SuperCity hopefuls come up short

A quiz put to the six candidates revealed poor knowledge of geography and everyday concerns, such as bus fares and parking. Photo / Herald on Sunday

Supermayor hopefuls have revealed basic gaps in their knowledge of the Auckland region.

Three months from the election, four out of six candidates can't name the chief executive of the council they hope to lead, Doug McKay.

And two can't name the present Mayor of Rodney, Penny Webster.

A 20-question quiz put to the six candidates revealed poor knowledge of geography and everyday concerns, such as bus fares and parking.

None could correctly place Connells Bay on Waiheke Island, and only veteran protester Penny Bright and Auckland Mayor John Banks would have the right change for a two-stage bus fare.

Manukau Mayor Len Brown topped the scores with 13, showing good general knowledge, but stumbling on the cost of bus fares, parking and the Northern Gateway toll road.

Brown and Banks were the only candidates to correctly name McKay, who was appointed to lead the Auckland Council in March.

Brown said he'd "forgotten more stuff about Auckland and Manukau than most people ever knew".

And he'd been swotting up on other parts of the region: "It's been an amazing voyage around the region reconnecting with parts I haven't been for a while."

Water campaigner Bright scored the lowest, with six out of 20.

She faltered on history, sports and geography questions, but knew everyday costs such as parking, bus fares and milk.

And though she failed to name McKay, she could describe the former Independent Liquor boss as "the ex-liquor guy".

The water campaigner said she may lack general knowledge but her political expertise was sound.

"When it comes to in-depth stuff about local government, I'm looking forward to the debates."

Comedian and former Waitakere City councillor Ewen Gilmour was a close second with 12 correct answers - scoring half for naming one of the Waitemata wharves, rather than two.

Gilmour said he'd made an effort to learn about the region: "I specifically went and did my comedy show everywhere I could."

He was the only candidate to name Jason Kerrison, lead singer of popular Auckland band Opshop, but had an unexpected advantage after being celebrant at Kerrison's wedding last year.

Banks scored 11, narrowly missing out on 12, knowing Blues captain Keven Mealamu's surname.

He had no trouble with McKay, Webster, bus fares or toll tariffs, but faltered on geography, wrongly placing Papakura north of Takanini, and Karekare north of Anawhata.

Banks said keeping up with local matters was a challenge across a large region.

"I have people all over this region in my team. Every single part of the region is covered off by my campaign team so they're giving me advice all the time."

Colin Craig correctly answered 10, with the half point for naming one of the region's natural hot springs, instead of two.

The property manager, whose father Ross Craig is a Rodney councillor, could name Webster but not chief executive McKay.

Craig said he had a lot to learn about local government, and would be getting up to speed over the next three months.

"Catching up on local issues is quite a challenge but I read every day. I'm starting early and getting home late."

Actor Simon Prast also scored 10, missing sports-related questions, and the cost of bus fares, parking, and milk.

He scored half by knowing only the Rodney mayor's first name.

Prast admitted sport was a blind spot, but said he knew the region well.

"I was born out south, I lived out west, I work up north and at the moment I'm living in One Tree Hill," he said.

"I've had my fair share of Auckland but I do look forward to getting out there."

Massey University senior lecturer and local government expert Dr Andy Asquith said it was "absolutely crucial" for mayors to have a good knowledge of the region.

"They're supposed to represent the people and if they don't know basic facts of life about what it's like to be an ordinary John on the street, how can they identify with them?"

He was particularly surprised so few could name McKay, and questioned whether some "novice mayors" should be in the race.

"There's lots of examples of people being a success in one walk of life and going into politics on the back of that success, and being an umitigated disaster."

Fellow Massey University lecturer Dr Andrew Cardow said there was little wonder few people voted in local government elections when candidates couldn't relate to daily issues for ordinary people.

But director of AUT's local government centre Peter McKinlay said it was more important to focus on the candidates' strengths.

"I would be much more interested in the candidates' views about how you establish appropriate bus, parking and road toll charges, including their views on who bears any subsidy."


heather.mccracken@hos.co.nz