Government restores democratic accountability to transport decision-making.
AUCKLAND, December 3 - The New Zealand Government has implemented significant reforms to restore democratic decision-making in Auckland's transport policies. According to Transport and Auckland Minister Simeon Brown and Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown, the changes aim to ensure that voters can hold their elected representatives responsible for the city's transport decisions.
The reforms include returning regional transport policy and planning functions from Auckland Transport back to Auckland Council. A new Auckland Regional Transport Committee will be established to develop a 30-year Integrated Transport Plan, aligning with long-term strategic goals between local and central government.
Auckland Council will also assume the role of Road Controlling Authority, with decision-making power shared between the Governing Body and Local Boards. The council will have control over its transport council-controlled organisation, allowing for more direct influence from Aucklanders on key transport decisions.
The reforms are designed to address concerns about the current transport governance model in Auckland, which has been seen as falling short of meeting the expectations of the Government, Auckland Council, and the public. With these changes, Aucklanders will be able to vote out elected representatives if they disagree with transport policies or feel that the system is not working for them.
The establishment of the Auckland Regional Transport Committee will further enhance strategic planning by considering the city's needs across roads, rail, public transport, and freight. This move is seen as a critical step towards long-term alignment between local and central government in Auckland.