Civil servant stood down for inquiry
urban re-generation, largely in tracts of suburban Auckland where the Government already owns most of the property.
The breath-holding is over cabinet papers which moot sweeping powers for the Urban Development Authority, usurping some influence and sovereignty previously held by the council, such as being able to set its own property rates, make bylaws, require the council to build infrastructure even if the council disagrees, and possibly do its own building consenting.
Government and council officials continue to work closely, but ultimately it will be a political call – the Minister of Housing and Urban Development is Phil Twyford – over how much control the Beehive will want over its bold plans.
The council appears to have had a small win, with the Government confirming no work has been done on a past Twyford battle-cry to dismantle the Rural Urban Boundary which had been set by Auckland Council to focus most of the new housing inside the existing urban area.
Goff campaigned wanting the city’s downtown port eventually relocated but finds himself with uncomfortable bed-fellows in the shape of NZ First and particularly its Northland list MP Shane Jones, who is now the Minister for Regional Development and Associate Minister of Transport.
Goff is famously evidence and process-driven; NZ First pre-election just wanted the whole shooting box moved ASAP to Northport near Whangarei. To that end NZ First as part of its deal to form a coalition with Labour secured the establishment of a working party to look widely at freight and cargo in the upper North Island but, ominously, ‘‘with a particular focus on Ports of Auckland and Northport’’.
Chair of the group is former Far North mayor Wayne Brown, whose encounter with Goff recently has been called ‘‘interesting’’.
Goff fears the outcome may be predetermined, and is underlining that Ports of Auckland belongs to Aucklanders, and chips in a dividend of $51 million a year. The working group is only just getting into gear, but watch this space through 2019 – local body election year – to see where both issues go. An inquiry into allegations of bullying by Retirement Commissioner Diane Maxwell could look at the wider model of concentrated power held by similar commissioners.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said a State Services Commission probe, revealed by Newsroom, would be an ‘‘appropriate vehicle’’ for any wider recommendations. Her comments come after State Services Minister Kris Faafoi confirmed to Newsroom that Maxwell had been stood down while the investigation is carried out.
Maxwell has denied all allegations, which were made by a dozen unnamed, former employees.
She has also downplayed high turnover rates, in which nearly half of the jobs at the Commission for Financial Capability were vacated in the past financial year. Some of the allegations reported have included public shaming at meetings, being publicly undermined and having work torn up in front of them.
The role of the retirement commissioner is unusual in that the commissioner also acts as their own board, under legislation.
Although it’s a Governmentappointed role, with support from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, there is no-one the commissioner needs to answer to.
Bullying in the public service has been a prolonged theme throughout the past year. Most recently National MP Maggie Barry denied allegations of bullying some staff members, and Ardern was forced to strip MP Meka Whaitiri of her ministerial portfolios when an inquiry found she was likely to have manhandled a former staff member.
...there is anxiety within Auckland Council that the Beehive might want to wrest some control and influence. There is breath-holding in the council over what powers will be given to the Government’s Urban Development Authority ...