Auckland mayor Phil Goff's wishlist includes getting the government to kick in for a new downtown stadium, and a law change to allow Māori seats on his council.
Auckland mayor Phil Goff Photo: RNZ / Todd Niall
The issues are in a wish-list letter Mr Goff sent to the newly-elected government.
The stadium and Māori seats are the last items on Mr Goff's eight-page letter which is mostly devoted to well-canvassed issues and requests.
Top of the list is seeking bigger government investment in infrastructure, and new streams of revenue such as sharing GST, or returning to council the GST charged on rates.
Mr Goff put the case for a 10 cent-a-litre regional fuel tax, which the government has already agreed to, and proposed government-funded arterial regional roads and all rapid transport.
On housing, the mayor outlined the cooperation between the city's development agency Panuku and the government.
He ruled out the sale of significant assets such as the 22 percent shareholding in Auckland Airport, the council water company, or the council-owned Ports of Auckland.
"The financial case to sell shares in strategic assets which return considerable revenue to the city, is not compelling," Mr Goff told the government.
The letter noted issues such as preparing for the America's Cup and the APEC leaders' meeting in 2021, but predates talks already underway on the sailing event.
Mr Goff called for an Upper North Island Ports Study - something already agreed by the government - to precede any council decision-making on relocating its downtown port to what the mayor described as a location "proximate to the city".
The mayor said a report would be out shortly on the feasibility of a downtown location for what he calls a "National Stadium".
Mr Goff said the council could not afford it but wanted to secure an available site, and welcomed a discussion on whether the government would be a potential funder.
He noted the council's recent vote to seek a law change allowing the creation of Māori seats on the council, without needing to reduce the current number of general seats.