Brown not fit for top role, says Banks

If John Banks wins the Super City mayoralty, he won't give opponent Len Brown a leadership role because "he's not up to the job".

The Auckland City Mayor was asked on TVNZ's Close Up last night what position, if any, he would offer the Mayor of Manukau, his main rival, if he won the October 9 election.

"He's a good bloke and got a lot of talent but he's not up to the job," Mr Banks said during an at-times heated debate. "He can't deliver consistent, decisive, stable leadership on tough decisions from day one."

If he could find a role for him it "certainly wouldn't be a leadership role" because we "don't want South Auckland replicated across the rest of Auckland. His city is a social disaster."

Mr Brown, when asked the same question, offered an olive branch: "I would actually be considering John and asking him if he'd be interested in the corporate side of our council."

He branded Mr Banks' comments "old divisive politics" and predicted it wouldn't work in attracting votes but would instead drive voters towards him. "That is a divide-and-rule policy and that's ... why the people of Auckland will vote for me because that is old divisive politics, the worst type."

Mr Brown said he represented the "politics of inclusion" that would bring the city together.

Earlier in the debate, Mr Banks said he would embrace talent, leave cronyism at the door and could work across the political spectrum, pointing to Labour councillors he had worked with in previous councils.

Mr Brown said he could step up to the job. "I'm absolutely fired up and ready for it. I have the ability to work across the political divide."

More than 9500 viewers voted in a poll that ran during the TV debate on who they wanted as Super City mayor.

Fifty-one per cent preferred Mr Brown and 49 per cent said they favoured Mr Banks, a result that echoed recent opinion polls.

CHALK AND CHEESE

Banks on Brown:

"He's a good bloke and got a lot of talent but he's not up to the job."

Brown on Banks:

"I would ... be considering John and asking him if he'd be interested in the corporate side of our council."