Auckland mayoral candidate has local roots

Former Rotorua man Mark Thomas is running for mayor of Auckland. Photo / Supplied

He's come a long way since flipping burgers for McDonald's and now former Rotorua man Mark Thomas is aiming to become the next mayor of Auckland.

Mayoral candidate Mr Thomas was born in Te Kuiti before moving to Rotorua before his first birthday.

He was educated in Rotorua, attending Western Heights High School before heading to Wellington's Victoria University.

He told the Rotorua Daily Post politics was in his blood with father Bruce and grandfather Jock involved in local politics before he himself helped set up the inaugural Rotorua District Council youth council.

Both his parents still live in Rotorua.

The 48-year-old set up his own consultancy business about 10 years ago and has two boys aged 12 and 9 with his partner Wendy Lai.

While in Wellington he got his first real taste of politics volunteering as a Parliament researcher and did a degree in public policy.

Since then he has worked in a number of corporate roles, including head of marketing for the ANZ Bank and now runs his own consultancy business.

He describes his politics as centre right, but is running as an independent candidate, and is so far up against Labour Party MP Phil Goff, former Green Party member and Auckland Council employee David Hay, right-wing candidate Stephen Berry and activist Penny Bright.

"I've been on the Auckland Council for five years now. I see the opportunity for making the city work better, particularly transport and housing, and that the council can be more affordable for ratepayers.

"I do think I have the answers for those tough questions."

He said he made his mind up to stand before incumbent mayor Len Brown decided he would not have a go at next year's local government elections.

"People want much more action in the next couple of years and a better deal for rates, transport, and affordable houses, but they don't want that in 30 years' time - they need it now."

He said one of the keys to an election win would be getting Aucklanders engaged in the process. He said just 37 per cent of the city's residents voted in the last election.

"That's going to be my biggest challenge."