Auckland Transport KO: Wayne Brown secures council control

Friday, 5 September 2025

Aucklanders will have more say over what happens on local roads when Auckland Transport is stripped of almost all its powers, the Government has promised.

But the Government will have more of a say over the long-term plan for the city.

The blueprint for how Auckland’s transport system will be managed was unveiled on Friday with a new system expected in place by the middle of next year.

Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown, Transport Minister Chris Bishop and Auckland Minister Simeon Brown detailed the proposed legislative changes in central Auckland.

Under the plan, first announced in December, Auckland Transport will continue to be a council-controlled organisation but will be entirely focused on delivering public transport.

Auckland Council will become a road controlling authority to deliver transport capital projects while maintaining infrastructure and councillors will have more ability to make decisions over policy and planning.

“At every other council up and down this country, local councillors make decisions about what happens in local streets that should also happen here in Auckland,” said Minister Brown.

A new Auckland Regional Transport Committee will be established and have a 50/50 split of Auckland Council elected members and ministerial appointees alongside an independent chair who will be decided by local and central government decision makers.

The committee will be responsible for Auckland’s 30-year transport plan which will include the next harbour crossing.

Brown has been critical of the Government’s “silly, secret, unaffordable nonsense” plans for the crossing, accusing them of leaving the council out of decision making.

Bishop said he was “almost certain” there would have been operational talk between NZTA and Auckland Council; Mayor Brown made a face then laughed at this statement.

Also under the changes, local boards will be given some new powers and will make decisions on local and collector roads including setting speed limits, closing roads for events, managing parking and creating cycleways.

“That's a critically important change, because we've seen in recent years the infestation of speed bumps on local roads, car parks being removed in favour of cycle ways, local businesses and local communities being unable to have their say when it comes to what happens on their streets,” said Minister Brown.

Mayor Wayne Brown campaigned on reforming the city’s council-controlled organisations and said the changes would restore democratic control of transport.

“It's a major victory for the people of Auckland.”

Mayor Brown is also hoping the changes mean fewer Aucklanders will bother him about road markings and car parks.

“I collect hundreds of emails from people upset about yellow lines in the wrong place and various roads. I don't want to do that. It's not my job. That can go to the local boards and keep them occupied.”

Local boards had little say over what happens in their areas and the changes will mean they get more say over things like speed bumps, bus stops and cycleways, said Minister Brown.

The Local Government (Auckland Council) (Transport Governance) Amendment Bill was introduced on Friday and will go through a full select committee process and is expected to be in place by March next year.

The council will then appoint a transition director to oversee a six-month shift to the new structure, to be fully in place before next September.

Bishop described the changes to Auckland transport as the 'most significant' since the supercity was created in 2010.

“This is great news for Auckland. This Government is committed to improving transport in Auckland and putting decision-making back in the hands of Aucklanders. This will boost productivity and economic growth by providing for better accessibility, reduced congestion and increased urban density.”