Last week Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown kicked off what is always the most important thing a Council does every three years – update its ‘Long term plan’. So – perhaps surprisingly – it has been quite refreshing seeing Mayor Brown really fight for Auckland to get a better deal from ‘Wellington’. As Transport Minister, Local Government Minister and Minister for Auckland, it is clear that the relationship between the two Browns (presumably unrelated) will be critical. Fundamentally the big question for the government will be the extent to which they are willing to devolve meaningful power to Auckland Council, and work with them in genuine partnership. On the one hand, it was a National-led government that created Auckland Council in the first place and eventually funded things like rail electrification and the CRL.

Source: Stuff December 11, 2023 10:49 UTC