2.2 Governance structure, leadership and decision-making overview
Decision-making legal framework
In addition to the responsibilities and powers set out in the Local Government Act 2002, the Local Government (Auckland Council) Act 2009 outlines the decision-making roles of the Governing Body and local boards. It also explains Auckland Council’s unique governance structure.
Under this framework:
- the Governing Body and local boards are both responsible and democratically accountable for Auckland Council’s decision-making
- who makes a decision depends on the nature of the decision and whether it relates to regional or local matters. [1]
Visit Decision-making for more information.
Governing Body and the chief executive
The Governing Body appoints the chief executive, who:
- employs all Auckland Council staff
- advises the Governing Body and local boards
- implements decisions made by the Governing Body and local boards.
Council-controlled organisations
Auckland Council has council-controlled organisations (CCOs) that are part of the council group. CCOs manage key activities including roading, public transport, water and wastewater. More detail on the roles and governance of the CCOs can be found at Council-controlled organisations (CCOs) and other council group entities.
Houkura (Independent Māori Statutory Board)
Parliament created a board to promote issues of significance to Māori and ensure the council meets its obligations under Te Tiriti o Waitangi [2]. That board is named Houkura (Independent Māori Statutory Board).
To fulfil this role, Houkura does the following:
- supports the interests and wellbeing of Māori in Tāmaki Makaurau
- helps ensure Auckland Council meets its legal obligations under Te Tiriti o Waitangi
- appoints two members with voting rights to council committees, including those dealing with natural and physical resources to ensure we meet obligations to include Māori in decision-making [3].
What the board does not do:
- replace direct engagement with Māori
- carry out the work of Auckland Council.
Visit the Houkura section of the Governance Manual for more information.
Mayor
The mayor leads the Governing Body and provides leadership to elected members and the wider organisation.
The mayor's responsibilities under the Local Government (Auckland Council) Act 2009 [EXTERNAL LINK] include:
- promoting a vision for Auckland
- providing leadership to support that vision
- leading the development of council plans, policies and budgets
- ensuring the council engages effectively with Aucklanders
- appointing the deputy mayor
- setting up the Governing Body’s committees and selecting the chairs.
The mayor also has responsibilities under the Civil Defence and Emergency Management Act 2002. These include declaring a state of emergency and providing leadership in emergencies.
Visit Mayor’s roles and powers for more information.
Local boards
Local boards provide leadership at the community level. They were set up to enable local decision-making and help ensure the purpose of local government is met within each area [4].
Their functions, duties and powers include:
- adopting a local board plan to reflect the priorities and preferences of their communities every three years, in consultation with their community
- making decisions allocated to them in the allocation table of the long-term plan
- monitoring and delivering their local board agreement, effectively the annual plan for each local board. The agreement sets out annual activities, performance expectations and budget
- engaging with their communities, including community organisations and special interest groups in their area
- proposing bylaws
- identifying and communicating the interests and preferences of local people on the content of regional strategies, policies, plans and bylaws
- taking on delegated responsibilities
- identifying and reporting on local issues [5].
Visit Local board responsibilities for more information.
Footnotes
[1] Section 14 Local Government (Auckland Council) Act 2009
[2] Part 7 Local Government (Auckland Council) Act 2009. (Board promoting issues of significance for mana whenua groups and mataawaka of Tamaki Makaurau)
[3] Local Government Act Section 77(1)(c)
[4] Local Government (Auckland Council) Act 2009
[5] Local Government (Auckland Council) Act 2009, Schedule 7