Manukau mayor draws battle lines with Banks

Len Brown

The race for the Super City mayoralty has begun after Manukau Mayor Len Brown yesterday outlined an alternative platform to that of Auckland City Mayor John Banks.

On Monday, Mr Banks - until yesterday the only civic leader to have publicly declared his interest in the big job - set out a vision of lifting Auckland's game to become a world-class city.

Yesterday, Mr Brown set out a community-focused vision drawing on Auckland's diversity.

Both have made what amounted to campaign speeches before the Auckland governance legislation committee hearing submissions on the Government's Super City plan.

The two mayors are positioning themselves to become the front-runners in the mayoral race.

Mr Banks, a member of the National Party, is closely aligned to the Citizens & Ratepayers ticket which is widening its base outside Auckland City. Mr Brown, a member of the Labour Party, is aligned to a new coalition of left-leaning and community groups.

Mr Brown said he was humbled by the support he was receiving in Manukau and across the region to stand for the mayoralty, and would announce his plans within the next month or two.

Although he had a near-fatal heart attack in May last year, Mr Brown is counting his blessings and has the backing of his wife, Shan Inglis, to stand for the mayoralty.

A poll by UMR Research of 483 Aucklanders in April gave Mr Banks 17 per cent support, well ahead of Mr Brown on 6 per cent.

The poll showed Mr Brown was not well known and that Mr Banks had a higher negative rating.

Mr Brown yesterday outlined areas where he and the Manukau City Council were at odds with Mr Banks and the Auckland City Council.

In contrast to Mr Banks' enthusiasm for the Super City concept, Mr Brown said he was grieving for the loss of Manukau's civic identity.

Mr Brown said Manukau supported strong regional government, but the largest challenge would be getting communities to accept the new Super Auckland Council.

Contradicting Mr Banks' support for at-large councillors, Mr Brown urged MPs, "Please, do not do at-large."

The Government has proposed a council made up of 12 councillors elected in wards and eight elected across the entire Super City.

Mr Brown said that the further one went from Auckland's central business district, the stronger support was for a council of ward-elected councillors.

"This is the time when the east, west, south and north comes to town and, boy, the south is coming to town on this."

Mr Brown said Manukau, with 165 ethnicities, had four Pacific Island councillors, two Maori councillors and one with Chinese heritage. Ward councillors ensured inclusiveness, whereas at-large councillors would lead to ethnic groups and lower socioeconomic communities being under-represented.

On the issue of local boards - Auckland City wants about 20, Manukau wants 12 to 17 - the councils' and Mayors' position are similar.

Neither has pushed for the powers and functions of local boards to be spelled out in legislation. Other councils have strongly advocated for the powers to be set in law.

Another point of difference is Maori seats. Mr Banks is opposed to Maori seats on the Auckland Council; Mr Brown supports them.

Today's hearings, at the Silver Oaks Quality Inn in Papatoetoe, begin at 9am and close at 9pm.

WHAT SOUTH BACKS

* Supports having a Super Auckland Council and a Super Mayor with limited executive powers.
* Wants a minimum of 20 councillors, all elected from wards.
* Wants 12 to 17 local boards, renamed community councils.
* Supports Maori seats, but wants Maori to determine method and numbers.