The Mayor’s Record
Late 2022
1. Election on a “Fix Auckland” Platform
• Fiscal Austerity and Accountability: Wayne Brown campaigned to reduce council debt, minimise rate hikes, and ensure that Council-Controlled Organisations (CCOS) were subject to stronger oversight.
• Immediate Leadership Overhaul: Brown led changes to appoint a new Auckland Council Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, who align with his sustainable and community-driven strategy.
2. Senior Management Changes
• CEO/CFO Replacements: Leadership changes have enabled a re-setting of the roles and relationship between the Auckland Council staff and elected representatives. Previously, most policy was staff-initiated - this is no longer true.
Early 2023
3. Confronting a $300+ Million Budget Deficit
• Deficit ($295–$325 Million): Brown aimed to address a significant shortfall without severe rate hikes or major service cuts.
• Partial Sale of Auckland Airport Shares: He obtained approval to sell 7% of the Council’s 18% stake in the airport, generating $833 million to cover most of the gap.
4. First Annual Budget (2023/24)
• Moderate Rate Increases: Residential rates increased by 7%, while business rates rose by 11%. The windfall from airport shares prevented more severe rate increases or cuts to key programmes.
• Preserving Core Services: Despite budget cuts, initiatives supporting arts and culture and regional events continued to receive funding, reflecting feedback from public consultations.
Mid-2023
5. Comparative Financial Context & Flood Response
• Rate Hikes vs. NZ Peers: Auckland’s average rate rise of approximately 7.7% was lower than the double-digit increases in Christchurch and Wellington, both facing significant infrastructure demands.
• Floods and Cyclone Gabrielle: Brown’s delayed emergency declaration in January 2023 drew criticism. Nonetheless, he allocated $200 million to “Making Space for Water,” emphasising tangible upgrades to stormwater capacity over expansive emissions targets.
Late 2023
6. Strengthening CCO Oversight
• Preparatory Moves for Major Reforms: Brown pledged to re-absorb Eke Panuku’s urban-regeneration role into the Council, reform Auckland Transport’s governance structure, and tighten accountability at Tātaki Auckland Unlimited.
7. Fixed Nominal Baseline Budgeting
• Strict Departmental Caps: By early 2024, Brown introduced a rule requiring each department to start at last year’s nominal figure, necessitating explicit justification for additional spending and generating millions in operational savings.
Mid-2024
8. Final Mayoral LTP Proposal (2024–2034)
• Politically Led Ten-Year Plan: Elected officials, rather than staff, took the lead on significant decisions regarding transportation, water infrastructure, and local board funding.
• Fairer Local Board Funding: The LTP accelerated efforts to address historical funding imbalances among Auckland’s 21 local boards by using a phased approach.
Auckland Future Fund
• Creation & Funding: Brown established this diversified fund using the remaining shares of Auckland International Airport Limited (AIAL), aiming for higher and more stable returns compared to direct shareholding.
• Revenue & Community Investment: Projected to raise at least $40 million more annually by 2025–2026 compared to the previous airport dividends and allocate $20 million to legacy community projects in the first year.
• Professional Management & Safeguards: Established as an unincorporated trust under strict investment guidelines, potentially further protected by legislation to avoid short-term raids.
May 2024: Transforming the Port
9. Tripartite Agreement with Port of Auckland
• No Port Lease Sale: Brown’s agreement with the Council, the Port, and the Maritime Union maintained public control over port assets and operations.
• $1.1 Billion in Port Profits Over 10 Years: Surpassing prior forecasts by $172 million, the Port is expected to achieve annual profits of $110 million by FY27.
• Revitalising the waterfront: Returning Captain Cook and Marsden Wharves to the Council creates opportunities for ferry expansion, enhanced cruise facilities, and improved community amenities.
Mid 2024: Watercare Separation
10. Sustainable Funding for Water Services
• Balance Sheet Separation: Brown proposed reforms that allow Watercare to borrow an additional $1.9 billion over a decade, financing essential upgrades without compromising the Council’s debt limits.
• Avoided Water-Rate Hikes: Proposed water-rate increases decreased from 25.8% to 7.2%, saving households approximately $900 million over four years.
• Local Ownership Maintained: Watercare continues to operate under Auckland Council control, ensuring democratic accountability, even with its new financial autonomy.
Late 2024: Major CCO Reform Breakthrough
11. Securing an Absolute Majority for CCO Overhaul
• Auckland Transport Restructure: New legislation restored strategic, policy, and planning powers to the Council, granting local boards direct authority over road control.
• Disestablishment of Eke Panuku: Regeneration and property management returned in-house under centralised accountability. Other CCOS also experienced reorganisation for cost discipline.
• Governing Body & Ministerial Support: On December 12, 2024, Auckland Councillors endorsed Brown’s plan, which is set to take effect on July 1, 2025, supported by favourable alignment from the central government.
Early 2025: New Spending Rules – “Better Value Projects”
12. Stricter Financial and Procurement Oversight
• Ten Delivery Principles: Under the 2025/2026 Annual Plan, Brown introduced guidelines that emphasise thorough problem definition, affordable designs, maximum price caps, and reliance on local contractors.
• Immediate Savings: Auckland Council recorded $43.2 million in year-to-date savings—two-thirds of its $66 million annual target—demonstrating the impact of these refined spending rules.
• Value to Ratepayers: By prioritising cost-effective planning, procurement, and contracting, Brown protects households from inflated project costs.
December 2024: Karanga Plaza Harbour Pool
13. Waterfront Swimming Facility at the Viaduct Basin
• Development and Opening: Completed in December 2024, the Karanga Plaza harbour pool offers an open-air saltwater swimming experience. Brown inaugurated the pool himself by swimming laps.
• Efficient, Affordable Design: Built using existing pontoons for $500,000, it features a 33-meter pool with four lanes, jumping platforms, and unrestricted daytime access.
• Community Reception: Despite temporary water quality alerts, the pool has proven popular, showcasing Brown’s dedication to making Auckland’s waterfront more inviting for residents.
2024–2034: Keeping Rate Rises Low
14. Moderate Rate Increases and Comparison to Other Jurisdictions
• Rate Limits in the LTP: Under Brown’s leadership, the 2024–2034 plan caps annual increases at 6.8% for 2025, 5.8% for 2026, and 7.9% for 2027, followed by no more than 3.5% per year through 2034. These rates are lower than earlier proposals and below many peer councils experiencing double-digit hikes.
• Savings Offset: The Council’s Value for Money program and Better Value Projects—achieving $43.2 million in efficiencies—help alleviate upward pressure on rates. Every $25 million saved prevents a potential 1% rate increase.
• Household Cost Relief: Thanks to these measures, the average weekly rate and water charge increase dropped from $11.79 to $6.38 per household, alleviating cost-of-living concerns while preserving essential infrastructure investments.
Ongoing Initiatives (2025 and Beyond)
15. Sustained Efficiency Measures and Service Improvements
• Monitoring CCO Performance: Brown maintains rigorous oversight of restructured Council entities, ensuring cost-effectiveness and public accountability.
• Flood Resilience – “Making Space for Water”: Infrastructure upgrades, property buyouts in high-risk areas, and stormwater expansions remain a budget priority, reflecting lessons learned from the 2023 floods.
• Public Transport Reliability: Revamped Auckland Transport governance emphasises improvements to bus and rail services rather than pursuing expensive new expansions with uncertain returns.
16. Preparing for the 2025 Mayoral Election
• Second-Term Prospects: Brown is running for re-election, emphasising debt control, moderate rate increases, strong port revenues, constrained CCOS, Watercare restructuring, new spending rules, and improved waterfront amenities.
• Debate Over Service Cuts vs. Fiscal Discipline: Critics highlight reductions in library hours, cuts to local board funding, and scaled-back events. Voters must choose between supporting Brown’s strategic, sustainable approach or candidates who accept business-as-usual bureaucracy, which leads to inevitable rate increases.
Summary of Mayor Wayne Brown’s Achievements
Since 2022, Mayor Wayne Brown has executed a number of transformative measures:
1. Leadership Overhaul & Budget Rebalancing
a. Addressed a deficit exceeding $300 million through airport-share sales and moderate rate increases—protecting core services and reducing debt-servicing costs.
2. Fixed Nominal Baseline Budgeting
a. Departments must begin with last year’s nominal figure to ensure notable savings.
3. Auckland Future Fund
a. Created a wealth fund from AIAL shares, projected to generate over $40 million annually by 2025–2026, while allocating $20 million for legacy-area improvements.
4. Port Reform & Waterfront Revitalisation
a. Negotiated a tripartite agreement that delivers $1.1 billion in port profits over a decade, returns prime wharves to the Council, and preserves public ownership.
5. Watercare Separation
a. Achieved financial independence for Watercare ($1.9 billion additional borrowing over 10 years) while reducing proposed water-rate increases from 25.8% to 7.2%.
6. CCO Restructuring
a. In December 2024, a decisive Governing Body vote was secured to reclaim planning powers from Auckland Transport, disestablish Eke Panuku, and centralise oversight of other CCOS.
7. Better Value Projects
a. Introduced new spending rules (“ten delivery principles”), emphasising rigorous project scrutiny. Realised $43.2 million of $66 million in annual targeted savings.
8. Karanga Plaza Harbour Pool
a. Delivered a state-of-the-art $500,000 open-air swimming facility in the Viaduct Basin, available for daytime use at no cost and highly popular among families.
9. Keeping Rate Rises Low
a. Anchored the LTP’s rate increases at 6.8% for 2025, 5.8% for 2026, 7.9% for 2027, and 3.5% thereafter—lower than initial proposals and below many other councils’ double-digit hikes.
b. An additional $43.2 million in cost savings further mitigates upward rate pressure, shielding households from higher costs.
10. Balancing Critiques & Institutional Support
• There has been criticism of Brown’s personality, implying that he finds it challenging to find consensus. Nevertheless, broad Councillor and central government alignment has maintained Brown’s cost containment model. Brown is confident that a consensus is always achieved when there is strong public support for a policy or an initiative. The mayor is committed to maintaining a policy approach to politics.
1. Looking to 2025
• With much of his “Fix Auckland” platform achieved—fiscally stable budgets, improved port returns, water reforms, robust procurement oversight, and new waterfront enhancements—Brown’s re-election campaign will focus on ongoing cost containment with sensible and sustainable public investments.