Mayor blindsided by bill to disestablish AT

A bill to disestablish Auckland Transport (AT) has been introduced to parliament, to the surprise of Auckland councillors and the mayor. 

At Auckland Council’s Governing Body meeting on August 29, councillors approved Auckland Transport’s statement of intent. 

At the same time, New Zealand First was introducing a member’s bill to parliament, seeking to disestablish AT. The bill is in the name of Jamie Arbuckle, a NZ First MP and current Marlborough District Councillor.

In a press release, Winston Peters said that disestablishing AT would restore democratic control and accountability over Auckland’s transport system, ensuring that decision making resides with elected representatives.

“Auckland’s transport system is in disarray with very little input or influence by the sitting Council,” he said, adding that AT has been “a failed experiment from the start”.

“It has held too much power, with insufficient accountability to the Council and to the people of Auckland. Aucklanders deserve a transport system that addresses their needs and is governed by those they have elected to represent them. 

By disestablishing Auckland Transport, the Bill allows for the creation of a new council-controlled organisation, which will be subject to the existing provisions under the Local Government Act 2002.

“Every Aucklander should have confidence that their city’s transport system is being managed with transparency and democratic integrity.”

Cr Mike Lee was the first to acknowledge the news at the governing body meeting. 

He said that NZ First was working on the assumption that Auckland Council has a better way; a clearer idea on how transport should be administered. 

Lee said it was the council’s responsibility to figure out a better and more cost-effective way to deliver transport, with better public outcomes. 

Mayor Wayne Brown said he was surprised to hear of the Bill.

“I think it’s a response from the general uprising of people and grumpiness about AT. It is not something that I have pushed for,” Brown said. 

“I think 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 get control of those policies and directions.” 

Cr Alf Filipaina said he was surprised that Peters had not consulted with the mayor or AT about the bill and asked the deputy prime minister to “stay out of our business”. 

“I am going to defend Auckland Transport for the work that they have done since I’ve been around this table because I don’t think it is that dire,” Filipaina said. 

The bill must be drawn from the biscuit tin in order to be considered by Parliament.

Brown said he would meet with the deputy prime minister to discuss the development and keep councillors updated.