It is 14 months until Auckland chooses a new leader and former Conservative Party leader Colin Craig has become the latest to signal his interest in the mayoral race. The Herald on Sunday asks the contenders how they would head the City of Sails and why they deserve our vote.
Phil Goff
Labour MP for Mt Roskill
What is your solution to the reported level of foreign ownership of residential property? Supply is the key issue but reducing demand by stopping non resident investors buying existing residential properties would also ease pressure on house prices. Overseas investors with access to cheap finance can unfairly outbid local home buyers and push up overall house prices. I support stopping foreign investment in existing houses as Australia has done. Alternatively we could impose a 15 or 20 per cent stamp duty on foreign investors as Singapore and Hong Kong have done.
What one thing would you do to help solve the housing shortage? To increase supply, we need to give the building industry confidence to gear up to bridge Auckland's 20,000 house shortfall. Local government can contribute with improved planning processes. Central government needs to fund infrastructure development, social housing and affordable housing. Demand-driven inflation can be reduced by discouraging speculators and stopping foreign investors from bidding up the price of existing housing.
Would you cap the rate rise? As an MP I would not presume to instruct council on this. As a personal view, council should keep rate rises as low as possible, consistent with the need to provide essential services. Capping has the disadvantage of being arbitrary and setting an effective minimum rise as well as maximum.
Would you cut any major projects, and if so, what? I would need a full briefing on project cost and benefits before answering this. Economies certainly can be found right now though, for example, by the council not demolishing more than 30 good-quality houses in my electorate around Monte Cecilia to provide parking and make a grand park entrance.
What is more important - a bigger road network/new roads or more bus lanes/cycle paths/walking paths? Effective public transportation services including rail, light rail and busways are vital to resolving motorway congestion. Cycling and walking opportunities should also be promoted to ease pressure on our roads.
Why would you be a good mayor? It is premature to answer these questions, given I have not made a decision about running for the mayoralty. I appreciate the encouragement and kind offers of support from many people who have approached me about standing and I have promised them I will give it careful consideration. In the meantime, Auckland continues to be a priority for me as MP for Mt Roskill, as Labour's Auckland Issues spokesperson, and as a born-and-bred resident of this fantastic city.
Michael Barnett
Michael Barnett. Photo / Natalie Slade
Auckland Regional Chamber of Chief Executive
What is your solution to the reported level of foreign ownership of residential property? There is no wrong-doing here nor are there facts. If foreign buyers are distorting the market then take steps to prevent that.
What one thing would you do to help solve the housing shortage? Accelerate the availability of land, ensure there is a council that is easy to do business with and explore opportunities to go up as well as out.
Would you cap the rate rise? If you retained the present system then increases for the administrative part of council is inflation and the balance would depend on agreed projects.
Would you cut any major projects, and if so, what? We need to learn how to prioritise and partner to optimise completion of needed infrastructure.
Which is more important - a bigger road network/new roads or more bus lanes/cycle paths/walking paths? Auckland will need a mix of all of these to accommodate future growth. Once the right platform is set we should use ways to change car-use behaviour.
Why would you be a good mayor? Auckland is New Zealand's only city of scale and needs to be fit for purpose. It needs a council and a culture that has the support of the people of Auckland and has an inspirational team leading it.
Colin Craig
Former Conservative Party Leader
What is your solution to the reported level of foreign ownership of residential property? Central Government must restrict foreign ownership. Conservative Party policy is that foreign ownership of land, including residential homes, should require Overseas Investment Office approval.
What one thing would you do to help solve the housing shortage? Cut red tape and costs. The goal of council should be to promote housing and development not hinder it. We need more houses and we also need renewal of low standard older buildings.
Would you cap the rate rise? The Conservative Party supports a rates cap at local government level New Zealand wide of the Consumer Price Index. Councils can raise further or special rates if supported by a referendum vote of the ratepayers. Local Government should run within budget like households and businesses do.
Would you cut any major projects, and if so, what? Drop the rail loop and other extravagances that we can't afford and which deliver benefit to only a few. Smaller and quicker transport projects that save Aucklanders time and money should be priority.
Which is more important - a bigger road network/new roads or more bus lanes/cycle paths/walking paths? Roads and busways are the preferred transport methods and should be favoured over expensive rail. Walking paths and cycle ways can be maintained.
Why would you be a good mayor? Have not yet decided to run. My first priority is to national politics and the Conservative Party.
What is your solution to the reported level of foreign ownership of residential property? The issue of foreign ownership is for central government. Auckland Council needs to keep focused on its core role by improving consenting times, cutting costs and increasing the supply of available land for new development.
What one thing would you do to help solvethe housing shortage? For many of us the value of our section makes up 75 per cent of our home's purchase price, so greater land supply is key to housing costs and shortages. I support opening land where infrastructure needs can be met.
Would you cap the rate rise? They should and could be capped at the rate of inflation, but every year the hand comes out for much more. The maximum should be 2.5 per cent, particularly in this very low inflationary environment. I would also push for a greater proportion of rates being a fixed component to take the pressure off the higher valued properties that are getting socked by the current left-wing leadership's very low Uniform Annual General Charge.
Would you cut any major projects, and if so, what? The next mayor should slash the many low-quality and low-priority bureaucratic programmes that add nothing to the lives of ratepayers. Auckland Council's role needs to be smaller and more focused. On major projects I would promote fast-tracking a northwestern bus corridor, the Whangaparaoa Peninsula motorway connection known as Penlink, and ensure the Government delivers a harbour tunnel sooner rather than later.
What is more important - a bigger road network/new roads or more bus lanes/cycle paths/walking paths? I support building an integrated transport network. At present, too much is being poured into rail to the detriment of improving Auckland's bus services and facilities. It's time for a better funding balance to reflect actual transport usage. Let's not forget that according to the last Census 2013, 82.7 per cent of Aucklanders travel to work by car. Of those who take public transport, most catch a bus, and just 1.6 per cent of Auckland commuters take the train. I would also axe spending millions on making Quay St a pedestrian-focused boulevard and the $16m in the budget to build one over-the-top Westhaven promenade.
Why would you be a good mayor? If I ran it would be on a platform of positive and significant change for ratepayers. Replacing one Labour mayor with another Labour mayor wouldn't change anything, especially if the new mayor had a political history of hiking up taxes for those who earned more than $60,000 and growing public servant numbers and public sector costs. Local government shouldn't be a place for wealth redistribution. All the promise of amalgamation now needs to be delivered.
Restaurateur and Auckland mayoralty candidate in 2012
What is your solution to the reported level of foreign ownership of residential property? I'd stick an immediate ban on non-resident home purchases. We have a crisis over a basic necessity and that must take precedence over politics.
What one thing would you do to help solve the housing shortage? I have a plan to build another CBD which provides housing for more than 200,000 people, creates businesses, jobs and allows people to walk to work or use local transport.
Would you cap the rate rise? General rates would not go up beyond the level of inflation.
Would you cut any major projects, and if so, what? The City Rail Link. It will not achieve what is needed. Another CBD is needed where people can live closer to work. Giving opportunities to create business and offering jobs.
What is more important - a bigger road network/new roads or more bus lanes/cycle paths/walking paths? Less congestion would be the best way to say what is important for Auckland. CBDs are built to get people closer to their work, not infilling suburbs.
Why would you be a good mayor? I believe this city desperately needs a business leader, someone who understands the value of people's money and someone who is responsive to what people need.
"I'm currently too busy with the job at hand - keeping Auckland moving, increasing the supply of quality, affordable housing and keeping our budget under control - to consider what may or may not happen at the end of next year."
Penny Hulse
Auckland deputy mayor
Her spokeswoman, Fiona Cunnnigham said: "Penny Hulse has declined to answer your questions saying the way she has voted on rates and other issues is publicly documented and well known. She is focused on the job at hand rather than something that is taking place a year and a half away."
John Banks
Former Auckland mayor
"We will address these questions and more early next year. To do so now is purely academic in the absence of much hard data, research and the election cycle. Your interest is refreshing and appreciated."
Others reportedly considering a tilt include National MP Maurice Williamson and former Telecom boss Theresa Gattung.
The race for City Hall
Our five potential mayoralty candidates will likely not be alone when nominations close this time next year.
Phil Goff, Cameron Brewer, Michael Barnett, Colin Craig and John Palino have today given a hearty indication they're seriously interested in leading the Super
City, but others, including sitting mayor Len Brown and his deputy Penny Hulse, are biding their time before deciding whether they aspire to wear the solid gold mayoral chains.
They have some wriggle room. A public notice of election is still 11 months away. It will take place on July 13 next year.
Two days later, nominations open, and wannabe mayors will have until August 12 to get their names on the ballot.
Those tasked with choosing who gets the $259,000 gig - us - can begin having a say from mid-September, when voting documents start landing in city letterboxes.
Voting closes at noon on October 8, and results will filter in throughout the afternoon and evening.
