Epsom tipped as place for Banks comeback

John Banks. Photo / Robert Trathen

Defeated Super City mayoral candidate John Banks says he is taking time to reflect on his future, but people around him expect his name will quickly return to public prominence.

One possibility suggested is Mr Banks standing for the National Party next year in Epsom against Act leader Rodney Hide.

Mr Banks spoke to reporters and a gathering of the right-leaning Auckland Citizens & Ratepayers at the weekend after being soundly beaten by Len Brown in the mayoral election on Saturday.

But he has not disclosed what his plans are, saying only that he is not rushing into a new job after some hard years.

The campaign had been a "long, long road", he said, and his 33 years of public life had not been easy on his family.

His wife, Amanda, and his three children had shown "unrelenting" tolerance over the years, he said.

"It never is easy for the spouse and the kids of someone in public life."

He ended the news conference by listing all the political offices he had held - including time as an MP between 1981 and 1999 and a cabinet minister from 1990 to 1996 - saying his past public life had been a privilege.

"The last thing I need is a job. I've got plenty of work," he said.

Mr Banks noted that this mayoral campaign had been his third loss during his career.

"It's time for me to move on," he told the gathering.

"It has been an extraordinarily hard week for the family. But in the end, when all the politics are over, all you've got is your family, your faith and your health."

His immediate priorities were his businesses and his family, Mr Banks told the Herald on Sunday.

But he was open to having discussions about any roles, including any Super City offers from Mayor-elect Brown.

Citizens & Ratepayers president John Slater, offering Mr Banks commiserations, said he expected to see the defeated mayoral candidate back in the public eye.

"No doubt his name will come to the fore in the future," Mr Slater said.

Christine Fletcher, who was elected to the Auckland Council on the Citizens & Ratepayers ticket, said there would be "another great project right around the corner" for Mr Banks.

"I'm heart-broken that he didn't come through ... but I think he led a fantastic campaign and everyone is right behind him."

Mr Hide responded to talk that the National Party was preparing to run Mr Banks against him by saying he would confront that issue once it came to pass.

"The National Party has always run a candidate in Epsom and there's every indication it always will," Mr Hide said.

But he also warned that, had he not won Epsom, "Helen Clark would still be Prime Minister" because the National Party would not have had Act's votes to form a government.

"So it's a pretty powerful proposition."

Mr Banks said he was honoured that Auckland had given him an opportunity to rise from humble beginnings.

"I never thought when I stood outside this town hall in 1964, while living rough in the Auckland Domain, that I would one day be occupying this privileged position as mayor of the great city of Auckland."

UNSUCCESSFUL FOR AUCKLAND COUNCIL MAYORALTY:

* John Banks, Auckland Mayor
* Vanessa Neeson, Waitakere City councillor. Elected to Henderson-Massey Local Board
* Andrew Williams, North Shore Mayor

UNSUCCESSFUL FOR AUCKLAND COUNCIL WARD SEATS:

Auckland City Council members:

* Glenda Fryer
* Mark Donnelly
* Paul Goldsmith
* Doug Armstrong

North Shore City Council members:

* Andrew Williams, Mayor
* Grant Gillon. Elected to Kaipatiki Local Board

Waitakere City Council Member:

* Vanessa Neeson. Elected to Henderson-Massey Local Board

Manukau City Council member:

* Dick Quax

Auckland Regional Council members:

* Brent Morrissey
* Joel Cayford
* Christine Rankin. Elected to Upper Harbour Local Board and Waitemata District Health Board
* Christine Rose
* Paul Walbran

Others:

* Brian Neeson, former National Party MP. Voted off Waitemata District Health Board. Elected to Upper Harbour Local Board
* Sir Barry Curtis, former Manukau mayor
* Alex Swney, chief executive of Heart of the City