Testing time facing aspirants for Auckland regional transport agency

By WAYNE THOMPSON

Politicians must face the same skills-selection process as independent directors if they want to get jobs on the new Auckland regional transport agency.

All directors will be appointed on the basis of "demonstrated competencies" for the Auckland Regional Transport Authority, which will be in charge of planning and procuring all public transport services and local roads.

The same test applies to elected members of local bodies who are appointed to the authority and to another new agency, Auckland Regional Holdings, which will take over the $1 billion assets of Infrastructure Auckland on June 1.

An appointment and pay policy for the new bodies was adopted yesterday by the Auckland Regional Council.

The Government has given the ARC and the region's seven city and district councils until the end of August to appoint the transport agency's directors.

If the deadline is missed, the Government will make its own appointments to ensure the new agency is ready to tackle the task of strategy, planning and delivery of transport, other than state highways and rail tracks.

ARC councillors yesterday gave the go-ahead for advertising to begin tomorrow for board recruits.

Applications for directorships will be vetted by Sheffield Accord recruitment consultants, who will prepare a shortlist of candidates for an appointments panel that will be made up of local authority representatives.

Councillors agreed that the size of the transport authority's board could range from five to nine members with an ideal size of seven, including the chair.

Between four and six members could be needed for the regional holdings board, with the ideal size of five.

A report to the council says remuneration was set at conservative levels of the market's valuation of skills.

The transport authority chair will receive $70,000 to $80,000 a year and its directors $35,000 to $40,000.

The regional holdings chair will receive $45,000 to $55,000 and directors $20,000 to $25,000.

Appointments will be for three-year terms with eligibility for two renewals at the discretion of the council and based on performance.

Transport body

* From July 1, the Auckland Regional Council group takes responsibility for transport and is appointing directors for a new council-controlled organisation called the Auckland Regional Transport Authority.

* The authority will plan for and provide public transport services and local roads, and carry out the Regional Land Transport Strategy.

* This is a condition of a funding boost to the region of $1.62 billion over 10 years, partly funded by a 5.6c-a-litre rise in petrol tax in 12 months.

* The authority's money will come from the Government funding agency Transfund and the regional council rates and investment income.

* Another new body, Auckland Regional Holdings, will own and manage regional assets for the benefit of the region.

* Initially the assets will be investments, such as the public's 80 per cent holding in Ports of Auckland, now held by Infrastructure Auckland.