However, some councillors opposed to Manukau’s official stance are suggesting another model, including a separate east Auckland community council composed of Botany, Clevedon, Howick and Pakuranga.
• The Manukau City Council submission proposes that Auckland be divided into northern, central and southern cities under a Greater Auckland Council (Times, April 17).
Papakura and Franklin districts would merge with Manukau into the southern city, Counties-Manukau, with an estimated population of 435,000.
For the southern city, the number of councillors would be cut from 37 to 22 and mayors from 3 to 1.
On the regional level, there would be a Greater Auckland Council with an elected Auckland regional mayor and 24 councillors: 12 elected on a regional basis, nine city and three Maori.
At the third level there would be community boards.
Manurewa councillor John Walker supports the plan, calling it “the most logical”.
He says it took many months, hours of workshops and had been “well discussed”, and the three cities could serve as a counterweight to the monopoly of a Greater Auckland Council.
“I wouldn’t like to see one city,” says Mr Walker.
He fears under other plans unique communities in Manukau would be ignored, but says whatever is decided on, “somebody is going to be disappointed”.
• However, the dissenting group of Manukau city councillors is opposed to the submission, saying it “merely serves to protect the positions of local politicians and officials”.
Botany councillor Michael Williams says seven councillors, including almost all east Manukau reps, support an alternative submission. They are Jami-Lee Ross, Dick Quax, David Collings, Sharon Stewart, Sylvia Taylor and Bob Wichman.
The group wants Manukau divided into eastern and southern councils with about six others under a Greater Auckland Council.
Mr Williams says too many community boards/councils would not be heard by a Greater Auckland Council.
“We do have two broader communities of understanding,” says Mr Williams, of the Manukau population.
“We’re getting a situation within Manukau where people are feeling disenfranchised.”
The alternative plan will add to the conflicting ideas submitted to the Royal Commission already by Auckland’s regional and seven city councils.
• Franklin and Papakura councils’ submissions do not want their respective areas to become part of Manukau. Mr Williams says they would feel disenfranchised. “What’s the point?”
• Pakuranga and Botany community boards have made submissions supporting a Greater Auckland Council.
• The Howick Community Board is divided on a specific plan but is submitting that Howick should not be incorporated into a larger area, and that powers for community boards should be strengthened.
