, Angela Dalton who won the Manurewa Ward seat vacated by Sir John Walker, and Shane Henderson who won the seat vacated by Penny Hulse in the Waitakere Ward..

The full committee structure, the naming of chairpersons and Goff's deputy, will be announced on Monday.