Green light for 21-year history of Auckland City Council

Expressions of interest will soon be sought to research and write the final instalment in a trilogy of books documenting the history of Auckland City Council.

The book will serve as a follow up to the previously published editions Decently and in Order, and Advance in Order, to document the impact and contribution the council has made to Auckland City during a 21-year period of rapid growth and transformation – 1989 to 2010.

A council meeting last night confirmed the delegation to the Finance Committee to allocate up to $120,000 for this purpose

The funds come from savings in expenditure in a variety of areas including identified savings in remuneration of elected representatives.

Councillor Douglas Armstrong, chair of the Finance and Strategy Committee, confirmed the writing and research of this historical document will be funded from savings, resulting in no impact on the 1.9% rate increase already set.

“This 21-year period covers important ground in Auckland’s municipal history including the early years of the amalgamated Auckland City Council which merged the smaller local borough councils.

“Over the past two decades, Auckland City has had 5 different Mayors and the council has played key roles in major developments like Britomart, Viaduct Harbour, Sky Tower, Vector Arena, as well as strengthening heritage protection, the provision of important transport links, and hosting major events like the Americas Cup.

The establishment of the new Auckland Council will involve major change including re-structuring and re-location of records inevitably with some loss of heritage memory.

“To leave out this key chapter in Auckland’s history would be remiss of this council.

Mr Armstrong said that while the cost of the project was significant it reflected the fact that a professional author/researcher would be engaged.

“Councils do have a role in preserving the heritage of their city and this takes many forms including artworks, buildings and documents which inevitably involve cost and political debate.”

ENDS

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