Brown gets high-fives from Westies

Manukau City Mayor Len Brown takes a break at Lynn- Mall in New Lynn. Photo / Sarah Ivey

Super City mayoral candidate Len Brown is out on the campaign trail when a lady approaches to say he's shorter than he looks on television.

Far from offended, Mr Brown doesn't hesitate in replying "good things come in small packages," before sharing a laugh with her.

At 1.67m, Mr Brown says members of the public comment on his height - or lack of it - at least three or four times a day.

They also frequently say he looks younger in person, a comment he takes as a compliment but wonders if the campaign hoardings make him look older than his 54 years.

Either way, after 14 months on the campaign trail Mr Brown is just glad people recognise him so easily, especially in areas outside of Manukau where he is the mayor.

While walking around LynnMall yesterday afternoon dozens of people approached Mr Brown.

Some wanted to shake his hand and wish him luck.

Others wanted to say they have voted for him, while several young people wanted to have their photograph taken with him.

He seemed popular among the Westies - high-fiving a number of young people, speaking Tongan with one man and greeting a Korean shopkeeper in her own language.

"For a lot of people I'm new and they have been really measuring me and testing me and talking to their friends and family and deciding if they are going to vote for me and that's great," he said.

One group he stopped to talk to included four family members that spanned five generations. All three adults had voted for him.

When asked why, 88-year-old great-great grandmother Janet Wilson said "I like the look of him", while her 63-year-old daughter Joy Samuel said it was because "I like his smile".

Ms Wilson's 27-year-old great granddaughter Davina Tararo, who had her 1-year-old daughter Joydana in tow, said: "I heard that he kept the rates down in South Auckland and I just heard good things about him."

Mr Brown was frequently approached by supporters as he made his way through the shopping centre. Many of them believed he would win the election.

However, Mr Brown was not claiming victory yet.

"You can never feel victorious in politics" he said. "I'm certainly feeling a mood, a momentum. That's what I am feeling and that's critical in a campaign that you feel a tide that's going with you."