As you will no doubt be aware, there are major changes currently occurring in Auckland’s governance.  As of 1 November 2010, the 8 existing local authorities will be disestablished and replaced by the Auckland Council, a unitary authority, comprised of a Governing Body and 21 Local Boards.

Included in these governance changes is the establishment of seven council-controlled organisations (CCOs), wholly owned by the Auckland Council.  A number of current existing CCOs will be disestablished and their functions absorbed by the Auckland Council or one of the new CCOs.


Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development Limited (ATEED) is one of the new CCOs to be established.  The objectives of ATEED include helping to:

• lift the Auckland region's economic well‐being;
• support and enhance the performance of the Auckland region as a growth engine in the New Zealand economy;
• support and enhance the ability of the Auckland region to compete internationally as a desirable place to visit, live, work, invest and do business.

ATEED will integrate the functions and activities currently undertaken by the following existing council business units and CCOs:

• Council business units responsible for major events, predominantly Auckland City Council’s City events team;
• AucklandPlus (a business unit of the Auckland Regional Council);
• Auckland City Council Economic Development Group’s investment and sectors teams;
• Waitakere Enterprise;
• Enterprise North Shore;
• Enterprising Manukau.

It is also proposed to integrate the function and activities of four independent entities which receive existing local government organisation funding into ATEED, subject to a negotiation process. These entities are; Tourism Auckland (including its Visitor centres / i-sites), Film Auckland, Enterprise Franklin Development Trust (including its Visitor centres / i-sites) and Rodney Economic Development Trust.

Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development Limited will:

• bring a coordinated approach to sector and business development, investment attraction, events and tourism in the Auckland region;
• promote regional and local economic development;
• integrate economic development priorities;
• interact with central government agencies such as the Ministry of Economic Development, Tourism New Zealand and New Zealand Trade and Enterprise;
• partner with the private sector and non‐governmental organisations; and
• develop a brand strategy for the Auckland Region.

The head office of ATEED will be based in the central business district, with local presence retained across the region through branches in the north, south and west.  This will include offices in North Shore, Waitakere, Manukau, Rodney and Franklin.

For all intents and purposes, the services and support you currently receive will continue as usual.  The vast majority of staff currently working for existing council business units, CCOs and independent entities will be retained, so people you know and trust will still be in attendance.

We look forward to continuing to work with you in the future, as we build ATEED into an organisation of scale and influence, with the capability, capacity and resource at a regional level to deliver a consistent level of quality services to customers.

Business Club Breakfast - Wednesday 15 September

For the first time the New Auckland Council CEO, Doug McKay will be talking about implications of the new council and how this will work for West Auckland businesses. This is a great opportunity for business club members to hear first hand about the major changes for the new Auckland council from the man at the helm of running the biggest council in Australasia with a 3 billion dollar budget, 6,000 staff and a 29 billion asset base to manage.

Doug said: “This is a large project which has some very challenging timelines. We want this City to be an even better place to live, work, and play and I’m looking forward to working with council staff and elected members in delivering great results for the people of Auckland.”.

With 30 years' corporate experience, including senior executive roles at Lion Nathan and five years as chief executive of Sealord and more recently executive chairman and chief executive of Independent Liquor, Doug McKay's new focus now is the New Auckland Council.

Be sure to book your place now and be there with your local Waitakere business community as the floor is opened for an interactive Q&A session with Doug.

Seats are limited so book your place today!

Waitakere Business Club
Business Club Breakfast Forum
Book Your Place Now: Click Here
Cost: $45 including breakfast