NZ Herald
  • Home
  • Latest news
  • Herald NOW
  • Video
  • New Zealand
  • Sport
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Podcasts
  • Quizzes
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Viva
  • Weather

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • New Zealand
    • All New Zealand
    • Crime
    • Politics
    • Education
    • Open Justice
    • Scam Update
  • Herald NOW
  • On The Up
  • World
    • All World
    • Australia
    • Asia
    • UK
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Europe
    • Pacific
  • Business
    • All Business
    • MarketsSharesCurrencyCommoditiesStock TakesCrypto
    • Markets with Madison
    • Media Insider
    • Business analysis
    • Personal financeKiwiSaverInterest ratesTaxInvestment
    • EconomyInflationGDPOfficial cash rateEmployment
    • Small business
    • Business reportsMood of the BoardroomProject AucklandSustainable business and financeCapital markets reportAgribusiness reportInfrastructure reportDynamic business
    • Deloitte Top 200 Awards
    • CompaniesAged CareAgribusinessAirlinesBanking and financeConstructionEnergyFreight and logisticsHealthcareManufacturingMedia and MarketingRetailTelecommunicationsTourism
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Editorials
    • Business analysis
    • Premium opinion
    • Letters to the editor
  • Politics
  • Sport
    • All Sport
    • OlympicsParalympics
    • RugbySuper RugbyNPCAll BlacksBlack FernsRugby sevensSchool rugby
    • CricketBlack CapsWhite Ferns
    • Racing
    • NetballSilver Ferns
    • LeagueWarriorsNRL
    • FootballWellington PhoenixAuckland FCAll WhitesFootball FernsEnglish Premier League
    • GolfNZ Open
    • MotorsportFormula 1
    • Boxing
    • UFC
    • BasketballNBABreakersTall BlacksTall Ferns
    • Tennis
    • Cycling
    • Athletics
    • SailingAmerica's CupSailGP
    • Rowing
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Viva - Food, fashion & beauty
    • Society Insider
    • Royals
    • Sex & relationships
    • Food & drinkRecipesRecipe collectionsRestaurant reviewsRestaurant bookings
    • Health & wellbeing
    • Fashion & beauty
    • Pets & animals
    • The Selection - Shop the trendsShop fashionShop beautyShop entertainmentShop giftsShop home & living
    • Milford's Investing Place
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • TV
    • MoviesMovie reviews
    • MusicMusic reviews
    • BooksBook reviews
    • Culture
    • ReviewsBook reviewsMovie reviewsMusic reviewsRestaurant reviews
  • Travel
    • All Travel
    • News
    • New ZealandNorthlandAucklandWellingtonCanterburyOtago / QueenstownNelson-TasmanBest NZ beaches
    • International travelAustraliaPacific IslandsEuropeUKUSAAfricaAsia
    • Rail holidays
    • Cruise holidays
    • Ski holidays
    • Luxury travel
    • Adventure travel
  • Kāhu Māori news
  • Environment
    • All Environment
    • Our Green Future
  • Talanoa Pacific news
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Property Insider
    • Interest rates tracker
    • Residential property listings
    • Commercial property listings
  • Health
  • Technology
    • All Technology
    • AI
    • Social media
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
    • Opinion
    • Audio & podcasts
  • Weather forecasts
    • All Weather forecasts
    • Kaitaia
    • Whangārei
    • Dargaville
    • Auckland
    • Thames
    • Tauranga
    • Hamilton
    • Whakatāne
    • Rotorua
    • Tokoroa
    • Te Kuiti
    • Taumaranui
    • Taupō
    • Gisborne
    • New Plymouth
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Dannevirke
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Levin
    • Paraparaumu
    • Masterton
    • Wellington
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Blenheim
    • Westport
    • Reefton
    • Kaikōura
    • Greymouth
    • Hokitika
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
    • Wānaka
    • Oamaru
    • Queenstown
    • Dunedin
    • Gore
    • Invercargill
  • Meet the journalists
  • Promotions & competitions
  • OneRoof property listings
  • Driven car news

Puzzles & Quizzes

  • Puzzles
    • All Puzzles
    • Sudoku
    • Code Cracker
    • Crosswords
    • Cryptic crossword
    • Wordsearch
  • Quizzes
    • All Quizzes
    • Morning quiz
    • Afternoon quiz
    • Sports quiz

Regions

  • Northland
    • All Northland
    • Far North
    • Kaitaia
    • Kerikeri
    • Kaikohe
    • Bay of Islands
    • Whangarei
    • Dargaville
    • Kaipara
    • Mangawhai
  • Auckland
  • Waikato
    • All Waikato
    • Hamilton
    • Coromandel & Hauraki
    • Matamata & Piako
    • Cambridge
    • Te Awamutu
    • Tokoroa & South Waikato
    • Taupō & Tūrangi
  • Bay of Plenty
    • All Bay of Plenty
    • Katikati
    • Tauranga
    • Mount Maunganui
    • Pāpāmoa
    • Te Puke
    • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Hawke's Bay
    • All Hawke's Bay
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Havelock North
    • Central Hawke's Bay
    • Wairoa
  • Taranaki
    • All Taranaki
    • Stratford
    • New Plymouth
    • Hāwera
  • Manawatū - Whanganui
    • All Manawatū - Whanganui
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Manawatū
    • Tararua
    • Horowhenua
  • Wellington
    • All Wellington
    • Kapiti
    • Wairarapa
    • Upper Hutt
    • Lower Hutt
  • Nelson & Tasman
    • All Nelson & Tasman
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Tasman
  • Marlborough
  • West Coast
  • Canterbury
    • All Canterbury
    • Kaikōura
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
  • Otago
    • All Otago
    • Oamaru
    • Dunedin
    • Balclutha
    • Alexandra
    • Queenstown
    • Wanaka
  • Southland
    • All Southland
    • Invercargill
    • Gore
    • Stewart Island
  • Gisborne

Media

  • Video
    • All Video
    • NZ news video
    • Herald NOW
    • Business news video
    • Politics news video
    • Sport video
    • World news video
    • Lifestyle video
    • Entertainment video
    • Travel video
    • Markets with Madison
    • Kea Kids news
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • The Front Page
    • On the Tiles
    • Ask me Anything
    • The Little Things
  • Cartoons
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / New Zealand

Auckland mayoral race on the starting blocks

Bernard Orsman
By Bernard Orsman
Auckland Reporter·NZ Herald·
14 Feb, 2016 04:00 PM3 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

It will be the first political debate for Victoria Crone, headhunted by top National Party figures and who entered the contest before Christmas. Photo / Jason Oxenham

It will be the first political debate for Victoria Crone, headhunted by top National Party figures and who entered the contest before Christmas. Photo / Jason Oxenham

The race for the Auckland mayoralty begins today at a "meet the candidates" outing organised by the Ellerslie Residents Association.

It will be the first political debate for Victoria Crone, headhunted by top National Party figures and who entered the contest before Christmas.

The 42-year-old businesswoman, who likes to be known as Vic, is up against the Labour MP for Mt Roskill, Phil Goff, who has more than 30 years' political experience.

The pair are considered the frontrunners to replace Len Brown, who announced last November that he would not be seeking a third term.

So far, Mr Goff and Ms Crone have given little away on their policies, but he has promised not to sell strategic assets and opposed further port expansion into the Waitemata Harbour.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Mr Goff launched his bid for the mayoralty in November under the slogan "For a Better Auckland".

"The super city was supposed to eliminate waste and bureaucratic duplication. That will be my priority."

Ms Crone announced she was standing on December 14 - less than a year for Aucklanders to get to know her, her vision and policies. She has talked about perceived wastage at council and believes Auckland needs leadership that can deliver on big projects such as the city rail link and east-west motorway connection.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Orakei Local Board member and former National Party candidate Mark Thomas is also standing for mayor and has been campaigning almost full-time since September.

He has pushed for a rewrite of the Auckland Plan to better focus on the top priorities. He is pushing more emphasis on local transport priorities.

The other candidates are right-winger Stephen Berry; perennial activist Penny Bright, involved in a battle with council over her unpaid rates; and David Hay, who was suspended from the Green Party in 2014 and wants to change the voting system to single transferable vote.

Each candidate will speak for two minutes on "Why I want to be Mayor" before facing questions at the Ellerslie War Memorial Community Centre.

They will be asked about a review of the super city, a fairer rating system and local issues.

Timekeepers will try to keep answers to one minute.

The agenda begins at 7pm with tea and coffee. The mayoral campaign kicks off at 7.30pm.

Candidates

Phil Goff

Phil Goff. Photo / NZPA
Phil Goff. Photo / NZPA

• Age 63

• Labour MP for Mt Roskill

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

• Over 30 years political experience

• Former Cabinet minister and Leader of the Opposition

• Married with three adult children

• Slogan: Mayor for a Better Auckland

Victoria Crone

Victoria Crone. Photo / Jason Oxenham
Victoria Crone. Photo / Jason Oxenham

• Age 42

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

• Businesswoman

• Leadership roles with Telecom, Chorus and most recently Xero

• Solo mother, two teen daughters

• Slogan: Auckland Deserves Fresh Thinking

Mark Thomas

Mark Thomas. Photo / Supplied
Mark Thomas. Photo / Supplied

• Age 49

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

• Orakei Local Board member

• Former National Party candidate

• Business roles including ANZ, restaurateur

• Married with two children

• Slogan: New Leadership for Auckland

Stephen Berry

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Stephen Berry. Photo / Supplied
Stephen Berry. Photo / Supplied

• Right-wing candidate

• Stood for mayor in 2013 and finished third with 3.94 per cent of vote

Penny Bright

Penny Bright. Photo / Chris Gorman
Penny Bright. Photo / Chris Gorman

• Longtime activist

• Stood for mayor in 2013 and finished fourth with 3.41 per cent of vote

David Hay

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
David Hay. Photo / Greg Bowker
David Hay. Photo / Greg Bowker

• Former Green Party member suspended from party in 2014

• Council policy analyst

• Wants to change voting system to single transferable vote

Save

    Share this article

Latest from New Zealand

New Zealand

Two charged with neglect 10 years after 4yo's death in Kaikohe

Business

Government's giant internet, security upgrade under way for 2500 schools

New Zealand

Chris Hipkins ponders a grand coalition on The Country


Sponsored

Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from New Zealand

Two charged with neglect 10 years after 4yo's death in Kaikohe
New Zealand

Two charged with neglect 10 years after 4yo's death in Kaikohe

Police have continued their investigation since Alestra Kepa-Hati's death in 2015.

17 Jul 02:17 AM
Government's giant internet, security upgrade under way for 2500 schools
Business

Government's giant internet, security upgrade under way for 2500 schools

17 Jul 02:00 AM
Chris Hipkins ponders a grand coalition on The Country
New Zealand

Chris Hipkins ponders a grand coalition on The Country

17 Jul 01:45 AM


Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky
Sponsored

Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky

06 Jul 09:47 PM
NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP