I was in downtown Auckland on Saturday, and it's a shocking mess.

I'm downtown most days, but the part I was in is not as big a mess as where I was Saturday.

The part I am in most days is just sad.

Post level four, it has never come back, the people have gone, not all of them but enough of them to make my trip home faster which is no bad thing, but enough of them to know its got a ghost town feel about it and if I was trying to turn a dollar, it is nothing like it was.

No, the bit of Saturday was next level.

It was the heart of the chaos, and when I say chaos, not people, no there were hardly any people, people have long since given up trying to navigate the mess we encountered.

The only reason we persisted with the trip at all, having looked up the map to get the best directions and see nothing but red lines on the google maps, was because the shop was the only branch that had what we wanted.

It's hard to know what was worse, the reduction of lanes, the detours, the cones, the lights that aren't synchronised with the lay out, the road closures, the no parking signs, the tow away threats, there were a handful of walkers, not shoppers, no real bags but people I assumed lived in the area out on a lovely spring day.

We passed the Elliot Street restaurants currently pleading for survival over rent, I wasn’t surprised who's going there, clearly no one.

I also assume one day the authorities would tell you it will all be wonderful and world class , or will it?

Which is why National's promise of an inquiry into Auckland Council and its so desperately over due.

The key of course is terms of reference , who is doing the looking and what actually they will do by way of fixing it , and how much push back comes from the council who must be humiliated by the call.

But look at the evidence, a bridge on the verge of a wind gust, lack of water with no real plans to boost infrastructure for years.

A public transport net work that is constantly delayed, broken, late, on strike, dysfunctional.

An ideology around bike lanes that don’t work, aren't used and yet keep getting built, projects like CRL at best an ordinary idea, in reality late, getting later and billions over budget.

And all the while they call it a world class liveable city, their greatest achievement is saying that without bursting out laughing.

The Herald headlines over the weekend city of fails, and now a potential govt inquiry.

A broken town with failed leaders and arrogant agencies.

If an inquiry can bring the madness to heel and fingers  crossed address the carnage, we will owe them a spectacular debt of gratitude, good luck.