Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown has updated his Manifesto for Auckland ahead of the government’s ‘Growth Budget’ to be delivered later this month.
The Manifesto highlights three growth areas that require urgent attention from central government: 1) Technology and innovation, 2) Housing and growth, 3) Immigration and tourism.
“New Zealand is doing it tough. While the most recent GDP growth figures were slightly positive, many people are struggling under financial hardship.
“Consumer confidence has collapsed. Unemployment is forecast to reach pandemic levels. And the global economy is in turmoil. New Zealand needs bold leadership to get us out of this crisis.
“The Prime Minister wants to ‘go for growth’ and I welcome his can-do attitude. I’ve got a plan for Auckland to lead the way. So, let’s work together and get on with supercharging Auckland to fix New Zealand and pull it out of this recession,” says Mayor Brown.
Technology & innovation
Mayor Brown is calling on the government to work with him in developing Auckland’s ecology of innovation. As the country’s only global city, Auckland is a prime location for the government’s proposed Advanced Technology Institute.
“Sixty percent of the Kiwi tech sector is based in Auckland. We’re very proud to be the home of Rocket Lab and deep technology initiatives like Outset Ventures.
“I don’t believe in picking winners, but we need to get the incentives right so that more private investment flows in, and part of that is ensuring local entrepreneurs have access to cutting-edge research facilities,” says Mayor Brown.
The mayor will have more to say when he convenes a summit of business leaders, investors, entrepreneurs and researchers at the Auckland Innovation Forum on 20 May to accelerate growth of the existing tech sector.
Housing & growth
Mayor Brown is already working closely with the government to enable more homes to be built in the right places. A key focus is on developing tools to fund and finance the infrastructure that is needed to support growth.
“Auckland Council is very much in lockstep with the government when it comes to housing.
“The challenge over the next 30 years is to ensure that our infrastructure can keep up with future population growth. That means ensuring population doesn’t get ahead of council planning and investment. Auckland knows best what we can and can’t do,” says Mayor Brown .
A recent report published by the Infrastructure Commission found that the cost of infrastructure to support growth in Auckland is estimated at $21.4 billion for the period 2012-2031. Only 45% of these costs will be recovered from revenue generated by growth.
“Our decision to restructure the council-controlled organisations and integrate land use regulation with transport and infrastructure planning will mean we can prioritise investment in the right places, and we are pleased the Government is giving us back control of AT.
“Now we need the government to urgently get on with the legislative changes needed to give Auckland Council control of regional transport planning,” Mayor Brown says.
Immigration & tourism
Auckland’s population is forecast to reach 2.3 million by 2050. With much of this growth driven by government policy settings, Mayor Brown is advocating for the government to develop an Auckland immigration and population growth plan in consultation with Aucklanders.
“Auckland is a wonderfully diverse place. Forty-one percent of Aucklanders were born overseas, and we are proud to welcome people from all over the globe.
“I believe Aucklanders are mature enough to have a conversation about population growth and the trade-offs that come with having a bigger city,” Mayor Brown says.
Supporting the tourism sector is also a key focus for Mayor Brown in his ongoing discussions with the government. As the gateway to New Zealand, Auckland is the obvious place to host major events that will attract more international visitors.
“I strongly urge the government to reconsider a bed night levy, especially given it’s what Aucklanders want [see annual plan release on public submissions] so that we can get the most out of Auckland’s huge visitor economy. A reciprocal visa policy with China would also help with that,” Mayor Brown says.
In particular, the current transit visa required for Chinese nationals passing through Auckland is a significant hurdle preventing the proposed Southern Link between South-east Asia and Brazil.
“The issue needs to be resolved so airlines like China Eastern can provide this service linking those two huge economies together via Auckland, which will provide a huge jolt to our economy,” Mayor Brown says.
Scorecard
In addition to the new focus on economic growth, Mayor Brown has also released a scorecard grading the government’s performance in Auckland against the 2023 Manifesto.
“I’ve given the government a B+. They get too easily distracted by mega-projects and press releases. Some ministers have been better than others.
“Overall, they have made a reasonable effort this term but could try harder and have fewer Wellington bureaucrats involved,” says Mayor Brown.
