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Home / New Zealand

Auckland mayoral race: John Tamihere has no chance - National leader Simon Bridges

NZ Herald
26 Sep, 2019 08:38 PM2 mins to read

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Simon Bridges has little time for either Phil Goff or John Tamihere.
Simon Bridges has little time for either Phil Goff or John Tamihere.

Simon Bridges has little time for either Phil Goff or John Tamihere.

National leader Simon Bridges says John Tamihere has no chance of becoming Auckland's mayor.

The call comes after the right-leaning mayoral candidate courted controversy at a mayoral debate, by saying "sieg heil" at a debate and comparing rival and incumbent mayor Phil Goff to a Nazi.

Tamihere says he was calling Goff a dictator for not allowing far-right Canadian speakers at council venues.

Bridges told Radio Hauraki today that Tamihere's comment has effectively ended any chance of him unseating Goff as mayor.

"Let's be honest, in Auckland all you're getting is Phil Goff. I mean, JT has done his chips with his hopeless comments about Nazis.

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"It's a hopeless situation. There's no democracy."

READ MORE:
• John Tamihere promises to freeze Auckland rates for three years
• Auckland mayoral candidate John Tamihere defends making his 'sieg Heil to that' comment
• 'Sieg heil to that': Auckland mayoral hopeful John Tamihere's response to racism
• John Tamihere's 'sieg heil' comments 'hurtful', supporter Christine Fletcher says

But Bridges - who has previously said he would work with either candidate - says he would rather Goff doesn't win.

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"I'd have a lot of trouble. I wouldn't know what to do. I know Goff's going to win.

"He's alright, but he's not great. He's a Labour Party man and I find that quite hard to tick the box on."

Bridges conceded he did know much about the other Auckland candidates, including motorsport commentator Craig Lord.

He said his personal preference was comedian Tom Sainsbury and his alter-ego Fiona, because he enjoys Sainsbury's impersonations of him.

Discover more

Business Reports

Goff or Tamihere: CEOs pick their preferred Auckland mayor

23 Sep 05:00 PM
New Zealand

'We were up against a big mountain': John Tamihere on losing Auckland mayoralty

12 Oct 02:20 AM
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