Local Government (Tamaki Makaurau Reorganisation) Act 2009

3 Background and purpose of Act

• (1) Local government arrangements for the Auckland region have caused considerable concern for at least 49 years.

  (2) Over the next 99 years, it is expected that the Auckland region will face enormous change brought about by global economic, environmental, and political forces. Local trends, including high population growth, add to the challenges and opportunities the region faces. To meet these challenges and opportunities, Auckland requires local and regional governance of the highest standard.

  (3) Accordingly, a Royal Commission was established in October 2007 to inquire into, investigate, and recommend local government arrangements for the Auckland region over the foreseeable future (Gazette 2007, p 3110).

  (4) The Royal Commission reported to the Government on 25 March 2009, its principal recommendation being that the local authorities governing the Auckland region be dissolved and a single entity be formed to replace them (Royal Commission on Auckland Governance, Report: Royal Commission on Auckland Governance).

  (5) The Government considered the Royal Commission's report and agreed with many of its recommendations, including the creation, through legislation, of—

  • (a) a single governing body for the Auckland region; and

  • (b) an entity to effect the necessary changes.

  (6) The Government also determined that the legislation should be enacted so that the members of the governing body and second tier bodies be elected at the October 2010 local government triennial general elections.

  (7) The purpose of this Act, therefore, is—

  • (a) [Repealed]

  • (b) to dissolve the existing local authorities that govern the Auckland region (being 1 regional and 7 territorial authorities) on 1 November 2010; and

  • (c) to establish an entity to facilitate the transition to the new local government arrangements; and

  • (d) to require the existing local authorities and other local government organisations to support the reorganisation by both doing specified things and refraining from doing specified things; and

  • (da) to provide for the Governor-General, Ministers, and other public officials and bodies to undertake specified duties to facilitate the reorganisation; and

  • (e) to make any necessary amendments to any other enactments.

  Section 3(7)(a): repealed, on 15 June 2010, by section 6(1) of the Local Government (Tamaki Makaurau Reorganisation) Amendment Act 2010 (2010 No 35).

  Section 3(7)(b): amended, on 15 June 2010, by section 6(2) of the Local Government (Tamaki Makaurau Reorganisation) Amendment Act 2010 (2010 No 35).

  Section 3(7)(da): inserted, on 15 June 2010, by section 6(3) of the Local Government (Tamaki Makaurau Reorganisation) Amendment Act 2010 (2010 No 35).