KEY POINTS:
The first principle of politics is glaringly obvious. Upset enough voters and they'll toss you out. Auckland City Mayor John Banks learned that lesson three years ago. But his successor did not, and now he's been turfed out on to the costly Queen St paving-slabs that helped cause
his downfall.
The second principle of politics is that voters have short memories. That's why, all humble and transmogrified, Mr Banks is now back for a second term.
Hallelujah and all that.
Ex-mayor Hubbard is not the only one licking his wounds. His North Shore counterpart, George Wood, suffered a similar fate, and for similar reasons.
It's nigh impossible to convince ratepayers, especially the minority who actually vote, that doubling the rates over the next 10 years is a good thing. It tends to make them see waste and profligate spending in everything their council does and to look for scapegoats to blame.
Poor George Wood signed his own death warrant a year ago when he suggested those citizens who couldn't afford the rate increases should pack their tents and move into more affordable accommodation elsewhere. He subsequently apologised, but the damage was done.
Mr Hubbard was not helped by his alliance with a dysfunctional band of Labour and Alliance councillors who at times seemed more bent on self-destruction than running the city.
In recent weeks Mr Hubbard has been muttering darkly about certain members of the media being responsible for his impending demise. The reality is, he never really recovered from the humiliating attempt by City Vision leader Bruce Hucker to become de facto mayor in the opening days of office.
More curiously, new North Shore Mayor Andrew Williams has also had a swipe at the media for not taking him seriously.
Certainly the Herald-DigiPoll didn't pick it. But maybe that was to his advantage, because if the big swing against George Wood had been better signalled, maybe the incumbent would have staged a better comeback.
But given the intensity of feeling among those fearing the impact a commercial airport at Whenuapai would have on their peace and tranquillity, probably not. Mr Wood used his casting vote to support North Shore's participation in the project.
I would like to think that Mr Wood's campaign against the regional amenities funding bill cost him dearly also. But that's probably wishful thinking.
I do look forward to Mr Williams' attempts to abolish the ritual prayers opening council meetings. I supported his losing battle over this during his last term as councillor. Now he's the man supposed to lead the praying. It could be fun.
Overall, the Government will be breathing a sigh of relief over the weekend's result. The major fall-off in support in national polls has not been reflected in the Auckland results.
Former Labour Party president Bob Harvey is happily ensconced as Waitakere Mayor for another term, and Labour man Len Brown has a massive majority as new Mayor of Manukau City.
At the Auckland Regional Council, Government ally Mike Lee is back, and seems likely to retain his chairmanship.
Certainly, John Banks is back in power with a majority of Citizens and Ratepayers allies, but that's more a return of the natural order of things, upset three years ago when the rich of Hobson Bays, terrified of an Eastern Highway through their backyards, joined the left to end that particular nightmare.
Across the bridge in North Shore, they've elected a right-wing mayor, but in the Harbour ward, for instance, they've returned a vintage team of lefties - including one time Alliance MP Grant Gillon, sitting MP Ann Hartley and veteran councillor Tony Holman.
Overshadowing everything, of course, is the mystery of the Royal Commission into Auckland Governance. Announced in July, it seems to have got lost somewhere between the Beehive and Auckland. But Mr Banks is fizzing with anticipation. He wants one city, with you-know-who, presumably, at the top of the pile.
Just to remind us why most people think reform is needed, Mayor Bob Harvey celebrated his re-election for a sixth term in Waitakere by relieving himself all over John Banks.
Auckland City, he said, had put the region back 20 years by voting the old mayor back.
As I write this, Mr Banks continues to bite his tongue and say nothing unkind about anyone. Possibly because he's bitten the tip right off in anger and has rendered himself dumb.
Ah yes, it's business back to normal. For Auckland, that is.
