Auckland’s mayor, deputy mayor and 19 councillors have officially declared to act in the best interests of the communities they represent for the next three years, following a ceremonial first meeting of the city’s newly elected Governing Body on Friday night, 31 October, at the Auckland Town Hall.

▲이미지 출처 : Auckland Council  

Tangata whenua formally welcomed the Governing Body members into the hall and on stage through a pōhiri ceremony, with Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei spokesperson Taiaha Hawke reflecting on the interconnection between cultures in Tāmaki Makaurau.

Ngāti Tamaoho representatives played a key role in responding during the welcoming ceremony. Several dignitaries attended the event including Auckland Minister Simeon Brown, alongside friends, family and supporters of the elected members.  

Chief Executive Phil Wilson officially opened the meeting and invited Mayor Wayne Brown to make his declaration to serve the city well, effectively marking the beginning of the mayor’s second term in office.

Mayor Brown then gave a speech thanking his supporters for the mandate to carry on “fixing Auckland” and to prepare it for the future. He highlighted a few achievements made since he first accepted the role of mayor in 2022 and outlined his plans for the future.

“We’re sitting on the cusp of some of the biggest decisions this supercity has ever had. These decisions will greatly affect how and where we live and move about in our city and region,’ said Mayor Brown.
 

Mayor Brown listed finishing the upgrade of transport in Auckland as a top priority. Also, formalising a consensus on Plan Change 120 to prevent homes from being built on floodplains and to concentrate housing development in connected hubs.

Thirdly, the mayor said he’ll be focusing on lifting the economic performance of the city, including welcoming more visitors to enjoy the many sights and experiences of our region.   

His fourth policy is to continue improving the city centre, make it more inviting for businesses and for Aucklanders to enjoy.

Lastly, the mayor said his fifth focus will be to sign a “city deal” with the central government that will set out future funding and decision-making responsibilities between local and central government.

Following the mayor’s speech, all 20 councillors were sworn in to office, with many making their declaration in both te reo and English.   

Each elected member can now officially begin their term and legally take on the responsibilities associated with their role, including making official decisions on behalf of Aucklanders.

The next Governing Body meeting will take place on Tuesday 11 November and will follow the format of a normal business meeting, including maiden speeches from the five new councillors.

A recording of the inauguration ceremony will be available online at https://councillive.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/  

출처 : Auckland Council News