Union leader Laila Harre has been appointed to oversee the transition of staff into the new Auckland super-city council.
Eight councils will merge by November next year and job losses are expected.
Ms Harre says she was approached by the head of the Auckland Transistion Agency Mark Forde and had already stood down from her role with the National Distribution Union.
Ms Harre will work on the merger of staff and set up employment principles for the new council.
She says she hopes her union connections will mean she can build bridges between the transition agency and unions during the changes.
Ms Harre says she does not know how many jobs might be axed and no decision on job losses has been made.
