What many of those who have the good fortune to live in any corner of New Zealand except Auckland don’t get is that there isn’t, and never has been, one united Auckland. Nor, for that matter, is there one typical Aucklander.
Auckland in its sprawl from Waiheke Island to Otara market to a race-day at Avondale or a boardroom table a-top the Vero centre is a multiplicity, not a single city. The Queen city is a mixed bag made up of urban and suburban tribes. Your Cheryl Wests are as true-blue Auckland as your Rosie Hortons. It is a super place to live but is it ready to be a super-city?
The Government seems to think so. Its decision to make Auckland a super-city, with one mayor elected by voters and up to 30 community boards, has drawn praise from business and community boards but naturally enough brickbats from other sectors.
The thinking is that the region’s 1.4 million residents could be better served by their councils and the Auckland Chamber of Commerce head Michael Barnett says a single city will remove confusion and will be a big advantage for local businesses. There is talk too of this model becoming a blueprint first for Wellington and beyond. Does Wellington then become a super-city too? Or will it remain what it is? Auckland is what it is; this country’s most populous, most visited and most business-centric city. Calling it ‘super’ is ring fencing it from the rest of New Zealand who really could take more cheerful ownership and engagement and maybe even pride in their biggest-smoke.
Afterall one in 3 Aucklanders are drawn here from the regions.
