Auckland mayoralty: New leader will inherit a super city struggling to become world class
Sunday, 25 August 2019
ANALYSIS: Whoever ends up in the Auckland Mayor's Albert St office come October 12 will inherit a region with serious growing pains.
This is New Zealand's 'international city', Mayor Phil Goff told us in announcing his candidacy back in 2015.
By default, on account of Auckland's size, Goff is probably right.
But Tāmaki Makaurau has plenty to overcome before it can be considered truly world class.
**READ MORE:
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* Meet the Candidates: 'Imperfect' Auckland mayoral hopeful John Tamihere on his fiery campaign
* Meet the Candidates: 'Grassroots' Auckland mayoral hopeful Craig Lord attacks higher-profile rivals**
In 2019, this is a region as famous for its traffic as its Skytower.
The daily go-slow, which costs the local economy an estimated $1.3 billion a year, is one of a myriad of issues holding the super city back.
Twenty-one contenders have put their hand up to take Auckland forward.
There's Goff, a politician through-and-through who feels stable. The incumbent likes to play it safe – don't expect any policy announcements that'll set the world on fire.
Then there's John Tamihere, an abrasive West Aucklander, whose plans appear so off the wall a cynic might suggest they're more attention-seeking than achievable.
Other vocal candidates are political rookie, motorsport identity and media man Craig Lord and 21-year-old Jannaha Henry, part of a nationwide group of younger candidates hoping to bring a new generation of voices into local democracy.
But what can the Auckland mayor actually do? 'They're only one vote around the table,' people say.
Technically, true.
We saw this in 2018, when Goff failed to wrangle enough support to move speedway from Western Springs to make way for a new international cricket venue.
The mayor's role is more about influence – whoever ends up in the mayoral chains will have plenty of it.
Voters only need to look at Goff's first term to see this.
His controversial Auckland fuel tax headlined a suite of policies floated during his 2016 campaign.
Less than two years into his first term, most councillors agreed with Goff's plan to raise $1.5b over the next 10 years.
The fuel tax passed with a 13-7 majority.
The Auckland mayor, who has his or her own staff, also has far greater capacity to order reports than their colleagues on the council's governing body.
We saw this last year, when a furore erupted over access to a Goff-commissioned $1 million PWC paper looking at the pros and cons of building a new stadium at Auckland's waterfront.
Officially, according to Auckland Council, the mayor is charged with promoting a vision, showing leadership to achieve said vision, ensuring engagement with Aucklanders and their council and leading planning, policy and budget work.
They also have the power to appoint, with Goff giving his allies influential committee chair slots this term – the likes of Chris Darby, Ross Clow and Penny Hulse have rarely crossed his worship.
And whoever holds these mayoral powers in two months' time will have plenty of challenges to overcome.
'Our newly-elected mayor, councillors and local board members will have to make some tough decisions about the prioritisation of our funding and resources,' Auckland Council chief executive Stephen Town says.
'We could look at further asset sales, increasing service fees or public transport fares and rates.'
The council's pre-election report poses a number of questions, the next Auckland Mayor will be expected to find answers.
How do we keep Auckland moving? The City of Sails remains dominated by cars, with traffic congestion choking the region daily.
How do we keep pace with demand? Four out of 10 New Zealanders will live in Auckland by 2048, but right now there's an estimated shortfall of 45,000 dwellings.
The super city is at a crossroads and needs a mayor to steer it in the right direction.
Who will be the driver?