• Howick and Pakuranga Times
ELECTORS in Auckland’s first super-city poll in September and October will be asked to vote for a mayor, ward councillors to represent their local wards on the new council, and for members to serve on local boards.
Through the changes made to local governance legislation, the Auckland Council will have 13 wards from November 1.
Within the wards are local boards and subdivisions.
For example, there are three subdivisions in the Howick ward – Howick, Pakuranga and Botany.
For the Manukau ward, there are two local boards, Mangere-Otahuhu and Otara-Papatoetoe – and subdivisions for Papatoetoe and Otara.
The Auckland Transition Agency (ATA), which is overseeing the super-city reorganisation, says some local board areas are divided into subdivisions for electoral purposes to ensure fair geographical representation on the boards.
All voters in the Howick ward can vote for the super-city mayor, along with other eligible electors in the region. People in the Howick ward will also elect two councillors to represent the area on the new council.
When selecting people to represent their local interests, Howick ward voters choose three candidates for the local board from their local subdivision, so nine are elected.
“[Auckland Council] will focus on the big picture and on region-wide strategic decisions,” says ATA.
“The local boards will represent their local communities, and make decisions on local issues, activities and facilities.
“The wards are determined on the basis of the sense of identity with and belonging to a community or communities, the geographical area of the services provided for a community, the representation of community interests, and achieving a fair ratio of elected members to population.
“The areas for local boards have been established on the same principles as those used for the wards.”
Work and services provided by Manukau City and its council-controlled organisations (CCOs) will be delivered by Auckland Council from November 1 – and its seven new CCOs, including Auckland Transport, which is a “statutory entity”.
Watercare, which replaces organisations such as Manukau Water and Metrowater after October 31, will become a “full” CCO in 2015, says Local Government Minister Rodney Hide. Auckland Council’s other CCOs are Auckland Council Investments, Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development, Regional Facilities Auckland, Auckland Council Property, and Auckland Waterfront Development Agency.
“Auckland Council’s CCOs will be the most accountable of any in the country,” says Mr Hide. “The council will determine their statements of intent, and can dismiss directors or disestablish the CCO if the council’s wishes are not carried out.”
Existing forums representing Maori and Pacific Island communities, such as Auckland and Manukau’s Pacific Island advisory boards, will be replaced.
The council “will be advised by an independent board for mana whenua and Maori of Tamaki Makaurau”, and a Pacific advisory panel.
