AT set to hand over some functions as part of Wayne Brown's shakeup

Auckland mayor Wayne Brown has unveiled his plans to strip three council-controlled organisations of their responsibilities.

Brown's draft Mayoral Proposal for the Auckland Council's 2025-2026 annual plan released on Tuesday morning would see the council take control of Auckland Transport's back-office functions and strategic direction.

This includes all communications, marketing, legal and finance functions.

"As funder and shareholder, Auckland Council has the right to put conditions on our funding. I have proposed that we get advice on how we can make operational funding of AT's back-office functions conditional on Auckland Council providing those services," Brown said.

"I have also proposed that Auckland Council take responsibility for all regulatory, policy, and strategic planning functions for which AT does not have a statutory role. This includes rules around street trading, as well as the Harbourmaster function."

AT would also be mandated to participate in the council's Group Shared Services programme for information technology, human resources, and payroll.

Mayor Brown said he hadn't ruled out further structural changes to AT but that this would require central government involvement.

He said Cabinet had authorised Local Government and Transport minister Simeon Brown to work with the mayor on options for transport governance reform.

"The minister and I agree that Aucklanders should be empowered, through their elected mayor and councillors, to make key decisions about the region's transport system. I will have more to say on that in due course."

The council's urban development and property management agency, Eke Panuku, is also set to be abolished under Brown's proposal.

"Auckland Council is already responsible for urban regeneration through planning and regulation of land use," he said.

"Eke Panuku's involvement in urban regeneration has led to duplication and confusion around the accountability of projects.

"My proposal will enable local boards to have greater decision-making power over local urban regeneration so there is a more community-focused approach to local placemaking."

Brown is also proposing the council retain Tātaki Auckland Unlimited's trust structure to manage regional facilities, Auckland Art Gallery, Auckland Zoo, theatres and stadiums.

He said economic development, destination marketing, and major events would be consolidated within council.

"I believe these activities need greater democratic accountability and scrutiny to determine the role they play in Auckland's growth."

No funding or services would be cut.

As part of his mayoral campaign, Brown promised to make significant changes to or even scrap council accountable organisations like Auckland Transport.

"I was clear when I ran for mayor that I would take back control of council organisations and make them democratically accountable. Aucklanders voted for CCO reform, and they expect us to get on with the job."

Aim is to remove inefficiencies, make agencies more accountable

The people employed by CCOs had been delivering critical and important services to Aucklanders, but the current CCO model was not fit-for-purpose, he said.

"I know this is an uncertain time for people employed by our CCOs. The proposal I outline today is not intended as a reflection on their work. Rather, this is about improving the way Auckland Council works for the people.

"We need to make structural and cultural change to remove inefficiencies, poorly aligned strategies and strengthen democratic accountability.

"Doing so will improve public trust and confidence, cost-effectiveness and overcome the duplication of services currently funded by the ratepayer."

He said there had been strong public support for the proposed changes.

The proposal is set to be considered by the council's Budget Committee and Governing Body in the coming weeks.

"I am sure my colleagues on the Budget Committee have a strong sense of the public's appetite for change and I am hopeful they will vote accordingly after we have had an opportunity to talk through the detail of my draft proposal."

He said implementation consultation with any impacted staff would happen once the council adopted a final proposal in December.

AT briefed

Auckland Transport said it had been briefed on the mayor's plans.

"We understand a number of the changes set out in the draft proposal would require legislative reform, and we continue to work closely with Auckland Council as it progresses its CCO services review.

"Throughout this review process, the AT team remains deeply committed to the outcomes we have agreed to deliver with Auckland Council over the next three years.

"To that end we remain focused on delivering our biggest ever public transport investment programme with CRL [City Rail Link] and Eastern Busway, our largest ever road maintenance and renewals programme, and technology investments to reduce congestion, improve road safety, performance and travel times."

The Draft Mayoral Proposal is available on the Auckland Council website.