Legislation which will set up an agency to oversee Auckland's move to a super-city has passed its first hurdle in Parliament under urgency.
The legislation will dissolve the current eight councils in order to set up the Auckland Transition Agency. A five-member board will oversee the transition to a single council, plus 20 to 30 community boards.
The eight councils will go out of existence on 1 November 2010.
The Local Government (Auckland Reorganisation) Bill passed its first reading on Wednesday night by 64 votes to 57.
Labour, the Maori Party, the Progressive Party and the Greens opposed the bill.
The House will resume under urgency at 9am on Thursday.
A second bill setting out the Government's proposal for Auckland's governance arrangements will go through its first reading and then be sent to a select committee to allow the public to make submissions.
Local Government Minister Rodney Hide is expected to announce the members of the transition agency next week.
