Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown questions why Cabinet ministers get limos but he doesn’t after driving offence

• Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown apologised for making a video call while driving, admitting the offence.
• Police are investigating the incident, which carries a $150 fine and 20 demerit points.
• Brown compared his situation to ministers with chauffeurs, saying he lacks similar transport perks.

A day after being caught out making a video call while driving, Auckland’s mayor has questioned why lowly Cabinet ministers get Crown limousines but not him.

Wayne Brown told the Herald today: “The real story you should have asked is [why] ministers you have never heard of get a BMW and a driver”.

“The most important mayor in New Zealand doesn’t get any of those things.”

The Herald reported yesterday that police are investigating Brown for making a video call to last Thursday’s transport committee meeting on his mobile phone while driving.

Brown has admitted the offence, which carries a fine of $150 plus 20 demerit points, and apologised for the error in judgment.

When the Herald told him former mayor Len Brown had a chauffeur-driven car, Brown said he was never offered any such perk.

Cabinet ministers travel around in BMW limousines.

“Everyone wants to talk to me all day long, and I have to get myself around,” he said.

Brown’s predecessor, Phil Goff, did away with Len Brown’s gas-guzzling V6 Calais and used an electric car from the council’s fleet for mayoral duties.

A council spokesperson said the Remuneration Authority allows the mayor to have a vehicle for business and private use, and the mayoral office has a BYD Seal Dynamic EV.

“The mayoral office may choose to appoint a driver, or office staff may carry out those duties,” said the spokesperson, saying this guidance was provided to the mayoral office when it was established.

Asked if he was driving in Auckland or Northland, where he has a home, when he made the video call on his phone, Brown said he did not want to get into that.

Asked if he had been contacted yet by police or fined, Brown said he hadn’t heard anything, and claimed police did not follow up when he was threatened by individuals associated with the speedway.

Last month, an unmarked security car was stationed outside the mayor’s apartment in Auckland, and new CCTV cameras were installed after Brown was the target of online threats.

Security was provided outside the mayor's apartment after threats were made over the council's decision to move speedway from Western Springs. Photo / Greg Bowker

“The police don’t show up for bloody burglaries these days,” Brown told the Herald.

“It would look bloody stupid if they got tangled up in this one [using his phone while driving], wouldn’t it?”

Yesterday, police said they are in the early stages of inquiries to establish the circumstances of the video.

“We are in the process of collating this information and making inquiries, which will determine the next appropriate steps.”

Today, police said inquiries were ongoing.

Both police and the Government have in recent months signalled a tougher crackdown on drivers using their mobile phones. In February, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said he was willing to consider higher penalties.

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