Pre-election news

The reorganisation of Auckland’s local governance structure, which started with the appointment of a Royal Commission in 2008, will culminate when voters go to the polls between September 17 and October 9. Stay up-to-date on this page with candidate and election news.

• Candidates face the voters at Snells
  Rodney's Ward and Board candidates made a pitch for votes at a meeting in Snells Beach last month.
• Little enthusiasm for election
  If a recent street poll is any indication, voters in the Mahurangi area are feeling disinterested and confused about the current Local Government election
• Public service members quiz candidates on privatisation The Public Service Association (PSA) has launched a new website for its members and the public to help people make an informed choice when voting in local body elections.
• Candidates line-up for historic poll
  In total, 542 candidates are contesting the 170 vacancies on the new Auckland supercity – 23 for mayor, 100 for council and 419 for the local boards. In Rodney, there are four candidates for the Rodney Ward and 21 for the Rodney Local Board.
• Little vision from candidates for Auckland Council
  There were few surprises from mayoral rivals Len Brown and John Banks when they faced voters at the Orewa College Arts & Events Centre in September.
• Mayoral candidates debate
  Hibiscus Matters will talk to mayoral candidates about their views on local issues and publish the responses each month leading up to election day in October.
• Rodney Ward candidates
  The new Rodney ward, which encompasses the rural areas of the former Rodney District, will be represented by one councillor on the new Auckland Council.
• Albany Ward candidates
  The Albany Ward encompasses two Local Board areas - Hibiscus & Bays, and Upper Harbour.
• Rodney Local Board: Wellsford and Warkworth subdivision candidates
  There are 21 candidates for nine positions on the Rodney Local Board. Within the Local Board are four subdivisions - Wellsford, Warkworth, Dairy Flat and Kumeu. Find our more about the Wellsford and Warkworth subdivision candidates.
• Hibiscus & Bays Local Board: Hibiscus Coast division
  All candidates for the Hibiscus Coast subdivision of the Hibiscus and Bays Local Board (minus two that are also Ward candidates and Virginia Warriner, who we were unable to contact) were given the opportunity to present their case for election. 

Features & Articles

• Rodney ready to turn out the lights
  A total of 134 years of municipal history drew to a close last month when Rodney District Council held its final full council meeting on September 30.
• Rodney arts fund now in Auckland Council’s coffers
  Rodney District Council’s plan to make $277,000 available to the Hibiscus Coast’s artists has been scuppered, after a recommendation not to proceed was made by the Auckland Transition Agency (ATA).

• Gentleman of Council ready to take life easier
  Retiring Rodney councillor Grahame Powell says the only promise worth making in an election campaign is that “you’ll do your best”.
• Postcodes remain in new Supercity
  Postcodes will become more critical to the delivery of Auckland mail following the change to the super city structure.
• Debt legacy confronts new Council
  Equitable handling of the combined debt of the new Auckland City is looming as the major financial and policy issue facing soon-to-be elected Councillors and Community board members.
• Rodney's unitary bill fails
  Parliament gave Rodney District Council’s unitary authority bill a definite thumbs-down last month, voting it out before it reached select committee stage. The bill was Council’s last-ditch attempt to keep Rodney out of the supercity.
• Costs mount in Rodney’s supercity challenge
  While Rodney District Council remains coy on the full cost to ratepayers of its campaign to withdraw from the Auckland supercity, strategy general manager Rory Palmer has confirmed that at least $45,000 has been spent from the strategic planning and research budgets.

Media Releases

• ATA announces reduction in Council staff numbers
  The number of staff who will be employed by the new Auckland Council and its subsidiaries is outlined today (Tuesday, 28 Sept 2010) by the Auckland Transition Agency.
• Green Party calls for transparency on payouts to top brass
• Business spells out plan for Auckland
• Auckland Spatial Plan Conference
• Government announces CCO appointments
• Mayoral candidates environment plans
• Mayors reveal all
• Super libraries for Super City
• Mayor concedes defeat
• Further senior appointment made - 23 July
• Rodney's Unitary Authority Bill introduced
• Bankers chosen
• Council salaries announced
• Senior transport appointments announced
• Further appointments announced   
• Senior executive appointments announced
• Office locations chosen

Resources

• The Institute of Public Policy, AUT University
  The institute's latest newsletter explores the implications of Auckland restructuring for the well being of Auckland's communities with keynote articles on social issues from a range of perspectives: academic research, case studies, community empowerment by dialogue and reflections of a community leader as he ponders creation of life, the universe and everything. To read the Institute's submission to the Auckland Transition Agency on their Local Board and Council-Controlled Organisation discussion documents click here.
• Auckland Transition Authority
  The agency was established by the Government to amalgamate the councils across the Auckland Region into the new Auckland Council by October 2010.
• Local Government Commission
  The Local Government Commission has released its determinations on the wards, local boards and boundaries for the new Auckland Council, along with consequential transition issues.