Auckland's top transport expert exits

Auckland's top regional transport bureaucrat has been poached by the Government to head the Ministry of Transport.

Alan Thompson, who was recruited from Australia less than two years ago as founding chief executive of the Auckland Regional Transport Authority, has been appointed Secretary for Transport to succeed Dr Robin Dunlop when he retires in several weeks.

Auckland Regional Council chairman Mike Lee said Mr Thompson's departure would be a big loss to the ARC's transport subsidiary, but he was confident the appointment would give Auckland a rare and valuable friend in Wellington.