Former Labour leader David Shearer approached about tilt at Auckland Mayoralty

Former Labour Party leader David Shearer in 2020. Photo / Dean Purcell

Labour Party figures are talking to former party leader David Shearer about running for Auckland Mayor next year.

It is understood Shearer has been approached about contesting the mayoralty if Mayor Phil Goff does not stand again.

Shearer, 64, confirmed it had been raised with him but he had not yet had time to consider it.

He returned from his posting as the head of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan a few months ago and was settling back into life in New Zealand after nearly five years away and doing some consultancy work.

It would not be the first time Shearer has followed Goff into a job – Shearer succeeded Goff as the leader of the Labour Party from late 2011 to 2013.

The approach followed talks in the senior ranks of Labour about a potential candidate to replace Goff, who has been Auckland Mayor since 2016.

Goff, a former trade minister, is tipped to be appointed as the Ambassador to Washington at the end of his term as the Government tries to boost its trade relationship under President Joe Biden.

The Auckland mayoralty is an important post for Labour as the Government undertakes significant reforms.

Those include a review of local government and the Three Waters amalgamation plan to vest water infrastructure and assets owned by councils in four regional entities.

Goff is opposed to signing Auckland Council up for those water reforms, which would see the Auckland and Northland regions water governed by one body.

The centre-left has held the mayoralty since 2010 under Len Brown and then Goff, who stood as an independent. Shearer has similar centrist political views to Goff on many issues.

The centre-right has struggled to find a strong candidate for the mayoralty in recent elections.

This time round, National MP Mark Mitchell has confirmed he is considering have a run.

The Whangaparaoa MP has still not ruled it out, saying on Friday he was yet to make any decisions.

His former colleague Paula Bennett has said she had absolutely no intention of standing, despite repeated speculation about it.