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A move by NZ First to disestablish Auckland Transport (AT) has caught both Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown and councillors by surprise.
At a Governing Body meeting on August 29, councillors approved AT’s statement of intent, which sets out its strategic approach and priorities for the next three years. But on the same day, New Zealand First introduced in Parliament, a Members’ Bill to restore democratic control over transport management in Auckland by disestablishing AT and returning control to council.
New Zealand First leader Winston Peters said the Local Government (Auckland Council) (Disestablishment of Auckland Transport) Amendment Bill was intended to restore democratic oversight, control and accountability to Auckland’s transport decisions, ensuring that decision making resides with elected representatives.
“This bill is about bringing democratic accountability back to Auckland’s transport system,” Peters said.
“Auckland’s transport system is in disarray with very little input or influence by the sitting council. AT has been a failed experiment from the start.
“It has held too much power, with insufficient accountability to council and to the people of Auckland.”
Cr Mike Lee said Peters was working on the assumption that transferring AT directly back to Auckland Council meant that council had a better way and a clearer idea on how transport should be administered. He said it was the council’s responsibility to figure out a better way and more cost-effective way, with better public outcomes.
Mayor Brown was surprised by the news and said it was the first he had heard about it.
“It’s just a response from the general uprising of people and grumpiness about AT. It is not something that I have pushed for,” Brown said.
“It was a huge error in judgement that the biggest council in New Zealand is the only one that doesn’t set its own Regional Land Transport Plan. That was a mistake, and I have yet to hear anyone who says that we are wrong for trying to take back control of the policies and directions.”
Cr Alf Filipaina said he was surprised that Peters had not consulted with the mayor or AT about the bill.
“To the Deputy Prime Minister, [I say] stay out of our business. I am going to defend Auckland Transport with the work that they have done since I’ve been around this table because I don’t think it is that dire,” Filipaina said.
Cr Maurice Williamson said it would take a minimum of two years for the bill to be drawn, heard and passed.
“Members’ bills go into a biscuit tin draw and there are currently 64 bills in there. There’s only a couple draws on every second Wednesday, and others will be added. It has a very low risk of being drawn,” Williamson said.
Brown said he would meet with the deputy prime minister to discuss the development in the coming days and would keep councillors updated.
