Brian Rudman: All this time Pol Pot's been in the Waitakeres

A year ago Waitakere City Mayor Bob Harvey grumpily dismissed my suggestion he was angling for a new job when he called for a Lord Mayor of Auckland to represent the region as an ambassador in Wellington. Yesterday he contacted me to say if someone has to do the job, then he is willing, after all, to take up the challenge.

"Someone needs to stand up and say, 'I'm willing to be that leader', and I'm ready to be the mayor of Greater Auckland if necessary. Pardon my unbridled ego and call me Pol Pot, but that's exactly what is needed."

He was responding to Monday's column about the Metro Project on Auckland's future and the conclusion of its team of overseas experts that Auckland needed "major governance reform" if it was to become a world-class city-region.

Mr Harvey was so fired up after an earlier session with the Metro team in May that he sent off an application for the job to Deputy Prime Minister Michael Cullen and Auckland Issues Minister Judith Tizard.

He told Dr Cullen the outcome of the symposium on the future of the region "was hugely positive and it called for leadership and an agreed timetable to ensure that by the year 2011 Auckland can deliver a 21st- century city to host both the Rugby World Cup and the America's Cup".

He said: "The speakers continued to bring the subject round to leadership and over the weekend I contemplated who might be able, willing and available for such a task. Therefore I am writing to you offering myself as a candidate. I believe it is leadership that is missing in this massive project and I think we would benefit hugely from a focused and committed strategy. I believe the time is right to set up a single office in Auckland to do the task that is needed.

"Naturally I would need to discuss my future as Mayor of Waitakere but if Cabinet felt such an assignment was favoured I would work on both my mayoralty, to a successful conclusion, and take full responsibility for this new position near the end of this year."

Nearly two months on, Mr Harvey has not yet received a reply. But this hasn't dampened his enthusiasm. As for backing from his fellow Auckland mayors, he doesn't know. Until now, they would not have known of the letter. But North Shore Mayor George Wood and Auckland City's Dick Hubbard are supporters of a one-city solution to Auckland's woes. Manukau Mayor Sir Barry Curtis favours a three-city answer.

On Monday, I wrote that it would take a Pol Pot or a volcanic explosion to concentrate the minds of local politicians long enough to agree to any reorganisation of Auckland's political landscape. Mr Harvey seems to be offering a bit of both. Talk of explosive. He wants legislation creating a single city passed in time for next year's local elections. He wants the mayor to be elected for a six-year term and councillors for four years - with the first council to remain in office until after the World Cup is over to ensure continuity.

Experience hints at nothing happening in Auckland politics that fast. But maybe the stars are coming into a unique alignment. Either that, or Bob's brainstorms are infectious. Certainly there's a mood for change among voters facing their latest rates bill, and among politicians and voters alike, stumped by the prospect of paying for regional projects such as the $320 million rebuild of Eden Park.

Only a week or so back, Mr Wood was telling me of his support for the Metro project's call for a joint approach to Auckland's challenges. His preference was for the regional council acting as a "unifying umbrella organisation" but was open to suggestions. "We're only 1.3 million people and if you go overseas, you don't say I'm from North Shore City and try and explain what that means, you say you're from Auckland."

He said the business community was saying funding for the big projects would not be an issue if people had confidence that Auckland was working as a unified entity, as opposed to everyone doing their own thing.

As for Mr Hubbard, he didn't want to speak on Mr Harvey's leadership ambitions, or his own, but agrees Auckland's governance structure needs addressing "in months rather than years".

One City. Could it really be happening?