Herald NOW speaks with newly elected Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown about the city’s biggest challenges, from public transport to storm recovery and council spending.
Wayne Brown is promising a fresh tilt at getting a bed tax introduced to bolster the local economy after a victorious campaign he described as “like being in a dentist chair for a month”.
Galvanised by the comfortable majority he secured in this year’s election, the incumbent mayor has beenoutlining his priorities for his second term - from completing Auckland Transport reforms to introducing a bed night levy and defending local government interests that differ to the Beehive’s.
“I’m 104,000 [votes] ahead ... which is a pretty good result,” Brown told Herald NOW‘s Ryan Bridge.
“Considering it’s a third of the country, really low turnout, I’ve already got more numbers than New Zealand First got at the last election.”
Brown wants to ensure council and government are on equal footing in future decision-making, arguing that ratepayers still have to front around half the cost of local and central government partnerships.
If presented with a rates cap as proposed, the mayor said he’d respond with a tax cap, noting that rates increases would be “nought” without the $220 million needed to run the City Rail Link (CRL).
Wayne Brown secured 177,954 votes in the 2025 Auckland mayoral election, more than double rival Kerrin Leoni’s tally. Photo / Sylvie Whinray
“It’s nonsensical rubbish ... Next year our rates will be at about 7% up, and that’s entirely to run the [CRL]. A decision made jointly by council and government many years before I showed up.”
Brown said he’s “fired up” deputy mayor Desley Simpson to convince the Government to back their bed levy proposal to support Auckland’s flailing economy, adding that consultation with ratepayers suggested this had majority support from National and Act voters.
“They’re going to have to talk to us ... They say to me, ‘Oh, no, we’re paying for it.’ And I’m going, ‘Hang on. A third of New Zealand pays tax and they come from here.’”
However, he doesn’t want the council to be asking for tax revenue.
Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown proposed a second harbour bridge between Pt Chevalier and the North Shore in 2024. The original bridge is shown to the right. Image / Mayor's office
“I just want the ability to make our own decisions.”
Brown secured his second mayoralty term on October 11 under his “Fix Auckland” ticket.
