Mayor Wayne Brown has unveiled more of his 10-year cost-cutting plan to improve Auckland's finances, the same day that Christopher Luxon was also in Auckland.
The mayor came prepared with a full 'wishlist' of what he wanted to achieve for the city, including a proposal to lease out the Ports of Auckland to help keep rates low, limits on public transportation costs and slashing funding for road safety improvements.
"If we don't do some of the things I want to do, they'll be a lot of short-term pain that'll go on, but if the councillors follow what I think will be the public support for this, we'll end up with very moderate rises and very serious steps towards financial resilience," Brown said.
He also met with the new Minister for Auckland Simeon Brown today, where they discussed the Government's promise to scrap the regional fuel tax.
Simeon Brown said he'll work with the mayor to ensure "key transport projects are continued", while Wayne Brown said most people agree the Eastern Busway is a good project but the money needs to come from somewhere.
Christopher Luxon spent the day touring around Auckland Viaduct's Events Centre and South Auckland's Manurewa Intermediate School, where he discussed his government's future relationship with local councils.
"We will be working really quickly with councils to try and understand how we can support them," Luxon said.
Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ) president Sam Broughton said council funding would require a "total rethink" to move forward.
"Local government is ready to deliver for New Zealand communities. There's so much we know we can do but we need to unlock some of the funding tools to do that well," he said.
Broughton said LGNZ have scheduled meetings with the new government next week and the Minister for Auckland to discuss the "toolbox approach" that can be implemented to the legislation.
Councillors now weigh in on Brown's plan
Wayne Brown needs 20 councillors on board with his proposals for them to go ahead.
1News Business Correspondent Katie Bradford said much of the lengthy and detailed plan from Brown had been "drip-fed" over the past couple of weeks, so councillors will be aware of most of it.
"Wayne Brown has long promised to move Auckland's port out of the city, and now he's come up with an idea to lease port operations out over 35 years," she said.
Councillors will be given a chance to look at it in-depth within the next week, and the public early next year.
Local councils 'left in limbo' by new government
Bradford said local government feels "neglected" by central government when it comes to funding, and this has long been a source of tension.
"The new government has come in and scrapped things like Three Waters immediately, cancelled Auckland's regional fuel tax and that has left councils in limbo at the time when they're all developing these long-term plans," Bradford said.
Luxon told 1News the Government going to look at all options for new funding and financing of local government, including infrastructure, water, public transport and other issues.
Bradford said Luxon was not specific about how long this process would take, but she said the short- and medium-term problems were "likely to continue".
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