Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown has unveiled plans for Auckland to progressively withdraw from New Zealand, saying decades of central government interference have demonstrated that the country is simply too important to be left in charge of Auckland.
Brown’s proposal follows his real call for Auckland Council to take responsibility for the region’s entire road and rail network, arguing too many decisions affecting the city are made in Wellington. His manifesto also seeks greater autonomy over planning and infrastructure as Auckland approaches two million residents.
Council officials have now developed the policy to what they describe as its “administratively obvious conclusion”.
Under the draft Auckland Sovereignty and Wellington Risk Mitigation Framework, the Super City would become an independent city-state controlling its transport, planning, infrastructure, immigration and economic policy, while central government would retain responsibility for defence, superannuation and anything particularly expensive.
The border would initially follow the existing Auckland Council boundary, creating customs facilities near Wellsford and Pōkeno.
Officials stressed these would not inconvenience motorists.
“Most Aucklanders already regard anything north of Warkworth as requiring substantial documentation,” a fictional council spokesperson said.
Negotiations are expected to be more difficult in the south, where Auckland has declined repeated suggestions that independence should require it to take Hamilton.
Auckland would retain the New Zealand dollar, the All Blacks and all New Zealanders who have moved to Australia but continue describing themselves as “originally from Auckland”.
The new republic would be called Tāmaki Makaurau, although consultants have recommended retaining “Auckland” for international investors until a 14-month brand architecture exercise determines whether sovereignty should use a sans-serif font.
Auckland Transport would become the Ministry of Getting Stuff Done, with foreign embassies would be offered commercial leases in Albany.
The largest unresolved issue remains finance.
Brown’s government-in-waiting is expected to insist the new nation must be fiscally autonomous and free from Wellington interference, while also seeking dollar-for-dollar Wellington funding for infrastructure, which his actual manifesto proposes for priority Auckland development areas.
Officials said there was no contradiction. “Independence means Auckland making its own decisions,” one explained. “Partnership means Wellington paying for them.”