Others pointed to the fact that a previous integration of the many much smaller Borough Councils did not bring the promised advantages either, and reduced local participation in politics,[9] with editorialists pointing out that the (supposedly mainly Wellingtonian) proponents of the 'super city' have carefully not made any promises of savings in light of past rises in rates and utilities bills.

Brown said that members of the body got drunk regularly during conference meetings and that the Auckland Council could negotiate with the New Zealand Government independently.

[40][41] The mayor is directly elected by voters living in the Auckland Council area every three years by postal ballot using the first-past-the-post voting system.

The members of the governing body are elected from thirteen wards across the Council area using the first-past-the-post system every three years at the same time as the mayor.

[56] In March 2010, Doug McKay was announced as the inaugural chief executive officer of the council by the Auckland Transition Agency.

[5] Left-wing political organiser Matt McCarten criticised his appointment, arguing McKay's previous tenure in the liquor industry was marked by failure to object to anti-union behaviour and strong advertising of alcohol to the youth market.

McCarten argued McKay was to be paid three times the salary of the Prime Minister, had no local government or non-profit experience and was selected by an unelected transition authority.

This plan will cover matters such as the limits of residential development and the zoning and densities of the suburbs and areas, and will assess how elements like transport and land use are to be linked.

Some critics have noted that this spatial plan will need years to develop and CCOs would fill the policy vacuum in the meantime.

[65] The AUP was prepared through a streamlined plan making process established by the Local Government (Auckland Transitional Provisions) Amendment Act 2013.

[67] The submissions were heard by an Independent Hearings Panel, chaired by Environment Court Judge D A Kirkpatrick, which provided its recommendations to Auckland Council in July 2016.

[70] The first Long Term Council Community Plan (LTCCP), the longer-term financial budget of the city, will not be produced until July 2012.

[78] Rates made up 53% of the Council's income in 2011, with the remainder being "grants, subsidies, development and financial contributions, user charges and fees".

[79] Some aspects of the reorganisation were contentious, such as whether all of the Auckland Region should be integrated into the super city, and whether the new structure allowed sufficient local democracy.

There was a perception that these rural areas would receive very little benefit in terms of infrastructure for their rates' money, and that they would be swallowed up by an Auckland that has different interests and character than their communities.

Editorialist Brian Rudman accused the Local Government Commission of attempted gerrymandering in its draft proposal for one particular ward.

"[85] The Government's plan to outsource the majority of the council's functions was decried by numerous people (including the main mayoral contenders, Len Brown, and to a lesser degree, John Banks) and groups across the political and societal spectrum – from the Auckland Regional Council and many community boards,[86] to Local Government New Zealand,[87] and organisations considered to be National Party-friendly[88] such as the Auckland Chamber of Commerce and the Employers & Manufacturers Association.

[93][94] Others, while criticising the lack of democratic oversight, dismissed concerns about asset sales, noting that amalgamation was likely to result in surplus real estate.

[61] New Zealand Local Government magazine followed the story, and criticised the lack of transparency that would ensue from establishing independent CCOs.

[84] Further criticism was the lack of accountability of the proposed CCOs, which would not have to hold public board meetings, or provide agendas or minutes.

[88] Groups such as 'Heart of the City' (the Auckland CBD business association) also called for stronger oversight and mayoral powers over the CCOs.

However, it later became clear that instead, the city's new Independent Maori Statutory Board, appointed by Te Puni Kōkiri, would receive "broadly ordained powers".

These included the right to send one or two delegates, with full voting powers, to any council committee meeting, and dealing with "the management and stewardship of natural and physical resources".

This unelected representation of Māori on committees voting on matters such as transport and infrastructure, as well as the fact that the advisory board requested (and initially received) a $3.4 million yearly budget, created significant public concern and debate.

[98][99] In early July 2018, Mayor Phil Goff announced that the far-right Canadian speakers Lauren Southern and Stefan Molyneux would not be allowed to speak at any Auckland Council premises on the grounds that their presence would stir up religious and ethnic tensions.

[103][104] This group consisted of several business leaders, academics, lawyers, and journalists, including the former Labour President Michael Bassett, former National and ACT parties leader Don Brash, Property Institute chief executive Ashley Church, Auckland University of Technology historian Paul Moon, left-wing commentator Chris Trotter, and New Zealand Taxpayers' Union Jordan Williams.