7.3 Sector panels

Auckland City Centre Advisory Panel 

The role of the City Centre Advisory Panel is to: 

• provide advice to the mayor, councillors, staff and council-controlled organisations based on sector and industry expertise and lived experience to help the council group set strategic direction and priorities to deliver on the potential of the city centre as a thriving, vibrant centre for all 
• provide civic leadership, support for the case for change and champion the city centre, both in terms of what it is now and what it can be in the future 
• advocate best value for the City Centre Targeted Rate ratepayers. 

The Board meets every two months and comprises representatives of city centre business and resident groups who pay the City Centre Targeted Rate and sector representatives, like social services and transport. The membership also includes the mayor, a mana whenua representative, a councillor and a Waitematā Local Board member. The independent chair is appointed by the mayor.  The chair and members are unpaid.  

Rural Advisory Panel

The Rural Advisory Panel was set up in 2010 to contribute to the rural outcomes of council plans which were later incorporated into the Auckland Plan. The panel’s role is to communicate shared interests of the rural sector and advise on policies and plans specific to this sector. 

The Rural Advisory Panel meets every three months. It comprises representatives of the rural industries of Auckland, two councillors and three local board members from the Franklin, Rodney and Waitakere Ranges local board areas. 

Members of the panel are selected by the mayor in consultation with rural councillors and in consultation with relevant officers. The chair is a councillor, appointed by the mayor. 

Panel members are entitled to meeting fees as per the Auckland Council Fees Framework for Appointed Members unless they are representatives of an organisation or sector group or paid by the organisation they represent. Elected members and members of the Independent Māori Statutory Board are not entitled to meeting fees. 

For more information, see the Terms of Reference on the relevant panel page of the Advisory panels.

Small Business Advisory Panel

The Small Business Advisory Panel was established by the mayor in 2024. The panel’s role is to communicate shared interests of the small business sector and advise on policies and plans specific to small businesses. The panel meets every three months. Members are unpaid. 

The chair is a councillor, appointed by the mayor.