Mayors push for more local focus in Super City

Andrew Williams, left, greets John Banks at the start of the mayoral forum. Photo / Martin Sykes

Auckland mayors will urge a full ward system for the Super City council when they meet Local Government Minister Rodney Hide today.

The Government plans for eight of the 20 councillors to be elected at large, raising fears the system will favour political blocs and the rich and famous who can afford city-wide campaigns.

Sending one letter to the region's 500,000 ratepayers will cost a candidate $250,000 in postage alone.

The mayors yesterday decided that representation would be one of the main issues to discuss with Mr Hide. They will also be pressing for greater democracy for 20 to 30 local boards under the super Auckland Council.

All the city leaders present, with the exception of Auckland City Mayor John Banks, want a full ward system to guarantee fair representation.

Although Mr Banks did not sign up to the accord on representation, it is understood he is relaxed on the issue.

Manukau Mayor Len Brown said anything other than a full ward system was undemocratic.

"The ward system takes the affordability issue out of a big, meaty, expensive campaign," he said. "It opens up the possibility of ethnic representation and, in my view, the better possibility of cross-gender representation."

The Royal Commission on Auckland Governance recommended 10 councillors elected at large and 10 from wards - eight from urban wards and two from rural wards.

It said the mix of city-wide and ward-based councillors would ensure a balance of regional and more local perspectives on the Auckland Council.

The Government tweaked this to 12 ward councillors and eight councillors at large.

The model has raised fears in Rodney and Franklin that the rural voice will be limited to two seats.

Rodney Mayor Penny Webster, who chaired yesterday's mayoral forum meeting, said the tone was good and the mayors pulled together to focus on how to move forward.

Auckland City Mayor John Banks and North Shore Mayor Andrew Williams, who traded insults at the weekend via text messages, were on their best behaviour.

Mr Banks was the last mayor to enter the meeting in a room opposite his office at the Auckland Town Hall.

He went around the table greeting colleagues, including a handshake with Mr Williams.

DIFFERING VIEWS

ROYAL COMMISSION
* 10 ward councillors
* 10 councillors elected at large

GOVERNMENT
* 12 ward councillors
* 8 councillors elected at large

AUCKLAND MAYORS
* 20 ward councillorse