Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown has voiced skepticism regarding a proposal for Kaipara District to combine with north Rodney under the Government’s local government restructuring plans.
Kaipara-North Rodney Proposal
Kaipara District Council (KDC) is supporting a proposal from the North Rodney Action Group to form a new local government entity encompassing Kaipara and north Rodney, and has submitted it to the Government for consideration. Brown cautioned KDC and the North Rodney Action Group to be mindful of the potential challenges ahead.
“We live in a democracy, so good luck to them,” Brown said.
Kaipara Deputy Mayor Gordon Lambeth stated the proposal offers an additional option for the Government to evaluate.
KDC is including the proposed Kaipara-North Rodney Unitary Authority as part of its submission on local government restructuring, with a deadline of February 20.
Population and Boundaries
North Rodney comprises approximately 30% of Auckland Council’s area. Combining its 50,000 residents with Kaipara’s nearly 30,000 would result in a population of around 80,000, a figure North Rodney Action Group chair Bill Foster considers a suitable minimum size for a local government entity.
The proposed entity would significantly alter the existing local government boundary between Northland and Auckland.
Brown declined to comment on whether the entity should be part of Northland, Auckland, or operate independently. He also did not comment on the potential impact on Auckland should Rodney no longer be part of the Super City.
Legislative and Financial Considerations
KDC’s call for consideration comes despite the Government’s stipulation that the Auckland Super City, established in 2010, is not included in the current nationwide local government changes.
Brown warned that the new Kaipara-North Rodney entity would require legislative changes and would likely necessitate further investment “at a time when cost of living pressures and purse strings were tightening for government and ratepayers.”
He highlighted that Watercare has invested $450 million in wastewater services in the Warkworth area, including the new Snell’s Beach wastewater treatment plant, designed to accommodate future population growth. Brown noted this investment was contingent on Warkworth being within Auckland Council boundaries, questioning the likelihood of similar investment under a new unitary authority.
Brown’s Support for Restructuring and Past Efforts
Brown expressed his support for the Government’s current local government shakeup, stating, “It’s no secret I’ve been a long-time advocate for stopping wastage, so I get why the Government’s doing a major shakeup of local government to streamline, simplify and give ratepayers relief.”
From 2007 to 2013, Brown unsuccessfully advocated for Northland local government amalgamation as Mayor of the Far North District Council (FNDC). He proposed a stand-alone unitary authority combining the Far North’s district council functions with those of Northland Regional Council (NRC), arguing that Northland local government was too fragmented and “Whangarei-centric.”
The Local Government Commission (LGC) rejected Brown’s proposal in 2013, citing potential regional impacts. The LGC instead proposed a single region-wide unitary authority, which was ultimately abandoned in 2015 due to lack of support and concerns about successful implementation.
Brown’s 2012 amalgamation push followed the formation of the Auckland Super City in 2010, which combined eight local councils – Rodney, Auckland, Franklin, Manukau, North Shore, Papakura, and Waitakere.
Discover more from Archyworldys
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
