Queenstown Lakes District is being touted as the blueprint model for the Auckland super-city.
Local Government Minister Rodney Hide says the district council is an example of what works and he wants the same style of governance for Auckland.
The Wanaka Community Board has been given the maximum powers by the Queenstown Lakes District Council under the Local Government Act.
Wanaka is in charge of its own capital works, roading, parks and infrastructure: decisions about where to spend ratepayers' money are made locally.
Mr Hide says the Queenstown - Wanaka model is highly regarded, because it gives Wanaka as much power as possible, without compromising the regional authority.
New Zealand Community Board executive committee chairman Mike Cohen says the relationship between the district council and the Wanaka Community Board is the perfect example of how the new Auckland super-council should work.
Wanaka Community Board chairman Lyal Cocks says Aucklanders should push for greater powers for local boards in their super-city plan.
District mayor Clive Geddes says the Wanaka Community Board works so well that a proposal to abolish it several years ago was met with a public backlash.
