Rich Lister prepares for Supermayor role

Sharon Hunter and Tenby Powell. Photo / Herald on Sunday

One of Auckland's most combative top businessmen is preparing to enter the Supercity mayoral race.

Tenby Powell, a Rich Lister who is married to the similarly successful and well-known entrepreneur Sharon Hunter, says he is ready to launch his mayoral election campaign if John Banks continues to trail in the polls.

And if Banks does win, Powell is offering to serve as his deputy.

The last APN survey of 1500 Aucklanders showed Banks lagging just behind Len Brown, even after the Manukau challenger was revealed to have used his council credit card for personal spending.

Auckland's existing political leaders have come under fire this week, after plans for a Rugby World Cup "party central" fell into disarray, just as plans for a waterfront stadium had before.

Three of the four city mayors are running for the top Supercity job: John Banks, Len Brown, and the North Shore's Andrew Williams.

Powell will be trading on his experience as a business leader, untainted by local politics. "Auckland is a world-class city and we need to keep up the pace," he told the Herald on Sunday. "If we fail Auckland, we fail New Zealand.

"I'm not a politician, but I believe I can add a lot in the way of leadership."

He is the former executive director of the company that owns Hirepool and Port-a-Loo. His wife founded PC Direct at the age of 22. Both cut a dash on Auckland's social scene.

Last year the father-of-two made headlines after a dust-up with Ken Reinsfeld, manager of heavyweight boxer Shane Cameron, at upmarket Auckland bar Dida's.

Powell is an acquaintance of Banks, who yesterday acknowledged his challenge. "Everyone who wants to stand has a right to stand," Banks said. "He's a good bloke, he's a significant player in business in New Zealand and I've had good involvements with him."

Yesterday, Powell was guarded on his campaign issues, but did say the region needed a high-speed rail link to the airport.

"The city needs a leader with the courage to say 'this is for the greater good'. Someone who can get cracking and achieve some things."

Auckland lacked a soul, he said, and that soul could come only from a unifying vision and a collective spirit. "That takes passionate leadership in the face of egocentric myopia."

Banks has previously suggested he expects as many as a dozen contenders for the Supercity mayoralty.

This weekend the race was also joined by controversial North Shore mayor Andrew Williams.

Williams claimed voters had become disillusioned with what was being offered by existing candidates.

He condemned the big-budget campaigns expected from candidates such Banks, Brown and conservative businessman Colin Craig. "You won't see me with my face down the side of a multi-storey building or on the back of a bus and that sort of carry-on," Williams said.

The Supercity critic added: "What's been very clear is that I have been the only mayor of the four big cities who has stood up and voiced real concerns and has been prepared to go into bat and make those known."

He didn't believe his reputation for late-night texts and drinking would overshadow his achievements. "I think a lot of people do know me for being the one that's stood up and been a vocal opponent of the Supercity."

Meanwhile, fellow Supermayoral candidate Simon Prast, an eminent TV actor and theatre director, has admitted smoking "P" to the Herald on Sunday.