Where are they now?

The Government's 31 initial appointees to council-controlled organisations were drawn from more than 200 nominations and required to have a strong background in corporate governance. Mayor Len Brown then appointed another 12.

Justice Peter Salmon, who chaired the Royal Commission on Auckland's local government, said there was no reason to assume former mayors and senior staff were there for any other reason than their merits. He was comfortable with the fact that a number had been appointed because he believed they would do a good job.

"People who criticise the appointment of local body politicians to positions on CCOs perhaps don't appreciate the importance of previous local body knowledge and the mana they've built up in positions they've previously held."

Business and economic commentator Rod Oram said most local government politicians made good decisions about whether they could morph into the new culture. Work had been found for them to make the most of their knowledge in a useful way, he said. "It'd be a tragedy if that knowledge was lost."

There had been a bias against members of the ARC in senior jobs in the new structure. "It was almost as though they were saying if there's too many ARC people, we'll get ARC on steroids. If that was their thinking it was wrong. These were people with talent and experience."

Massey University local government expert Andy Asquith pointed out Auckland Council CEO Doug McKay had come from the private sector, without the experience of managing a political environment. "During the waterfront shenanigans Murray McCully said his office had been speaking to Len Brown's office but Len Brown was the last one to find out. As soon as Doug McKay knew Len Brown should've been told."

The situation made Len Brown look like he didn't know what was going on in his own organisation and reflected a lack of understanding of politics.

AUCKLAND TRANSITION AGENCY

Mark Ford, chair

now Auckland Transport chair; has also returned to Watercare CEO

Miriam Dean, board member

now director of Auckland Council Investments

John Law, board member

now director of Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development

Wayne Walden, board member

now TVNZ board member

John Waller, board member

now chairman Eden Park Trust Board

FORMER MAYORS

Andrew Williams, North Shore

now NZ First candidate, North Shore

Penny Webster, Rodney

now Auckland councillor

Len Brown, Manukau

now Auckland Mayor

Mark Ball, Franklin

now store manager Mega Mitre 10 Pukekohe

Calum Penrose, Papakura

now Auckland councillor

John Banks, Auckland City

now ACT candidate, Epsom

Bob Harvey, Waitakere

now chairman Waterfront Auckland

Mike Lee, Chair Auckland Regional Council,

now Auckland councillor; chair council transport committee; Auckland Transport board

FORMER COUNCIL CHIEF EXECUTIVES

John Brockies, North Shore

now CEO, Auckland Regional Facilities

Rodger Kerr-Newell, Rodney

now director BBRINK Ltd consultancy

Lee Auton, Manukau,

now director, Waterfront Development Agency

Sally Davis, Franklin

now board member Department of Conservation, Waikato; director Jowett Consulting Ltd

David Rankin, Auckland City

now CEO, Auckland Council Properties

Theresa Stratton, Papakura

now senior mayoral adviser

Vijaya Vaidyanath, Waitakere

now director of corporate and business services, Darebin City Council, Melbourne