Outgoing Waikato council boss warns against Auckland's influence on the region

Monday, 27 July 2020

Waikato Regional Council outgoing boss Vaughan Payne said Auckland's influence on Waikato is a growing challenge for the region.

An outgoing Waikato council boss says Auckland’s growing influence is one of the biggest challenges the region will face in the coming years.

Waikato Regional Council chief executive Vaughan Payne will leave the council in October to take up a new role.

In the last seven years he had seen Auckland’s pressures expand further and further towards Waikato, he told Stuff.

But when it comes to development, “Auckland needs Waikato more than Waikato needs Auckland”, Payne said.

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“Auckland’s aggregates come from the Waikato, their electricity comes from the Waikato, their rubbish comes to Waikato, there’s lots of developments Auckland has in Waikato.

“It’s a shame Auckland hasn’t taken the time to form long-standing relationships with Waikato.”

Waikato Regional Council chief executive Vaughan Payne said Auckland needed to listen to Waikato more if it was thinking of taking its resources.

Payne said Auckland leaders should listen to Waikato more if they are planning to use the region’s resources.

Waikato Regional Council and Auckland Council have been at loggerheads recently, when Auckland lobbied government for more water from the river, up to 200 million more litres per day.

Referring to the recent water crisis, Payne said Auckland viewed Waikato water as “the easy option”.

“They need to look within themselves for the solutions.”

He was pleased recent discussions resulted in Auckland council’s pledge to pay several million dollars to a trust for the river.

“Waikato ratepayers and businesses, and Waikato River Authority tax payers invest about $15 million [a year] to restoring the river.

“At the moment, Auckland doesn’t pay, and they should contribute to that restoration.”

The council’s insistence on jumping the queue for water consents “wasn’t very neighbourly”, though Payne maintained relationships between the two councils weren't strained.

Waikato needs to be wary of Auckland growth spilling beyond its borders with “inefficient” ribbon development.

“We should be looking across the regions for development, if we are going to have growth in the North Island we need to ask what makes sense for the country, not just what makes sense for Auckland.”

Regional council supports Sleepyhead's manufacturing plant in Ohinewai, but the affordable housing should be based in Huntly where the infrastructure is, Payne said.

The regional council will appoint a new chief executive by the end of August.

It didn’t make sense to build infrastructure along the Hamilton to Auckland expressway, he said.

Payne has worked at the regional council for 10 years.

He was recently offered another five year contract there but decided to decline and will leave on October 28.

Payne did not reveal his new role but said it would be a change from local government.

He will be working in Waikato for an organisation involved in social issues nationally, he said.

The new role will bring “fresh challenges”.

“If I think about my passion for the environment it starts with people, and changing their mindsets. This new role will enable me to help grow people’s mindsets – not just around the environment.”

Payne said he was proud of what he achieved during his tenure, including collaborating with other regional partners and boosting Waikato’s reputation in Wellington.

Waikato Regional Council chair Russ Rimmington praised Payne’s contribution and said many would be sad to see him go.

The council will continue its recruitment process and expects to appoint a new chief executive by the end of August.