Auckland goes for gold

Auckland is vying for the “Olympics” of world city prizes at a cost of up to $130,000 for ratepayers.

Prime Minister John Key is among those who have nominated Auckland for next year’s Lee Kuan Yew World City Prize, which comes with a cash prize of $285,000, a gold medallion and a certificate.

Auckland is one of about 40 city nominees, which will get whittled down to a shortlist of three-to-five cities in late July.

New York, Bilbao in Spain and the Chinese city of Suzhou have won the biennial international award that began in 2010 and honours outstanding achievements leading to the creation of liveable, vibrant and sustainable cities.

Waterfront Auckland chairman Sir Bob Harvey, who will personally deliver a 10kg hard copy of the Auckland Council entry to Singapore on Friday, called the competition the “Olympics” of city prizes.

Sir Bob, who was Mayor of Waitakere City when the socalled eco-city entered the in- augural competition, said the odds of Auckland winning were very good.

The city’s nomination has the support of Mr Key, Samoan Prime Minister Tuilaepa Lupesoliai Sailele Malielegaoi, Ngati Whatua’s Joe Hawke and international cities expert Greg Clark, a longtime follower of Auckland's development.

Mayor Len Brown, who last year led a six-strong council delegation to the World Cities Summit in Singapore that oversees the prize, is another keen advocate.

“The prize gives Auckland the opportunity to show the world we are now a global city and want to be the best at what we do,” Mr Brown said.

Mr Brown is attending a World Cities Summit mayoral forum in New York next month, ahead of the shortlist being drawn up.

Council chief planning officer Dr Roger Blakeley said a big pitch for Auckland was the move to a Super City with one council, one mayor and one plan for the city.

Design-led projects, such as Wynyard Quarter, Britomart and shared spaces, the city’s diverse population, and Maori and Pacific cultures were other selling points.

The council has budgeted $70,000 this financial year to research and prepare a report and supporting material for the competition.

If Auckland advances to the shortlist, the council will spend up to a further $60,000 for additional presentation material and Mr Brown and a delegation travelling to Singapore to collect the prize.

Funding for the competition is coming from existing budgets in the mayoral office and planning division.