Mark Thomas: Auckland’s deal is a start. But will it be strong enough to matter?

PremiumOpinionOpinion byMark ThomasNZ Herald·19 Apr, 2026 05:00 AM5 mins to readMark Thomas is managing director of Serviceworks, an urban technology and smart cities business. He has worked on city and local government issues for more than a decade.Auckland’s deal is a start. But will it be strong enough to matter?

Auckland has rarely lacked plans for growth. What it has lacked, more often, is the power, certainty and investment to deliver them. The new City and Regional Deal is the latest attempt to