On May 20, 2026, Viv Beck succeeded in an Employment Relations Authority (ERA) legal challenge against the Heart of the City (HOTC) board. The ERA found Beck had an “arguable case” she was “unjustifiably suspended,” leading to her return as chief executive.
Following this, a majority of the HOTC board resigned, citing governance issues. The resigning board members called for Auckland Council to withdraw its funding from the organization, stating that the current structure is not sustainable.
The resignations include several long-standing members who expressed concerns about the board's direction and the impact of the ERA decision. Auckland Council has not yet responded to the call for funding withdrawal.
