Heart of the City Governance and Membership Update
- Steps we're taking to elect a new Executive Committee.
- Members are asked to review their membership details and let us know of any changes. Please review your details and advise us of any updates by Tuesday 11 August 2026.
Electing a New Executive Committee
What's happening?
Following recent resignations, Heart of the City currently has no Executive Committee. Our Constitution requires an elected committee, so we are taking steps to put one in place. This will happen at a Special General Meeting (SGM).
Our Members elect the Executive Committee
Heart of the City is an independent incorporated society. Under our Constitution, it is our Members who elect the Executive Committee. Membership is by application from eligible commercial property owners and businesses within Heart of the City’s boundary.
Independent oversight of the process
Because it is unusual for an organisation to have no committee at all, Auckland Council has appointed Cassandra Crowley as an Independent Governance Observer and Reviewer.
Cassandra is an experienced governance professional and an external member of Auckland Council's Audit and Risk Committee. Her role is to independently observe and provide assurance on:
- The review and verification of our membership register
- Communications with Members and BID affiliates
- Preparations for the Special General Meeting
- The nomination and election of the new Executive Committee
This is to help ensure the process is fair, transparent and give Members and stakeholders confidence in the outcome.
Our services continue as normal
Throughout this period, Heart of the City continues to deliver its day-to-day activities, including marketing, security and events, notably our signature event Restaurant Month, in August.
What happens next
We will send full details about the SGM, including the date, how to nominate candidates, and supporting documents, in the coming weeks. The meeting is currently expected to be held in early September 2026, once the necessary preparation is complete and formal notice requirements are met.
Existing Members: Please Check Your Details
If you are a current Heart of the City Member organisation, we strongly encourage you to review your membership information and advise us of any changes by Tuesday 11 August 2026.
Please take a moment to:
- Confirm the name and details of the legal entity that holds the membership
- Confirm your organisation's contact details and Representative details are current and correct
- Tell us about any changes to the Member entity
Why does a Member need a Representative?
If a Member is a company, trust, incorporated society or other organisation, it must nominate a person to act on its behalf. This person is called the Representative.
Why keeping membership details up to date matters
Important information about the SGM, Executive Committee election and voting process will be sent to each Member's nominated Representative. If membership records are out of date, these communications may not reach the right person.
Membership details can change over time due to staff changes, changes in ownership or governance, or updated contact information. Keeping records current helps ensure important notices and voting information reach the correct Representative.
Check and/or Update Your Membership Details Here
If you are no longer connected to the Member, or you are unsure of your login, please contact us straight away: [email protected]
How we verify Member details
To protect the integrity of the process, Heart of the City may take reasonable steps to verify information about a Member. This may include confirming the Member's location, the legal entity that holds the membership, and that the Representative has authority to act on the Member's behalf.
If you are the Representative but are not a director, owner, trustee or CEO of the Member entity, Heart of the City may ask for written confirmation from one of those people before you can act on the Member's behalf. Please respond promptly to any such requests so we can keep our records up to date and ensure important communications reach the right people.
Not yet a Member?
Heart of the City is the Business Improvement District (BID) organisation for Auckland's city centre. We represent the interests of businesses and commercial property owners, advocate for a thriving and safe urban environment, deliver marketing and events, and work with key partners to support economic growth and vitality.
While many businesses and property owners within the BID area are affiliates of Heart of the City, only approved Members can participate in the formal governance of the organisation.
Why become a Member?
Members are entitled to:
- Vote at General Meetings, including the upcoming SGM
- Stand for election to the Executive Committee
- Receive formal governance notices and meeting documentation
- Participate directly in the future direction and governance of Heart of the City
Who can apply?
Under the Heart of the City Constitution, entities may be eligible for membership if they:
- Own one or more commercially rated properties within the Heart of the City Targeted Rating Area; or
- Occupy, or are the tenant of, one or more premises (with a floor space of not less than 10sqm) of a commercially rated property within the Targeted Rating Area and who operate a business from those premises for not less than 50 business days a year.
Membership belongs to the legal entity itself, such as a company, trust, partnership, incorporated society or sole trader business, not to an individual employee, representative or trading name.
If your organisation is eligible and would like to participate in the upcoming SGM, we encourage you to apply as soon as possible.
Applications should be submitted by Tuesday 11 August 2026 to allow time for eligibility assessment and processing before the SGM.
Apply for Membership Here
To learn more about governance and membership, visit How Heart of the City Operates
Questions?
For questions about membership status, representative details or eligibility to join, please contact the Heart of the City team at [email protected].
