Auckland not performing for a city its size, Deloitte NZ survey shows
Photo:
RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly
Many Aucklanders say the supercity model has failed to deliver the city's potential and it's falling behind.
Research from Auckland University examines the city's progress since the creation of the supercity 15 years ago, as
Auckland leaders gather
for an event marking the milestone.
Among them are the Minister for Auckland Simeon Brown, current Mayor Wayne Brown and former Prime Ministers John Key and Helen Clark.
The survey showed Aucklanders overwhelmingly supported a long-term infrastructure plan, and most (76 percent) believe the city lacked a cohesive public transport plan.
The consulting firm Deloitte supports the Committee for Auckland-initiated and Auckland Council-supported annual State of the City reports which benchmark Auckland against similar cities globally.
Deloitte NZ chief executive Mike Horne told
Nine to Noon
the building blocks were there but the country's biggest city was falling behind, compared to overseas cities.
Deloitte New Zealand CEO Mike Horne
Photo:
Supplied
"It's set some of those key building blocks but it's not seeing Auckland deliver its potential and it's not seeing Auckland compete on the global stage to the degree that it really needs to."
The Auckland University survey showed 77 of respondents believed Auckland needed to position itself as a global innovation city to attract talent and strengthen its economy, but expressed concern that the city didn't maximise this advantage compared to overseas cities.
Horne said the supercity model allowed the city to be unified in order to make decisions around key infrastructure challenges.
He said the City Rail Link and Waterview tunnel may not have been delivered at all under the previous structure.
"We're at that early stage where we need a lot more of that infrastructure investment to deliver in the future."
Horne said there was support for greater intensification to be built around transport corridors, while retaining green space.
"There is a divide as to exactly how does that play through on private transport as well where there is a sig no that see private car transport as a big part of the future."
The survey showed 61 percent of Aucklanders thought reducing congestion should be the city's top transport priority, even if it meannt
introducing charges
on some roads at times when they were most congested.
Just over half think cycling and pedestrian access needed more investment.
Committee for Auckland Director Mark Thomas said if Auckland didn't reset its direction with a new agenda that focused on bolder action, smarter investment and much stronger global competitiveness, it would continue to fall behind.
"We must learn more effectively from the best globally and have the courage to back bold, transformative ideas locally or risk continuing to lose the economic opportunity, talent and quality of life we need to thrive," Thomas said.
"The annual State of the City report shows Auckland is already being overtaken by faster-moving global competitor cities.
"Without much clearer commitment from central and local government and their partners, Auckland's standard of living and growth prospects will continue to suffer."
Auckland University of Technology Vice-Chancellor Damon Salesa.
Photo:
The University of Auckland
Auckland University of Technology Vice-Chancellor Damon Salesa said the organisation was acutely aware of the need for Auckland to succeed in the next 15 years and beyond.
"Our city will be home to the greatest number of international students, Māori and Pacific young people and indeed of all youth. They have enormous potential and deserve a city that provides education, infrastructure and employment opportunities," Salesa said.
"AUT is focused on partnerships to amplify the impact our university, students and academics can provide for Auckland and beyond so our city's people can thrive. This means focusing on our city's unique combination of talented people with diverse and cosmopolitan experiences and viewpoints."
Former Prime Minister Helen Clark, patron of the Helen Clark Foundation, said there had been concern that Auckland's potential could not be maximised with its governance dispersed across a number of territorial councils.
"The Royal Commission was established to look at better options, and I have no doubt that the single city has been the right outcome."
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