The position has existed since 2010 when the previously existing authorities in the region were merged into one region-wide authority.
Background
The position was first filled by election on 9 October 2010 for the establishment of the Auckland Council on 1 November 2010. The Council replaced seven territorial authority councils, including the Auckland City Council, and also the Auckland Regional Council. Before 2010, "Mayor of Auckland" was an informal term applied to the Mayor of Auckland City, head of the Auckland City Council.
Until October 2013, when new mayoral powers set out in the Local Government Act 2002 Amendment Act 2012 came into effect, the Mayor of Auckland had more powers compared to other mayors in New Zealand.[2]
Role of mayor
The mayor has the powers to establish their own office, create and dissolve governing body committees and appoint the chairpersons of the council's committees. The mayor chairs the governing body and may exercise a casting vote if a tie arises during a vote.[3]
Brown announced in November 2015 that he would not contest the 2016 mayoral election.[7] There were 19 contenders for the position, and Phil Goff won with 49% of the vote, against Victoria Crone, John Palino, and Chlöe Swarbrick.[8][9]
In the 2019 mayoral election, Goff won re-election against 21 contenders with 49% of the vote. Other contenders who received a high share of the vote include John Tamihere (22%), Craig Lord (8%), John Hong (4%) and Ted Johnston (4%).[10]
The deputy mayor is the second highest elected official in the Auckland Council. The deputy mayor acts in support of the Mayor of Auckland. It is the second highest elected position in the council. However, like the position of Deputy Prime Minister, this seniority does not necessarily translate into power. They are appointed by the mayor from the elected ward councillors.[13] The current deputy mayor is Desley Simpson, who represents the Ōrākei ward on the Auckland Council. Simpson was selected to be deputy by incoming mayor Wayne Brown.[14]
Beyond committees of the whole council, the deputy mayor is an ex-officio member of the following Auckland Council committees:[15]
Performance and Appointments Committee
Audit and Risk Committee
Civil Defence & Emergency Management Committee
Community Development and Safety Committee
Council-Controlled Organisation Direction and Oversight Committee
Expenditure Control and Procurement Committee
Regulatory and Safety Committee
Auckland Domain Committee
Like any other councillor, the deputy mayor may be appointed to additional committees which the mayor wishes to appoint them to.
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