Reforming transport governance for Auckland

The Government has initiated reforms of Auckland’s transport governance through the Local Government (Auckland Council) (Transport Governance) Amendment Bill. The reforms aim to bring greater democratic accountability to Auckland’s transport decision-making and ensure long-term strategic alignment between Auckland Council and central government.  

The Bill aims to deliver these goals through a range of key changes:

• establishing an Auckland Regional Transport Committee (ARTC), with voting members comprising Ministerial appointees and Auckland Council elected members, as well as an independent chair jointly appointed by the Minister of Transport and the Mayor of Auckland; 
• providing for the ARTC to prepare a 30-year transport plan for Auckland, the Regional Land Transport Plan (for approval by Auckland Council) and to undertake other functions as delegated by Government or Auckland Council; 
• moving most transport functions, including policy and planning functions as well as Road Controlling Authority status, from Auckland Transport to Auckland Council;
• re-establishing Auckland Transport as a transport Council-Controlled Organisation (the transport CCO) focused on providing public transport services in Auckland; and
• allocating some specific transport decisions to Auckland Council’s local boards.