Auckland is the most important city in the country and in order for New Zealand to thrive there must be investment in the country's largest city, according to Len Brown, the freshly re-elected mayor.



“Auckland has a great deal of strategic importance for New Zealand. It is our only world class city, and it needs to have a world class economy to compete with other international cities for investment and talent,” said Brown.



The economic development of Auckland and creating a fiscal environment that will attract major companies is a key goal of the mayor’s second term. And investment in Auckland is an investment in New Zealand, Brown said.



“I think most people realise that Auckland's success doesn't have to come at a cost to the rest of the country and that in fact we can all benefit from a successful and thriving Auckland,” he said.



Despite a sometimes bumpy relationship with the government, this year Brown secured significant investment in Auckland’s infrastructure. The government agreed to provide $10 billion package for Auckland’s transport upgrade including the Central Rail Link, a tunnel for a second harbour crossing, and other motorway upgrades.



But after census data revealed Auckland’s growth was not as rapid as predicted, the government has started to question the level of investment in the city’s infrastructure.



However, Brown believes the Auckland Council and the government see eye-to-eye.



“Right now Auckland has the best relationship with central government that it has had in many years and that's something I think we can build on. The reality is we're in agreement on most of the big issues,” Brown said.



While Brown was re elected with a large majority, the local elections have shifted the balance in the Auckland Council to the right.



It was centre right councillors who have been the most opposed to the mayor’s attempts to build a more higher density city focused on public transport.



But Brown is not concerned that the new council will prevent progress.



“I think people are coming from all sorts of interesting political backgrounds and views and we have the potential to work as strongly in this council as we did in the last, together,” he said.



“There will always be differences, but I think we'll be fine.”