| Evaluation criterion | Evaluation | Comment |
| Arborescence—seeing the big picture and arborescence thinking | ý | The political will to “make it happen” was lacking as exemplified by the failure for the region to present a unified proposal to Wellington for future governance. Interim structures were unwieldy. The original AREDS organisation never had the political support because of silo structures to ensure its long-term success. |
| Assemblage—creating desiring machines | þ | The strategy rhetorically articulated the desire to become a global city as per Jessop and Sum [52] . |
| Flow―a flow of nomadic workers | ý | The organisation failed to develop the institutional capacity to be successful because of questionable hiring’s and poor staff retention. |
| Line of flight | þ | The metro project developed a trajectory and time table to move toward global city status. |
| Multiplicity of initiatives15 | ý | The original AREDS organisation had an assemblage of 24 different actions―instead of focusing on several the organisation attempted to concurrently undertake more than it could successfully deliver. |
| Nomad—think outside the square (nomadic thought) | þ | The Metro Project proposed that the region develop a one plan approach as a guide for future development and to approach the 2011 Rugby World Cup as an excuse to build infrastructure instead of just being a sporting event. |
| Plateau of funding | ý | Funding for AREDS was low by international comparisons―local authorities wanted to be seen as doing something to address the regional issues but did not commit to long-term sustainable funding. |
| Reterritorialisation | þ | The new Economic Development Forum radically reterritorialised the previously existing structures for economic development delivery. |
| Deterritorialisation | þ | The process resulted in the creation of an enhanced Greater Auckland Council by the amalgamation of the seven local Councils. |
| Rhizomatic links | ý | The original AREDS organisation had no direct links to the business community; however links were developed by Auckland Plus. |
| Smooth space | ý | A good example is the tension that occurs between the striated space of the regional strategy |
| Striated space | ý | and its stated goal of creating the smooth space of an entrepreneurial global city. |