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Mark Ford, chief executive of Watercare Services Limited, has been confirmed as the head of the super city transition agency.
The position would make him potentially the most powerful person in Auckland.
Ford will be leading the small group responsible for overseeing Auckland's governance for the next 18 months.
The announcement was met with shock from well-known Auckland activist Penny Bright, who was calling for a rates revolt, saying the public did not elect the board that made the decision.
"The act is not yet enforced! The Governor-General has not signed it off. This is a corrupt corporate coup," Bright said.
"We're citizens, we're not slaves, and we're calling for people to pay nothing."
Local Government Minister Rodney Hide made the announcement, saying the agency will manage the transition from the existing seven territorial authorities and one regional council, to a single unitary authority for Auckland and 20 to 30 Local Boards by October next year.
In relation to Ford's job, Hide said a decision had been made.
"Mark Ford has agreed to resign his present positions as chief executive officer of Watercare Services Ltd and chair of the Auckland Regional Transport Authority
Ford, who has been appointed as the Executive Chairman of the group, will be paid $10,000 a week plus bonuses to lead the massive public merger.
Ford said that he wanted to do this job because he was absolutely optimistic on the result.
He and four others will oversee Auckland's transition. They are Miriam Dean QC, Chartered Accountant John Waller, former mayor John Law and company director Wayne Walden who have all been named as the members of the Auckland Transition Agency by Hide.
The agency will has six main areas to manage. They are:
-The creation of the Auckland Council and the Local Boards
-Managing the organisational changes
-Ensuring continued delivery of councils' and Council Controlled
Organisations' responsibilities
-Continued momentum of key projects such as the Rugby World Cup and
waterfront development
-Ensuring the transition process is well communicated to
stakeholders
-Winding up existing organisations once the new organisation has
been established
The appointments are effective immediately, and Rodney Hide says that he is "very pleased to be able to announce a transition agency of this calibre."
Hide said Ford had a strong understanding of Auckland governance and a proven record in managing complex situations and leading high performing teams
"This is the most demanding and important corporate assignment in New Zealand. That is why we've chosen someone of Mr Ford's calibre and appointed him as Executive Chairman to ensure he has the powers to fulfil his role effectively," says Hide.
Hide also said the rest of the team were all well known for their strong governance and management acumen and experience also.
"Their combined skills and strengths will play a vital part in developing the new governance structures and roles to manage the $28 billion of assets effectively and enable Auckland to realise its powerful potential."
Mixed reaction
But one local government expert says taking away some of the existing councils power and capping spending at $20,000 could be a mistake.
David Wilson, head of Public Policy at Auckland University of Technology (AUT) says local councils are not incompetent.
"They're quite capable as carrying on business as usual and the last thing you want the transition agency to do is being bogged down in process issues right across the region, because $20,000 is not a significant cap."
Waitakere City Mayor Bob Harvey says he fully supports the members' appointment and particularly Ford's position as Executive Chairman.
"Auckland's transition has always needed someone with the street-knowledge of a London taxi driver and the executive clarity of a powerful local government leader, and Mark Ford is the man for that job," he says.
Manukau Mayor Len Brown is being more cautious in his reaction to the announcement. He says the appointments have taken some time and he hopes that is not an indication of how decisions will be made in the future.
"I am also disappointed that the government did not see fit to engage with the councils around their list of preferred candidates as a sign of goodwill prior to announcement.
"However, that said, the appointment of the board will at last allow the councils to get on with the business of making the transition happen."
And super city opponents are holding a protest hikoi on Monday, with thousands of people expected to turn out.
Auckland Transition Agency members:
Mark Ford (Executive Chair)
CEO of Watercare Services Ltd since 1994 and Chairman of the
Auckland Regional Transport Authority since 2007. Previous roles
have included CEO of Auckland Regional Services Trust and CEO of NZ
Forestry Corporation.
Miriam Dean
Extensive legal experience, appointed Queen's Counsel in 2004. An
experienced mediator and arbitrator with strong governance
experience.
John Waller
Chartered accountant with change management expertise. Chairman of
the Bank of New Zealand and adviser on many successful
restructurings.
John Law
Extensive Auckland region local government experience, including
seven years as Mayor of Rodney District Council (2001-07).
Wayne Walden
Experienced company director and manager, with extensive governance
experience. Former Chair of Maori Television (2003-08). Affiliated
to Ngati Kahu and Tai Tokerau.
