Frequently asked questions
What is the Metro Project?
What is the Metro Project Action Plan?
How will implementing the plan help Auckland?
What role does central government play?
Why does Auckland matter to New Zealand?
Will this solve all of Auckland's problems?
What is the ‘international team report'?
Who was on the international team?
Why did the Metro Project use international experts (and what was the input from New Zealanders)?
Who was involved in the development of the Metro Project Action Plan?
Why is the Auckland Regional Council involved?
What is the ‘regional economic delivery agency' referred to in the plan?
Who are the Champions for Auckland, and how were they selected?
How does this fit with Central Government's plans for economic development?
How will success be measured?
How does the action plan differ from the international team's report?
How does the Metro Project Action plan relate to the Auckland Regional Economic Development Strategy (AREDS)?
What is the Metro Project?
It is an economic transformation project to achieve the Auckland Regional Economic Development Strategy's vision for the city-region's economic future: "Auckland is an internationally competitive, inclusive and dynamic economy; a great place to live and conduct business; and a place buzzing with innovation, where skilled people work in world-class enterprises."
What is the Metro Project Action Plan?
The action plan takes an integrated, region-wide approach to transforming Auckland's economy. It provides 31 practical actions that will boost Auckland's performance both locally and globally. The actions support five objectives:
1. Take effective and efficient action to transform Auckland's economy.
2. Develop world-class infrastructure and world-class urban centres.
3. Transform Auckland into a world-class destination.
4. Develop a skilled and responsive labour force.
5. Increase Auckland's business innovation and export strength.
How will implementing the plan help Auckland?
The Metro Project Action Plan focuses on removing economic performance barriers to Auckland becoming a world-class city-region. The plan ensures resources are utilized effectively by prioritising issues requiring immediate attention.
What is ‘transformational' about the action plan?
The action plan is significant because there has never been so much agreement on the initiatives required to transform Auckland's economy. Importantly, it has provided for a well-resourced regional economic delivery agency to oversee and drive these actions, and to ensure Auckland's economic transformation remains on course.
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What role is central government playing?
The government is a significant partner in the plan's development and delivery because of the important role Auckland plays in New Zealand's economic performance. The action plan supports the Government's goal of being more globally engaged and improving New Zealand's per capita GDP.
Why does Auckland matter to New Zealand?
Cities and their supporting regions are a nation's economic growth powerhouse. Auckland is by far New Zealand's largest population and economic base, and its major commercial hub, education centre and gateway to the world.
The Government's economic transformation agenda recognises these strengths. There is a general acknowledgement that Auckland is this country's only realistic candidate for becoming a world-class city-region and competing effectively in a global market.
Auckland's diverse economy is a national asset. There are strong employment concentrations in the marine industry, and the creative, information communication technology, and biotechnology sectors.
Importantly, these high-growth potential sectors are all strong foreign exchange earners. This strength is complemented by a strong commercial and financial sector, which contains about two-thirds of the country's top 200 companies, more than a quarter of the world's Fortune 500 companies, and a large manufacturing sector.
Will this solve all of Auckland's problems?
No, because the action plan prioritises economic development issues and focuses on achieving the following five objectives.
1. Take effective and efficient action to transform Auckland's economy.
2. Develop world-class infrastructure and world-class urban centres.
3. Transform Auckland into a world-class destination.
4. Develop a skilled and responsive labour force.
5. Increase Auckland's business innovation and export strength.
Based on wide consultation during its development, the plan contains actions that will make a difference and help resolve other issues for the region such as social development.
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What is the ‘international team report'?
This was one of several inputs into the Metro Project Action Plan.
An international team of five leading practitioners visited Auckland in early May 2006. The team - whose members had considerable experience in the Metro Project's focus areas of skill, business capability, and regional capability - was commissioned to produce a report that would assist the Metro Project Action Plan's development.
The report provided an international perspective on Auckland's strength and weaknesses and proposed a series of recommendations.
Who was on the international team?
The international team was led by Greg Clark, Chief Advisor on City and Regional Development at the Office of the UK Deputy Prime Minister, Global Practice Advisor to the London Development Agency and Chair of the OECD's Forum on Cities and Regions. Other team members were selected for their expertise in core areas and all are leaders in their own communities.
The international team was led by Greg Clark, Chief Advisor on City and Regional Development at the Office of the UK Deputy Prime Minister, Global Practice Advisor to the London Development Agency and Chair of the OECD's Forum on Cities and Regions. Other team members were selected for their expertise in core areas and all are leaders in their own communities.
- Ian Bromley (Director of Infrastructure & Innovation, Director of Commercialisation, Ontario Ministry of Research and Innovation, Toronto) for infrastructure and innovation.
- Neil Fraser (Executive Director, Central Johannesburg Partnership, Johannesburg) for developing civic infrastructure and place attractiveness.
- Virginia Hamilton (Executive Director, California Workforce Association) for workforce and labour market knowledge.
- Elizabeth Rodriguez (Vice President, Federal Reserve Bank of New York) for community economic initiatives.
- Local Team Member David Wilson, Deputy Director, Institute of Public Policy, AUT University.
Why did the Metro Project use international experts (and what was the input from New Zealanders)?
A collaborative approach to developing the Metro Project Action Plan sought input via the following channels:
- an international team of experts. Members of this five-strong team all have direct experience in successful city-region economic transformation, and were commissioned to provide an international perspective on Auckland's challenges and opportunities
- the Symposium for Auckland: a workshop attended by a wide range of stakeholders from around the region (including business, economic development agency, Maori, Pacific Island, migrant community, education and political (local and regional) leaders
- a series of workshops with the above-mentioned communities
- working papers prepared in early 2006.
Who is responsible for implementing the action items?
The action plan mandates a well-resourced regional economic delivery agency to lead many of the actions. The Auckland Regional Economic Development Forum plays a pivotal role in overseeing that the actions are successfully implemented. AucklandPlus is facilitating the delivery of Objectives 3, 4 and 5, while the Auckland Regional Council is facilitating Objectives 1 and 2 of the action plan. A wide range of other organisations are also involved in implementing the action plan.
See the progress updates for more information on the organisations currently involved in the action plan's delivery.
The action plan mandates a well-resourced regional economic delivery agency to lead many of the actions. The Auckland Regional Economic Development Forum plays a pivotal role in overseeing that the actions are successfully implemented. is facilitating the delivery of Objectives 3, 4 and 5, while the Auckland Regional Council is facilitating Objectives 1 and 2 of the action plan. A wide range of other organisations are also involved in implementing the action plan. See the for more information on the organisations currently involved in the action plan's delivery.
The action plan mandates a well-resourced regional economic delivery agency to lead many of the actions. The Auckland Regional Economic Development Forum plays a pivotal role in overseeing that the actions are successfully implemented. is facilitating the delivery of Objectives 3, 4 and 5, while the Auckland Regional Council is facilitating Objectives 1 and 2 of the action plan. A wide range of other organisations are also involved in implementing the action plan. See the for more information on the organisations currently involved in the action plan's delivery.
Who was involved in the development of the Metro Project Action Plan?
One of the project's greatest strengths has been the collaborative approach taken to developing the action plan. Partners include the following organisations:
Auckland Regional Economic Development Forum: This group operates as a committee of the Auckland Regional Council. It is responsible for implementing the Auckland Regional Economic Development Strategy (and the Metro Action Plan, which supports the Strategy). Its members come from economic development agencies, education, Maori, Pacific peoples, infrastructure providers, local government, tertiary and labour organisations.
Metro Project Founding partners: The founding partners were as follows:
One of the project's greatest strengths has been the collaborative approach taken to developing the action plan. Partners include the following organisations: This group operates as a committee of the Auckland Regional Council. It is responsible for implementing the Auckland Regional Economic Development Strategy (and the Metro Action Plan, which supports the Strategy). Its members come from economic development agencies, education, Maori, Pacific peoples, infrastructure providers, local government, tertiary and labour organisations. The founding partners were as follows:
- Auckland Regional Council
- AUT University
- Committee for Auckland.
Funding partner: NZ Trade & Enterprise was a funding partner for researching and developing the Metro Project Action Plan.
Facilitator: AucklandPlus is a business unit of the Auckland Regional Council, which is responsible for implementing key elements of the Auckland Regional Economic Development Strategy. Visit www.aucklandplus.com for more information including updates on the Metro Project's delivery.
Champions for Auckland: A wide cross-section of Auckland's leaders have joined forces to create the Champions for Auckland group, whose members are taking pro-active steps to ensure that the Metro Project Action Plan is successfully implemented.
Central Government: The Government's economic transformation agenda acknowledges Auckland's importance as a key driver of New Zealand's economic performance. Central Government has been - and continues to be - a significant partner in the plan's development and delivery.
Working groups: People from the following agencies and organisations contributed to the Metro Project Action Plan's development:
- Auckland Regional Council
- Auckland Regional Migrant Services
- Auckland Regional Transport Authority
- Auckland Chamber of Commerce
- Ascari Partners
- Auckland City Council
- Business in the Community
- Career Services
- Champions for Auckland
- COMET
- Competenz
- Connect Auckland
- Department of Labour
- Employers and Manufacturers Assn.
- Enterprise Franklin Development Trust
- Enterprising Manukau
- Enterprise North Shore
- Enterprise Waitakere
- Franklin District Council
- Growth and Innovation Advisory Board
- HortResearch
- Ideas Accelerator
- Infratil
- Landcare Research
- Manukau City Council
- Massey University
- McConnell International
- Ministry of Economic Development
- Ministry of Education
- Ministry for Environment
- Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs
- Ministry of Social Development
- Ministry of Tourism
- Ministry of Transport
- Ministry of Youth Development
- New Zealand Council of Trade Unions
- North Shore City Council
- Pacific Business Trust
- Papakura District Council
- Rodney District Council
- Rodney Economic Development Trust
- Student Job Search
- Te Puni Kokiri
- Tertiary Education Commission
- Tourism Auckland
- University of Auckland
- UniServices
- Unitec
- Waitakere City Council
- Work and Income New Zealand
Why is the Auckland Regional Council involved?
The Auckland Regional Council (ARC) has been mandated with the leadership of regional economic development on behalf of the region's community, and has established the Regional Economic Development Forum, a committee made up of leaders from Auckland region's major economic development sectors.
The Auckland Regional Council provides support and technical advice to the Forum, while the Forum oversees the implementation of the Auckland Regional Economic Development Strategy and provides a regional voice and advocacy on issues affecting Auckland.
The ARC also established the regional economic development unit, AucklandPlus, to help implement the Forum's work programme.
What is the ‘regional economic delivery agency' referred to in the plan?
The action plan recognises that to achieve an integrated, region-wide approach to transform Auckland's economy, a well-resourced regional economic delivery agency is needed to oversee and drive the actions, and to ensure Auckland's economic transformation remains on course.
The agency will facilitate the implementation of actions under the following objectives:
- transform Auckland into a world-class destination
- develop a skilled and responsive labour force
- increase Auckland's business innovation and export strength.
The delivery of these actions are currently being facilitated by AucklandPlus, a business unit of the Auckland Regional Council.
Who are the Champions for Auckland, and how were they selected?
The Champions for Auckland is a self-selected group of civic and business leaders that are pro-actively working towards implementing the action plan.
How does this fit with Central Government's plans for economic development?
This action plan supports the Government's economic transformation agenda and is pivotal because the Government acknowledges Auckland's importance as a key driver of New Zealand's economic performance. The plan supports the Government's goal of being more globally engaged and improving New Zealand's per capita GDP and Central Government will remain a significant partner in the plan's development and delivery.
How will success be measured?
The action plan provides specific performance measures (‘deliverables') and delivery timeframes that will enable its progress to be monitored and evaluated.
How does the action plan differ from the international team's report?
The international team's report provided a valuable perspective on Auckland's challenges and opportunities. The report, combined with local input via a series of workshops and other means of engagement, provided the basis of this action plan. The International Review of the Auckland Metro-Region report can be downloaded here.
How does the Metro Project Action plan relate to the Auckland Regional Economic Development Strategy (AREDS)?
The strategy, developed in 2002, defines a shared vision for the Auckland city-region's economic future. The Metro Project Action Plan provides a framework and concrete actions for raising the Auckland city-region's productivity and international profile.
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