Wet seat changes mayor's public meeting stance

Umbrellas and journalists surround Mayor Len Brown at Aotea Square yesterday as he listens to Aucklanders. Photo / Sarah Ivey

Len Brown didn't spend much time sitting down during his first "Mayor on the chair session" in Aotea Square yesterday.

It was mostly the rain's fault. Sitting in a soaked director's chair while rain dripped on to his black suit probably wasn't what Auckland's new leader had in mind when he promised to spend an hour each week with the public.

But, true to his word, he did it anyway.

From 12.30 to 1.30pm, Mr Brown sat - then stood - in the rain under an umbrella, chatting to members of the public who had a range of questions for him from whether he was a Christian to what he could do for students worried about losing accommodation during the Rugby World Cup and how to improve the angle of parking spaces.

The first person to approach Mr Brown was businessman Roy Mottram, who sat down next to him in one of two director's chairs, while security guards and two policemen looked on.

They chatted briefly about business but were done just before the first raindrops fell.

As the rain came down Mr Brown rose to his feet, and stayed standing for the rest of the hour.

The people who came to spend time with him seemed happy at being able to approach their new mayor so easily.

"I think it's excellent," said Melanie Webber, who raised her concerns about a big entertainment screen being put up in Aotea Square.

Ms Webber said former Auckland City Mayor Dick Hubbard used to do a similar thing, but it was in his chamber and visitors had to make an appointment.

In Mr Brown's weekly Mayor in the Chair sessions, no bookings are required and he goes to the citizens.

Each week, he will go to a different part of the city so he can get a feel for the community and talk to people about their concerns or issues.

It's an idea he has brought with him from his time as Manukau Mayor and one that proved so popular, there was never a shortage of people to talk to during his hour with them.

Yesterday's turnout was a little slow, but that was probably because of the wet outdoor venue.

Next week, Mr Brown will be taking his chair to Helensville where he hopes the weather will be on his side.

He said he would try to address any issues raised during the sessions - whether by passing on information to an appropriate meeting or council staff member or by meeting the person later to get a better understanding of their concern.