Auckland Council centralizes planning, creates design office

Auckland Council has centralized planning and created a new design office, shifting control directly to the council and impacting several council-controlled organizations. The reform abolished Eke Panuku and transferred key functions from other CCOs, including Auckland Transport's policymaking role and Tātaki Auckland Unlimited's economic development responsibilities, to the council. Most staff retained their positions. Mayor Wayne Brown's reforms aim for greater accountability, with new council divisions reporting directly to the mayor and council through the chief executive.