KEY POINTS:
Here is an earlier selection of Your Views:
Stepanie
I will not be voting for John Banks. He got voted out for good reason.
Willnz f(Noosa)
John Banks to consult? Tell me another one! Just like the leopard, he could never change
Le Fox
I hope you all realise how a left wing group operate, spend spend spend all of your money & then ask for more. Love John or hate 'im, if he gets back in, don't forget all the other left wingers he had to battle to get anything though. If you want him back you have to support him,& get rid of a lot of dead wood jaunt happy council workers, then we might have some money in the till to pay for roads, tunnels, footpaths, water, (you know, the things that haven't been on the to do list for the last couple of years).
Concerned citizen
Auckland desperately needs a Mayor who can build a team & lead. The current Hubber Hucker arrangement is a disaster for our city.Banks will give experienced leadership as Mayor.
J Brown
I am really thrilled to hear John Banks is running for mayor and will put some common sense into running Auckland again. Looking forward to him pushing a rail link to the airport. Absolutely essential.
Arron
was overseas when Banks was mayor so have no experience of what he was like. But if what MDC says is true, that he tried to force council housing tenants out by selling off the houses (e.g. bringing in market rents) he has got my vote. About time the bludgers were brought in to the real world.And it seems Banks now wants to bring in a decent public transport system. I know this is generally a domain of the left, but what has Hubbard brought us? A reliance on buses instead of trains, and a 30 year plan to get things right? If Banksie can spark some action quickly in this regard he will be a godsend.
Souris (Sydney)
As a Newzealaphile I feel Ackland needs a person with vision and determination to make the City great again. These qualities are rare in public office but John Banks has the strength of character and an abundant experience for the task ahead.Because of the enormity of the mission one wouldn't want a wimp in there.
Helen (Grey Lynn)
I voted Labour all my life and voted for Dick Hubbard at the last election. I agreed with what he said about not wanting his mother rated out of her house under Banks' mayoralty. But this is precisely what has happened under Dick Hubbard! Rates have gone up exponentially and added to this is the proposed water rates rise which makes me look back on the Banks' days with nostalgia. Hubbard has been a nightmare; I will be voting for John Banks alongside a number of my friends who voted Hubbard last time. Hasn't Dick made a difference; yeah right! Go John!
Johnl
Plainly Banks is a politician, Hubbard is not, from a confrontational Banks style to an dreamer like Hubbard, the choice is obvious. Voters if they can be bothered have the opportunity to undo the error they made last election. Banks may be confrontational but he has the best interests of Auckland & NZ as his motivation unlike the PC driven drivel espoused by Hubbard.
Local Body voter
Remember you get what you vote for remember the last time round with John Banks at the helm. Hubbard needs to go and shouldn't have been voted in in the first place. Where is a good, honest, strong candidate similar to Robbie, and Dame Cath. You must be out there somewhere so please step forward!
Delenn
No to John Banks. I dont want to have to bother voting to get him out again. That's the only time my vote ever seemed to count.
Justin
Out with Hubbard and in with Banksie please. Hubbard has failed to bring sensible thinking to an already overblow and overgrown monster that is the Auckland City Council. How about tackling their overspending rather than pulling out trees and laying paving stones on Queen st!
Sick and tired of mediocrity
John Banks has passion, commitment and vision and most certainly is what this city needs. He does not pander to popular public approval but gets the hard things done. He most certainly has my vote. Get the languishers out and the doers in.
Tony Bullock
Yes we need a Mayor with some voice,to control this council which is out of control with its overseas trips, the water bills, the ridiculous cabbage trees in Queen St ( 'to make us an more international city like Paris' Hubbard )At least we would have had the V8s promoting the city internationally. Yes bring it on Banksie!
S. Aucutt
John Banks has a lot to offer Auckland and New Zealand. Auckland should be a lovely city. It certainly is not that at present. More of the present mayor and his council would not see this happening. It is time for a change. I think that Mr Banks would be capable of making Auckland the "Queen City" again.
Hubby
Jeez Banksy, can't you take a hint? How many thousands of people saying, "p*** off", will it take before you get the message that the world has moved on from the political dark age that you created/inhabited? "But I've changed," you say. Hmm, sounds like a Tui's ad. I think your shadowy business and property-world backers need to find another patsy if they want to regain control over the Auckland economy.
Andrew
Banks may be more intelligent, realistic and determined for Auckland than Hubbard, but Hubbard is a more loving and beautiful person. Remember when Hubbard told us to go over to the English rugby team (I think?) and give them lots of love and warmth in their time of need, after Britain got its ass kicked by terrorists? John Banks wouldn't do that. [And yes, I'm being very sarcastic].
Kath
Yep go for it Banksie - with Brian Nicolle as your manager!
Margot
I already have a special bottle of wine put aside for when Banksy returns.
Margaret Voyce
I support John Banks in his bid for mayorality.
Janice If John Banks is the answer to Auckland's woes, then it must have been a pretty stupid question. Are Aucklanders really silly enough to even consider him?
Gary Stewart
Tenet" a religious doctrine that is proclaimed as true without proof (dogma). "transmogrification" change in appearance (not substance). Bad choice of words John, but quite revealing, and this is the start of your campaign? David Lange's famous comment on Richard (Save NZ Rail) Prebble "Richard won't go to bed a rottweiller one night and wake up a dove of peace the next morning" spring to mind for some reason. No, John, Auckland does not "need" you either. I don't believe you have changed your "tenets", spots or anything else. I do accept that you are more than capable of "transmogrification", even though you obviously don't understand the term, because that's actually a reason to reject you're mayoral re-application (as though another reason was needed). Thanks, but no thanks, John.
Rob (Australia)
John Banks will never make Mayor again. He snuck in last time as not enough people voted. Once he was in though people banded together to get him out. He's a rich, arrogant, obnoxious ignoramus that has no business being in politics. Most people realize this and will keep him out of power.His policies were based on massaging his own ego and further advantaging the already financially fortunate. He obviously still has delusions of grandeur if he thinks he is going to be voted Mayor again. He needs to realize that he is almost universally hated!
Andrew
ohn Banks has had his time. The sour taste he left still lingers. Dick Hubbard has the council reaching consensus and is mostly good at finding sensible solutions despite the amount of bureaucratic nonsense he has to work with in such a large organisation. Lets give him another term to actually complete projects and avoid more u-turns.
MDC
No, we don't want him back again.In his arrogance he tried to evict the residents in Council Housing by selling to the highest bidder and people have long memories.He can promise what he likes, but a leopard never changes its spots. Let's have a bit of "new blood", someone who will champion people from all walks of life and consider the rights of all Aucklanders, rich and poor and who will work for the people who elect them.
Lisa (Auckland)
Dick Hubbard should stick to his cereal. Give us John Banks any day.
Philip W
I know- lets replace Hubbard the doing it as a hobby Mayor with the another hobbyist. Ah well you get what you vote for, and Aucklanders only have themselves to blame for what you have now.
BK
It is very obvious Hubbard sucks, we need Bank now! Very unfortunate but he would have built the water front stadium for us, we need his presence in Auckland to take us into the future, he is the future face of Auckland not Dick!
Neil
I voted for Hubbard because I was interested in giving him a chance. I think he has blown it big time. I was never a Banks fan (couldn't stand him!) and I was one of the first to vote him out the door, but I have to admit that he has had experience of the position and appears to know how he went wrong. His first term could almost be considered a training course and now he wants to come back for the job. I'd actually be interested in giving him another go and would certainly vote for him over Hubbard.
pCb (Auckland)
Can a Leopard change his spots? Maybe not but Banks will be a damned sight better mayor than our incumbent.
Tim Spooner
You must be joking!
John Smith
Oh no! Not for Auckland. He could be the mayor for the 'rich & affluent' in Remuera.
Isaac Broome (Onehunga)
Yes it is time for Banks again. At least you know where you stand with Banks and at least he is proactive in seeking to implement what he stands for.
Wallie (Orakei)
Great News! This city needs Banksie. His strong leadership is what is required to make this city a great place. Yes he has opinions, all great leaders do. He is a man who will be accountable and will make a positive difference to our home city. Go Banksie!
Pgnz
I think it is time for a new team, no free loader returns from out of work egotists please. Banks has done enough damage to the city and it's infrastructure and will probably now resort to selling assets to fund his proposed "legacy". We don't trust him at all!
Rosemary
Hopefully Auckland has learnt from the first time and will say no. I do have to say either the photo of him is bad or he looks like a really old man now.
Jason (Auckland)
At last, an opportunity for Auckland to get back on track. Rising rates, both land and water, unchecked spending and advice from the mayor to get another loan if you can't afford it. Personally, I can't understand why John Banks would bother to take up the cause. Auckland is a basket case and it must be bittersweet to take on the challenge with a city worse off than when you started the first time. I think it show great leadership, just what Auckland needs.
Auckland
It's hard to find anyone who will "own up" to not voting for John Banks at the last election. Dick Hubbard was an "experiment" for someone that has cost the City dearly. I remember Dick saying at a debate before the last election that John Banks' rates increases had meant his mother could not afford them! What does Dick's mother think now! We look forward to a strong win by John Banks and a return to a leadership that focuses on core council activities.
Mike Moller
Can this leopard change his spots? Not likely!
Bruce
Do these personal attacks, that are now a thing of the past, extend to his attacks against other cities too? I hope so, because with just one third of the countries population, Auckland could do some friends!
Dean
Great news, about the only good thing to get excited about in politics (local and nationwide) covering the last few years and moving forward. Just get the water bills more realistic, and keep a lid on the rates thanks Banksie. Be proud to have you involved in the 2011 Rugby World Cup instead of the cereal rate increaser from down the line.
Hobson resident
Yes, bring him back! I'm pleased he's pushing for public transport and affordability at Auckland's council. We need someone who can cut the waste out at council.
Old School (Auckland)
Yes! Come back Banksie! And bring a team of city-spirited candidates with you who have a record of success and vision to match yours!
TM
This could be positive. If he gets back in let's hope that things actually start happening without the need to have ratepayers ripped off to fund infrastructure that should have been looked after in the first place! It may also be a heads up to all professional politicians that if you start believing your own hype & think you are God directing the play then you are down the road. Good bye Dick & Uncle Bruce! You won't be missed!
