John Banks receives his chains of office during a ceremony in the Aotea Centre last night. Photo / Martin Sykes
After a three-year "cold shower", an avowedly softer, gentler John Banks reclaimed the golden chains of Auckland's mayoral office last night.
Talking of the humbling experience, Mr Banks said the voters had given him another opportunity to lead Auckland City and make a difference.
It was a far
cry from three years ago when, seeking a second term, he agreed with an interviewer's description of him as "overbearing, pedantic, arrogant, rude and pushy".
Last night, the 60-year-old politician, his wife Amanda by his side, thanked all families who had supported their loved ones with the sacrifice needed for public office.
He thanked all former mayors, including Les Mills, who attended the swearing-in ceremony, and Dick Hubbard and his wife, Diana, for their efforts to build a better city.
Mr Banks was sworn in as the 39th Mayor of Auckland City, with Citizens & Ratepayers leader David Hay as his deputy. The two men worked in tandem during Mr Banks' previous term.
He is the first mayor to make a comeback since Sir Dove-Myer Robinson in 1968. Three years ago Mr Banks was swept aside by Mr Hubbard by 19,016 votes. Twelve days ago the new, "transmogrified" Mr Banks beat Mr Hubbard by 10,073 votes.
The right-leaning C&R won 11 of the 19 seats on the council.
C&R, which has had decades of almost continuous rule, is back in the driver's seat after a one-term experiment with City Vision-Labour.
Outlining his vision for the city, Mr Banks said the period of doubt had run its course: "The election delivered a clear message around careful spending, affordable progress with openness and transparency."
The challenge now was to match those words with action by slashing property rates, abolishing "water price-gouging" and reversing plans to extend by six years the deadline for the stopping the pumping of "human body waste" on to eastern bay beaches.
Another topic of the inaugural speech was the royal commission of inquiry into the future structure of local government in Auckland.
"We need to keep an open mind on any possible changes, with a focus on the benefits of reduced costs, improved governance while ensuring local democracy is respected and preserved."
