Discussion: Regarding Auckland
318 Responses
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It could also do some good IT advice, what with the proposed move to '1 IT data system' for the entire region and all.
I wonder how soon the report reckons thatwill happen...
I've been wondering that too. There's potential for all kinds of mess in trying to unify all those systems in a year, especially given that some of the stakeholders don't have much interest in making it work.
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Ahem, I said, Rusty Brown for Mayor... do I hear a seconder?
I've not lived in Auckland since 1989, but I visited regularly from then until 2002 when I left Wgtn for Sydney. I get back at least once a year now.
It occurs to me that the merits of a supercity city can't really be assessed relative to others since they're all located within a specific set of other government arrangements. Someone up-threads noted that Brivegas is largely funded by the State, Sydney is the same.
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I've been wondering that too. There's potential for all kinds of mess in trying to unify all those systems in a year
Easy, peasy, lemon squeezy. And they should add a whole bunch of extra functionality to it as well, to free up frontline staff's time, and reduce cost back-room bureaucracy. And they should come up with a great acronym for the project, say INtegrated Council Information System (INCIS).
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It could also do some good IT advice, what with the proposed move to '1 IT data system' for the entire region and all.
Well apparently there is only 8 'IT data systems' across all of Auckland already. Them councils have got pretty nifty Enterprise Architects by the sound of it.
</sarcasm> (Thanks Emma)The unification of those will not be done prior to establishment I wager. Not even tried.
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Brian seems a possibility. Just so you're aware, Bruce is taken (the area around Milton was formerly the Bruce County).
Wayne County would be fabulous. And perfect for the Big Gay Out!
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Bart Janssen - great post!
Auckland is not rated the fifth best city in which to live for no reason. And who cares if we have Westies at one end, the blue rinse brigade at the other, the North Shorites and the South Aucklanders, not to mention the inner city black collar set (anyone been to little day out at Westmere Primary - eek!).
All cities are made up of a diverse population, FGS, even Christchurch and Wellington, though maybe not quite as diverse.
What actually seems to be coming through is a watered down version of what I would have preferred to see - a stronger ARC with a brief to look after all the regional issues including amenities and transport (read not just roads, but roads too) and now many more 'local' councils for participation.
The only problem is the local councils have no budget and no influence = no power.
Business models do not encourage participatory democracy.
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A word about Banks' chances of being super-mayor:
In his favour: he has money and an organisation and a strong brand.
Against: contrary to popular belief, he did not score a "landslide" in the Auckland mayoralty. He won with almost exactly the same number of votes he got when Dick Hubbard stuffed him in the previous election.
People weren't enarmoured with Banks, they were disillusioned with Hubbard (similar story in the Auckland Central electorate in November, actually) , and so they didn't turn up.
Turnout is Banks' enemy. Anyone campaigning against him should be well aware of that.
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Here's a cynic's view.
The last thing central government wants is a functional Auckland that knows what it wants and has enough clout (and the funding) to get it. The current arrangements let CG hand out the pork in a manner that suits its interests. CG can always claim a lack of mandate for inconvenient projects.
While the new super-city might be able to claim greater unity in its requests, there will still be dependence on Wellington for much of the money. There appears to be no alternative to rates as a source of funding. The proposed fuel tax was stopped (and along with it, the projects that a dangerously united Auckland intended to fund out of it, to be replaced by an amended list that better suits CG interests). With Rodney stirring along a low-level rates revolt, rates as a source will not grow significantly. So the super-city will still depend on Wellington for the allocation of pork.
I also suspect the proposed structure will be so unpopular that it, along with any meaningful reform, will be tossed out.
And the status quo will prevail.
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Ahem, I said, Rusty Brown for Mayor... do I hear a seconder?
That's the second flattering shoulder-tap I've had today! But, er, no. I like my current job.
And my patience for long meetings is probably only slightly better than Pam Corkery's.
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Like Russell said
Turnout is Banks' enemy. Anyone campaigning against him should be well aware of that.
But also vote splitting if there are too many candidates ranged against him
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That's the second flattering shoulder-tap I've had today! But, er, no. I like my current job.
I can understand your or anyone's reluctance. I suspect it's a pretty crappy job, however it's vitally important job that needs desparately fresh talent.
You'll make up your own mind, all I'm saying is that absent an alternative, the usual crowd will get in, one side or t'other, and bugger all will change.
The structure of the city is one element in need of attention, the people leading it are the other. Major symbolic changes like this can achieve little if they're not well led. In all seriousness, I hope you give it consideration and if you don't wish to run, get behind someone who's not a retread of one sort or another.
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As it is the people of Manukau have a center that they can relate to
A (westfield) shopping centre?
I don't like the way the "supercity" is going to be run, but it's ridiculous to suggest that the outer parts of Auckland's urban sprawl are cities in any real sense. Has anyone ever, honestly, considered a night out in downtown Manukau? Or downtown Waitakere? Or even downtown North Shore City?
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That's the second flattering shoulder-tap I've had today! But, er, no. I like my current job.
Ok, that clears the way for my bid then. We have just held our inaugural election campaign meeting and already some very interesting ideas are formulating.
As this is about saving money and (cough) improving services to Auckland we have decided to move the new council's head offices to Wellington. This will save a considerable sum on travel and ensure that Auckland gets fair and constant recognition at government levels when it comes to doling out NZ taxpayer dollars.
Obviously the Auckland market will still be important to the super council *and* we will continue to employ lots of Aucklanders in Auckland to deliver the best quality services to our voters.
This is just one of many great Wellington Wisdom ideas we are working on. All I can say for now is...watch this space.
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"But also vote splitting if there are too many candidates ranged against him"
Yep... that's how he got in the first time.... I've forgotten who the candidates were, but there were two nearly equal quality left-ish candidates, who nicely split the left vote so that Banksy got in. Then, he pissed everybody off, and Hubbard won on the "anyone but banksy" vote...
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Given it's a SuperCity, with a SuperMayor, I have recommended this guy elsewhere...
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What's Georgina Beyer up to these days? Could she be persuaded?
And why does everyone keep using the boring old locution "super city", when we could just cut to the chase and start talking about a Mega City?
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Megatropolis surely, if we're going to get ideas about our (their?) real status.
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Why stop at mega ?
Megalopolis anyone ?
Can I nominate Yoshimi for Mayor ?
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I hereby accuse Kyle Matthews of stealing my thoughts.....
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You need 10 million to be a megacity.
Everyone git breedin'.
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Is anyone else wondering whether the Supercity could be the first step in a plan to centralise control of public assets and services prior to hocking them off into private (corporate) ownership. Unless the local Community Boards have some budget or voting power they will be a token to keep people quiet while the real power gets centralised. Would you trust Banksie with your assets?
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Let's hope our Super City doesn't become like Super Rugby.
i.e. the bigger it gets the less super it becomes.
We need someone to clean up this town and put a stop to waste, extravagance and endless consultation. How about this man?
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Why stop at mega ?
Ah, the word you are looking for is 'Quantum'.
If elected, I will make Auckland the world's first Quantum City.
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Is anyone else wondering whether the Supercity could be the first step in a plan to centralise control of public assets and services prior to hocking them off into private (corporate) ownership.
No, the first step was Rodney getting the post of Monster of Local Government. He's made no secret of his desire to get councils out of the provision of anything other than "core" services, which one assumes is code for having them contract out all their operations other than rubber-stamping paperwork for building plans.
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Just a point
People have been saying that the local sub-councils have no money.
That isn't true at all. They have no authority to levy money from the citizens of the area. Instead they will have to lobby (suck up to) the super mayor.
But they will do just that and they will have a budget. And my guess is that budget will not be small and it will employ lots of nice folks to keep the local area clean/pretty/artistic/etc/etc/etc
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