1:15 PM, 14 March 2016 to 2:15 PM, 14 March 2016 at Harold Wilson Building, HWG/05, University of Huddersfield
The Kiwi Northern Powerhouse: Lessons from Auckland, New Zealand
Speaker: Dr Andy Asquith (Massey University, NZ and Visiting Fellow, CRISS)
Abstract: It has long been recognised in New Zealand that the economic engine of the country is Auckland, and not the nation’s capital - Wellington. However, alongside this, it was recognised that the economic capabilities of the Auckland city-region were not being maximised. Central to this problem was a local government structure which split responsibilities between eight different councils within essentially a single conurbation. In 2010 these eight councils were amalgamated to form a single Auckland Council. The objectives of the new authority were to provide leadership for the region and to reinvigorate local democracy. This seminar assesses the background to the reforms, the impact the reforms have had, and the wider implications for local government reform in New Zealand.