John Banks is quietly confident of snatching the Auckland mayoralty from Christine Fletcher, whom he has denounced as lazy, indifferent and arrogant.
Mr Banks said there would be a change on Saturday at the helm of an "inward-looking, discredited and dysfunctional" council.
"It is not going to be businessas usual at Auckland City Council."
At the final mayoral candidates' meeting before the Property Council, Mr Banks delivered a stinging attack on his former National Party colleague and her first-term council.
About 70 people attended the meeting last night at the Leftfield Sports Cafe on Princes Wharf.
Mr Banks' targets included $42 million spent on consultants last year, 69 occasions on which Mrs Fletcher had abstained on council votes, and the going ahead of a Britomart scheme half the size and twice the price of the previous one.
"To build a temple at the bottom of Queen St when we don't have the trains, we don't have the rail, we don't have the railway cars, we don't have the railway stations and we don't have the carparks next to the railway station is crazy.
"The way we deal with the transport problems is to urgently complete Highway 20 and the eastern corridor bypass ... and that is the first thing I will be focused on next week."
Mrs Fletcher had no parting shots for her opponents, except for a few gentle snipes at Mr Banks being all noise and no substance.
"What we need are people to lead the city by bringing people together. It is not about lone rangers or who can shout the loudest, but a team approach.
"A pre-condition for Auckland to be truly successful is leaders who listen and collaborate, and not alienate."
Mrs Fletcher said the council's decision on Monday to approve the first big Britomart contract for $96 million was courageous and visionary.
"Not only is it a key part of the regional transport network, but it will also provide a huge impetus to the rejuvenation of our CBD."
The Alliance's Matt McCarten, whose aggressive campaigning has played a key part in the chase for the mayoral chains, said he believed in giving Aucklanders a clear political choice on the left.
"I will not do any deals or give a wink, wink, wink. I will fight to the wire."
