Victoria Crone not the rockstar mayoral candidate the right is after: Mark Thomas

Victoria Crone will announce next week whether she will stand for mayor. Photo / Nick Reed

Auckland business boss Victoria Crone is not the rockstar mayoral candidate the right is after, says centre-right mayoral contender Mark Thomas.

"I don't want to criticise her but when people were talking about looking for a rockstar, rockstars are people you have heard of," he said.

Mr Thomas was responding to Ms Crone saying she will announce next week whether she will stand for mayor.

The Xero managing director is widely expected to put her hat in the ring with backing from National Party heavyweights, including former president Michelle Boag.

She has ranked the city's biggest challenges as rates rises, traffic and housing and wants Auckland to examine driverless buses and car technology to ease road congestion.

Mr Thomas, a member of the Orakei Local Board who has been campaigning for the mayoralty since September, said for Ms Crone to be a credible candidate she had to be on top of the issues.

"I'm not sure where she occupies on the political spectrum because I don't know what she thinks on the issues," he said.

Mr Thomas said he was getting strong support and building a team that included Counties-Manukau District Health Board chairwoman Lee Mathias, and receiving advice from Northcote MP Dr Jonathan Coleman and Auckland Chamber of Commerce chief executive Michael Barnett.

Dr Coleman said: "I've known Mark for many years and he has sought my views on Auckland issues from a north of the bridge perspective in my capacity as MP for Northcote. I'm happy to talk to other mayoral candidates as well."

Mr Barnett, who has expressed interest in the mayoralty, said he did not want to participate in a vote- splitting exercise and watching Ms Crone.

Mr Thomas received messages of support from three councillors and National Party members, Cameron Brewer, Linda Cooper and Bill Cashmore, when he announced he was standing for the mayoralty.

Stephen Berry is also standing on the right for the mayoralty.

Labour MP Phil Goff is the sole candidate on the centre-left to replace Len Brown, who announced last month he would not be seeking a third term.

Tonight Ms Crone said she was not in a position to comment yet as she had not confirmed her position on standing for the mayoralty either way.