Executive Director Report
Huānyíng Xīnnián kuàilè
Welcome to the first Committee for Auckland newsletter for 2016, the year of the monkey in the Chinese zodiac. This has significant meaning and importance to our growing Chinese population and is also becoming more talked about and celebrated in Auckland’s social discourse. Most of my friends certainly know their Chinese birth sign and have a general understanding of what it typifies. It is interesting how some of these traditions from other cultures so quickly become part of our own and is perhaps a subtle reflection of diversity and cultural intelligence in practice.
For the past year the Committee for Auckland has been conducting a study on Auckland’s relationship with China across five critical sectors – trade, investment, tourism, education and migration. This report in now in its final stages and will be released in March. We are looking forward to sharing our findings with members, policy makers and media. For a backgrounder on the report, click here.
The first of our dialogue events for 2016 and the first in our new Auckland Mayoral Candidate series was held on February 15. Hon. Phil Goff spoke about his aspirations for Auckland and the ideas and policies he would pursue to deliver his vision if his candidacy is successful. For a brief overview of Mr Goff’s address, click here. Victoria Crone will join the Committee on May 4 in the second event of the Auckland Mayoral Candidate series.
This year’s local government election campaign will highlight the performance of Auckland’s relatively new governance structure. We have already seen two mayoral candidates taking positions rating the performance of council officials and the effectiveness of the new structure. There has also been much criticism in the media and around the water coolers and dinner tables of many Auckland businesses and homes. But is this a fair reflection of the performance or is this just rhetoric bearing little relevance to the reality? In late 2015 CFA appointed AUT’s Policy Observatory to undertake an independent review of Auckland’s Governance structure five years after amalgamation. As Auckland’s leading thought leadership organisation we believe we are appropriately placed to carry out this independent review. Committee members will be first to hear the outcomes of the review in April.
Auckland is growing rapidly and the issues of timely and appropriate planning are being well aired. There are many benefits to growing our city both for the region and for the prosperity of New Zealand as a whole. However, housing and skills shortages, transport and congestion woes and feelings of dislocation by many of our most vulnerable citizens are all causing many Aucklanders and New Zealanders to view growth as something to be feared. . We have recently commissioned KPMG to produce an independent white paper on growth opportunities for Auckland. This purpose of this paper is to understand the drivers and rate of growth in Auckland, the benefits of accelerating growth and identify the catalytic initiatives available to accelerate growth.
All of these projects augur well for a great start to the year. I look forward to working with you all as our work programme gains momentum throughout 2016.
Heather Shotter
Executive Director
Committee for Auckland
News in Brief
Examining the Auckland-China Relationship - Report Launch
Next month the Committee will launch its most substantive report since Three Waters: Auckland as a Maritime City. Following a year of research and analyses led by independent strategy consultant, Dr. Nicola Rowe, we have produced a draft report that examines the city of Auckland’s beliefs and aspirations regarding its relationship with China across five critical sectors – trade, investment, tourism, education and migration.
The report explores the way each sector contributes to Auckland and China’s economic and cultural ties. It also investigates the cultural implications of past, present and future interaction between New Zealand and China across these five sectors.
We then look at the aspirations of Auckland – its governing bodies and departments, businesses and citizens – for our relationship with China, comparing them with the reality of the relationship as it stands today. And we look at the stories we tell ourselves about Chinese in Auckland, and compare them with the reality on the ground.
The report also looks at any discrepancies between Auckland’s aspirations and its reality, and where appropriate, questions some of the targets that have been set for Auckland and New Zealand that our analysis suggests that they are impractical or will not best serve Auckland’s interests. Here, the Committee suggest ways to find alternatives that appear to be more achievable. And we have outlined a number of challenges within each sector that must be dealt with to build a stronger, more viable relationship with China. Finally, the report outlines a number of recommendations for each sector based on our analysis of the present situation.
China is New Zealand’s largest trading partner, the biggest importer of our dairy products, one of our largest sources of education customers and our second-biggest source of tourists. The country also provides a growing market for our mostly Auckland-based financial and business services. Clearly, the relationship we have with China is an important one – both economically and culturally.
As New Zealand’s business and financial centre, Auckland is the logical economic focal point for New Zealand’s trade relationship with China. Auckland is an ideal home for our national and regional ambition of moving from primary produce-dominated exports to higher-value goods and services. Auckland is also a popular destination for Chinese tourists, students and migrants. What’s more, more visitors travel to China from Auckland than from any other New Zealand region.
Because of Auckland’s vital role in New Zealand’s economic and cultural relationship with China, the Committee believes our in-depth analysis will be will be of great value to those organisations in Auckland that plan to develop a strategy for their own relationship with China in the near future.
If taken to its natural conclusion and used as a starting point to create a China-Auckland strategy, it will help bring significant benefits to Auckland’s economy, society and communities.
Auckland: Making the Case for Growth
In June 2015 the Committee co-hosted a panel discussion with Caroline Haynes, co-author of ‘Magnet Cities’ and Director, KPMG UK on Auckland’s Quest to Become a Smart City. The intent was to stimulate conversation amongst residents, businesses, public institutions and local and central government and galvanise these groups to realise Auckland’s potential as our largest city.
Following the release of ‘Magnet Cities’ the Committee have commissioned KPMG to research and produce an independent white paper on growth opportunities for Auckland. This white paper will clearly articulate the facts of our current situation and propose an inspiring path forward so Auckland can realise its growth potential and become a truly super city by 2035.
Building on work already undertaken by the Committee, KPMG and others, this report will provide independent commentary on the:
- Current drivers and rate of growth in Auckland city
- Benefits of accelerated growth
- Opportunities that could be leveraged and wealth creators to target to accelerate growth
- Initiatives that could be launched to provide a catalyst for growth
Interviews with prominent Aucklanders will add additional context to global thought leadership from KPMG and other third parties and provide a synthesised report on the benefits of an accelerated growth path and a desired future state.
The Committee for Auckland will ask representatives of its membership for peer review and additional commentary in March before publishing the white paper. For more information, please contact heather.shotter@committeeforauckland.co.nz.
Dialogue Session with Hon. Phil Goff, Auckland Mayoral Candidate
A self-described “born and bred Aucklander”, Phil Goff says his style as Mayor will be inclusive and collaborative. He says he is running as an independent because a Mayor needs to work across party lines, both in Council and in dealing with governments of either political persuasion.
He agrees with the Committee on the significant challenges that need to be addressed to realise our city’s aspiration to be the world’s best place to live, work and play and outlined four issues that are critical to making Auckland a better place for everyone.
The first is traffic congestion which is getting worse and the need to stop the drift towards gridlock in the city. Second he says is housing affordability and availability which stands in the way of Aucklanders achieving the Kiwi dream of owning their own home. Thirdly, significant threats to Auckland's clean and sustainable environment which challenge Auckland's place among the world's top cities for quality of life.
The fourth issue is the need to fully realise efficiencies in the management of the city and strong governance so that Auckland is New Zealand's best performing city.
Phil Goff shares the Committee’s view that the significant challenge facing Auckland is how to fund its infrastructure, with our population growing by half a million over the next 20 years. He says that Auckland has to demonstrate to central government that we have best practice in managing our expenditure if we are to succeed in making a case for a greater share of central government funding.
We also need to regain the confidence of Auckland ratepayers that the Super City is achieving the economies promised from amalgamation by removing waste and duplication he says.
To read the full address to Committee for Auckland members, click here.
Photo (from left to right): Grant Hodges, Director, Committee for Auckland, Heather Shotter, Executive Director, Committee for Auckland, Hon. Phil Goff MP, Stuart McCutcheon, Vice Chancellor, University of Auckland, Richard Harris, Director, Committee for Auckland
New Board Directors
Richard Didsbury, Chair of the Committee for Auckland Board is pleased to announce the recent appointment of two new directors.
 Mark Franklin, Chief Executive of Stevenson Group has been an active member of the Committee for the past six years since joining the company in 2010.
Prior to his current role, Mark was founding Chief Executive of TZ1, the global carbon registry, and prior to this Chief Executive of Vector.
He brings extensive experience in both start up and consolidation activities within the infrastructure, energy, and technology sectors in New Zealand, Australia and Asia to the Committee for Auckland.
Mark believes that it is important that that Auckland has a long term view in defining the issues and creating the discussion with input from all parties, “rather than just going straight to the answers”.
“I feel the Committee for Auckland plays the important non-political, ‘get it done’ leadership role in moving Auckland forward, as shown by the outcome of the Auckland Super City debate” he says.
Mark is a recent past Director of New Zealand Railways Corporation (Kiwirail) and is a current Director of WEL Networks, UltraFast Broadband, Chamber of Commerce and Stevenson Group. Mark has also been a member of the Prime Minister’s Climate Change Leadership forum and the Australia New Zealand Joint Prime Ministers leadership Forum.
 Rob Campbell has over 30 years' experience as a director and investor. He is currently Chair of Tourism Holdings Ltd, Summerset Group Holdings Ltd, G3 Group Ltd and a director of Precinct Properties NZ Ltd and T&G Global Ltd (Turners & Growers), all of which are listed companies in New Zealand.
Rob is also an investor and director of a number of substantial private companies and is a director of or advisor to a number of private global equity and hedge funds. With such a wide portfolio of business interests, the Committee is fortunate that Rob is making time to govern its activities.
“I love opportunities and challenges in business. But business is only part of life. I see this directorship as a chance for me to contribute something to the challenges and opportunities of the city and people I live and work among” he commented.
Rob holds the degrees of Bachelor of Arts with First Class Honours in Economic History and Political Science and Masters of Philosophy in Economics.
Committee Chairman, Richard Didsbury says that attracting such prominent business leaders to its Board is testament to the organisation’s influence as an advocate for Auckland as one of the world’s best places to live work and play.
For further details regarding the Committee for Auckland Board of Directors, please click here.
Member News
 Committee for Auckland welcomes new member Auckland Young Professionals (AYP)
AYP is about inspiring and encouraging fresh thinking among what is essentially the next generation of leaders and decision-makers.
The world is changing and New Zealand needs a generation that is not afraid to switch direction and try new things in order to make our lives better and our economy grow. The will to build and develop this generation needs to come from within and that’s where AYP comes in.
Created and run by members of this same age group, AYP brings together Auckland’s motivated and ambitious young professionals through a series of business and social events in an effort to build on their skills and knowledge. It’s a great opportunity to learn from those who have succeeded, share ideas and have some fun.
Auckland Council and Government Team up to Solve Transport Woes
Auckland Mayor Len Brown and Transport Minister Simon Bridges back a new report released February 19 that aims to solve the city's transport woes over the next 30 years. Read more.
Upcoming Events
Dialogue Session with Victoria Crone, Auckland Mayoral Candidate
Date: Wednesday 4 May
Time: 12:15pm - 2:00pm
Venue: KPMG, 18 Viaduct Harbour Avenue, Auckland
Cost: Complimentary for Committee for Auckland members and invited guests
CEO Boardroom Briefing with Dave Chambers, Managing Director, Progressive Enterprises and Rick Ede, Chief Executive, Unitec Institute of Technology
Date: Wednesday 29 June
Time: 12:00pm - 2:00pm
Venue: TBA
Cost: Complimentary for invited guests
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