Super City: Latest updates

Councillors on the Super City's new Auckland Council have been breaking into songs and promising great things in their maiden speeches. We keep you up-to-date with the latest developments.

1.28pm: A tribute to unity has rung out at the closing of the first Auckland Council meeting. Mayor Len Brown has praised his so far undivided council for their conduct at the start of a new city. It is a good sign for the future, he says.

'We couldn't have got this city off in terms of policy and process in any better way."

1.27pm: Deputy Mayor Penny Hulse has warned there may be some nasty surprises once the cost of transition to the Auckland council is counted.

It will have been an expensive process, she says. She is urging councillors to put aside their political differences to find savings in future.

1.01pm: Mending relationships between Auckland and other centres will be a priority for the new Auckland Council leadership, Mayor Len Brown says.

He said Aucklanders were referred to "only half-jokingly" as jaffas. He said that needed to change.

"We have a repair job to do in terms of the view of us by other New Zealanders. We need to stand beside, no better, no worse."

12.37pm: Another speaker has burst into song at the first meeting of the Auckland council. This time North Shore Councillor George Wood has put his spin on Steve Goodman's City of New Orleans, covered by Johnny cash, Willie Nelson, John Denver and others.

His speech reflected on the reasons for his losing the North Shore mayoralty in 2007 after 9 years in office. He promised to work harder to keep rates down in the Auckland Council.

12.36pm: Former Rodney Mayor Penny Webster has shot down criticism of her former role as an Act MP.

Her days in central politics were the least productive of her life, she says.

She wants to cheer up central Aucklanders.

"Walk down Queen Street and they're all miserable. Walk round Snells Beach and they're all smiling."

That change can be achieved through hard work, she says.

"We've had a lot of hui but now we've got to do a lot of doey."

12.18pm Olympic champion Sir John Walker has recalled his running days in a call to action to his fellow councillors.

"When I was running we had we had a choice. The choice was to get out of bed in the morning and put your shoes on. If you didn't do that then your opposition surely did."

He talked of his work with youth in south Auckland through the Field of Dreams initiative, which now distributes $5m in grants every year.

The new council must work for those youth, he says.

"They don't care about roads or infrastructure, they care about where the next meal is coming from."

12.00pm: Citizens and Ratepayers councillor Jami-Lee Ross is promising to oppose overspending in the new council.

The 24-year-old has warned Mayor Len Brown that major projects have to fit in a budget.

"Visions are important, but visions have to be affordable."

That will mean lobbying central government for funding, he says.

11.37am: Whau councillor Noelene Raffills closed her maiden speech with a solo rendition of How Great Thou Art.

Her speech focussed on the importance of making Auckland a great place for families.

11.08am: Veteran councillor Richard Northey is making the case for better social and housing policy for Auckland.

He says housing in Auckland has been a disgrace, especially in his south Auckland ward.

"We can't get economic well-being without social well-being."

He has joined former Auckland Regional Council chairman Mike Lee in paying tribute to legendary Auckland mayor Dove Myer 'Robbie' Robinson.

10.30am: Councillor Michael Goudie is delivering a maiden speech with a difference. The 25-year-old says he is not a polished politician "in fact I had to [search on] wikipedia what a maiden speech was this morning".

The former Rodney councillor ran a successful social media based campaign. He is a former NZ motorsport champion.

10.26am: Citizens and Ratepayers co-leader Christine Fletcher is calling for better city planning in her maiden speech.

The "unashamedly middle class" upbringing she enjoyed is now becoming out of reach for many, she says.

Mrs Fletcher says she wants to see that fixed under the new council structure.

She is promising to check the affordability of every decision. The council should do business "elegantly but conservatively", she says.

"We don't want to see rates rise and I'm sure the Mayor doesn't either."

9.55am: The first full Auckland Council meeting is under way

Councillor Arthur Anae is delivering his maiden speech to the new Council.

He will be followed by other councillors, the Deputy Mayor and Mayor.

Meanwhile, staff are still trying to get their computers and phones up and running.

In a sign of the new regional approach, a Herald call to the main Council line was redirected to a call centre in the "Henderson hub".

9.20am:Volunteers are turning out to make sure Mahurangi Regional Park gets a clean start in the new Auckland supercity.

It is the focus in the first of five 'Volunteer Tuesdays' that will run every week until December 7.

Other reserves in line for a spruce up include Long Bay Regional Park and Shakespear Regional Park.

Those wanting to participate in today's clean-up only have to turn up at Mahurangi Regional Park on Ngarewa Dr between 9:30am and 12:30pm and ask for something to do.

Tasks and projects will vary depending on volunteer numbers, skills and weather.