Lord help them both

Andrew Williams. Photo / Doug Sherring

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Manukau Mayor Len Brown is not the first Auckland leader to compare himself to Jesus Christ.

In his interview with the Herald on Sunday, he said: "I'm under extraordinary scrutiny and maybe Jesus Christ was the only one to withstand that and come out completely pure."

North Shore Mayor Andrew Williams faced criticism for similar comments, when he sent an email on Easter Sunday, comparing himself to Jesus on the cross after reports he urinated in public.

He wrote to councillors: "Yes two blokes got crucified this week ... and both will most certainly rise from the dead to come back to haunt a few people!"

Catholic Church spokeswoman Lyndsay Freer retorted: "Jesus died for our sins, but he [Williams] appears to be crucified for his own."