Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Appointment seen as unacceptable by Labour

Updated at 6:38 am on 7 October 2010

Labour says the appointment of Mark Ford as the chief executive of Auckland's Watercare Services is an unacceptable concentration of power.

Mr Ford is heading the Auckland Transition Agency until the end of the month and will then chair Auckland Transport for one year.

He is also returning to the job he previously held at Watercare for 15 years, for a salary of $630,000, plus a performance bonus of up to 15%.

Phil Twyford MP says Mr Ford will be responsible for about 60% of expenditure by the new Auckland Council and will arguably have more power than the mayor.

He says there's a convention that the Government does not make significant public service appointments near elections and the same should apply to the Super City.

Mr Ford has been unavailable for comment.

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