- Hon Chris Bishop
Transport Minister Chris Bishop and Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown have confirmed appointments to the newly established Auckland Regional Transport Committee (ARTC), an important step in strengthening Auckland's transport governance.
"The ARTC will play a critical role in aligning central and local government priorities and ensuring Auckland has a transport system that meets the needs of a growing city," says Mr Bishop.
"For too long, Auckland's transport system has suffered from fragmented decision-making and a lack of clear long-term direction.
"These reforms are about putting in place stronger governance, greater accountability and a clear strategic focus for Auckland's transport future.
The ARTC is made up of three Ministerial appointees, three Auckland Council appointees and a jointly appointed Chair.
Daniel Williams will serve as Chair for a one-year term from 14 September 2026 to 13 September 2027. The three Ministerial appointees will also serve for the same term.
The three Ministerial appointees are:
- Carl Blanchard
- Bronwyn Coomer-Smit
- Stuart Shepherd
The three Auckland Council appointees are:
- Cr Andy Baker
- Cr Shane Henderson
- Mayor Wayne Brown (to be replaced by Cr Maurice Williamson*)
The appointments are the next step in implementing changes made by the Local Government (Auckland Council) (Transport Governance) Amendment Act 2026, which came into force on 7 May 2026.
Mr Bishop says Mr Williams brings more than 30 years of experience across master-planned communities, major infrastructure and commercial developments in New Zealand and the Pacific.
"His extensive experience will be of significant value to the ARTC as it takes on its strategic role, and I am pleased to see him appointed as Chair.
"Alongside Daniel, the Ministerial appointees bring complementary expertise across infrastructure investment, transport planning, economics and spatial planning.
Mayor Brown says the appointments are an important step towards a more integrated approach to transport planning for Auckland.
"This is a significant milestone and an important step forward in finally delivering a more integrated and coordinated approach to transport planning for Auckland," says Mayor Brown.
"The ARTC is a unique committee, established through transport reform that formed one of my cornerstone policies to fix Auckland's transport system and improve how major transport decisions are made."
The committee reflects the importance of genuine partnership, a key principle of the Auckland Regional Deal, and will play a critical role in bringing together local and central government to align priorities and provide long-term certainty for Aucklanders.
"Daniel Williams is a suitable chair. It has been an extensive search because we wanted a strong, experienced and credible chair for this important role.
"Major projects don't go wrong overnight, they start wrong. That's why it's critical the committee gets the foundations right from day one and provides the governance and oversight needed to make good decisions early.
"Daniel brings significant real-world experience and is already well known to Auckland Council through his work as the independent Chair of the Regulatory Review Committee, where he successfully helped council and industry work together to resolve complex regulatory issues.
"His proven ability to build consensus, tackle challenges and drive outcomes will serve the ARTC and Auckland well as it begins this important work."
Notes to editor:
- *Mayor Wayne Brown will sit on the committee for the first three months, with former Minister of Transport Cr Maurice Williamson replacing him thereafter
- The Auckland Regional Transport Committee was established as a statutory committee by the Local Government (Auckland Council) (Transport Governance) Amendment Act 2026, which came into force on 7 May 2026.
- The ARTC comprises three Ministerial appointees, three Auckland Council appointees and a jointly appointed Chair.
- The committee's functions include providing long-term strategic direction for Auckland's transport system, delivering a 30-year transport plan for Auckland and preparing the Auckland Regional Land Transport Plan.
Appointee biographies
Daniel Williams
Daniel has been a Director of Woods NZ for over 30 years and was Managing Director for over 20 of them. Daniel has over 35 years of professional experience as a surveyor with involvement in a broad range of projects, including master-planned communities, large infrastructure builds, and commercial developments throughout New Zealand and the Pacific Islands. Daniel successfully oversaw the growth of the Woods to be a significant contributor to land development throughout New Zealand. Daniel has been a major figure in the New Zealand surveying industry. He has contributed significantly to the profession, including serving as a board member and board chair for Survey and Spatial New Zealand.
Carl Blanchard
Carl is a highly experienced corporate finance and capital markets adviser with more than 30 years' experience advising corporates, investors, local authorities and the Crown. He has deep expertise across infrastructure, energy, transport and property, and has led some of New Zealand's most significant equity capital markets transactions, including major IPOs, mergers and acquisitions, and strategic asset sales. Prior to joining Forsyth Barr, Carl was a partner at PwC, leading the infrastructure advisory practice, lead the Accident Compensation Corporation direct investment team and spent 16 years at Jarden in senior leadership roles. He started his career at the Treasury and is a former chair of the New Zealand Takeovers Panel.
Bronwyn Coomer-Smit
Bronwyn is a founder and ex-Director of Flow Transportation Specialists Limited. Bronwyn is a civil engineer, specialising in transport engineering, with over 45 years' experience in strategic transport planning, traffic engineering, road design and construction, in South Africa and New Zealand. Over the past 30 years her work in New Zealand has involved the project management and public consultation of many different types of traffic and transportation projects, including for local and central government agencies. She also served as a board member of the North Harbour Hockey Association for nine years.
Stuart Shepherd
Stuart is a company director and strategic advisor with a career focused on economics, finance, infrastructure and property. His experience includes co-founding the Sustainable Property Investment Fund (a mid-sized commercial property fund), serving as a Commissioner on the Auckland Unitary Plan Hearings Panel and as a member of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development's Housing Expert Advisory Group, chairing the Government's 2017 Housing Infrastructure Fund Assessment Panel and advising on resource management reforms. He is also a Founding director and chair of Home Capital Partners (part of the Home Foundation Group) and a director of Crown Infrastructure Delivery Ltd (the Government's vertical infrastructure delivery agency).
Auckland Council appointees
Cr Andy Baker
Andy Baker is a Franklin local, growing up in Drury. He has had a varied work life serving as a frontline police officer in South Auckland before returning to the family dairy farm then becoming a successful restaurateur and later as a manager of emergency management and rural fire for various Councils.
In 2010 he followed his family heritage and entered the world of local politics, becoming the first chair on the Franklin Local Board and then being elected as Franklin ward councillor in 2022.
Andy is currently chair of the Transport and Infrastructure Delivery Committee, chair of the Rural Advisory Panel, and was previously a board director of Auckland Transport amongst a host of other appointments and responsibilities.
He is heavily involved in the local community through rugby and sport where he is the ground announcer for Counties Manukau Rugby, NZ Cricket Super Smash and is currently Patron of Counties Special Olympics.
Cr Shane Henderson
Shane Henderson is an experienced local government leader with over a decade of service across Auckland's governance system. He has served as a Councillor for the Waitākere Ward since 2019 and is currently Deputy Chair of Auckland Council's Transport and Infrastructure Delivery Committee and Chair of the Road Controlling Authority Sub-Committee. Prior to his election to Council, he chaired the Henderson-Massey Local Board and is a former community lawyer.
His work in public office has centred on affordable public transport, effective infrastructure delivery, smart urban planning, and environmental protection. Born and raised in West Auckland, Shane brings a strong suburban lens to governance and decision-making. Living in Te Atatū South with his young family, he is driven to ensure all Auckland communities can access transport that is fast, affordable, and sustainable.
Cr Maurice Williamson
Maurice Williamson is an Auckland Councillor for the Howick Ward who brings extensive experience from careers in both central and local government. He represented Pakuranga as a Member of Parliament for 30 years, from 1987 to 2017, and held a range of ministerial portfolios across successive National-led governments, including Transport, Broadcasting, Local Government, Customs, and Statistics.
Following his parliamentary career, Maurice served as New Zealand's Consul-General in Los Angeles before returning to public service in Auckland. In 2022, he was elected to Auckland Council's Governing Body as the Councillor for the Howick Ward. A strong advocate for transport, Maurice is committed to delivering practical solutions and positive outcomes that improve connectivity and quality of life for Aucklanders.
