The Auckland Mayoralty campaign

Written By: - Date published: 1:22 pm, May 15th, 2022 - 9 comments
Categories: auckland supercity, efeso collins, election funding, elections, housing, local government, Politics, public transport, supercity, uncategorized - Tags:

Last night I attended the campaign launch for supporters of Efeso Collins.  He has a talented campaign group behind him.  Campaign manager is Max Harris.  He is a phenomenal intellect and well known for his writing on left wing issues.  Campaign manager is a new experience for him but I am sure he will be fine.

The launch had significant representation from both Labour and the Greens.  Labour MPs, Michael Wood, Naisi Chen, Shannan Halbert and Arena Williams were present as were Green MPs Golriz Ghahraman, Marama Davidson and Teanau Tuiono were also present.

Efeso’s speech, without notes, displayed his oratorical skills the likes of which I have not seen since possibly David Lange.

His policy platform is a work in progress.  His policy of free public transport was met with great applause.  And his desire to fix the housing crisis to give kids a proper start in life was clear.

He proposed as a principle that Auckland should be a city for its children.  If this is accepted as a general principle then a policy platform is not too difficult to complete.

The style of campaigning will be important to him.  He talked about the need for a respectful conversation that involves everyone.  The contrast between his approach and that of Leo Molloy could not be greater.

Meanwhile on the right they realise that they have a problem and have too many candidates.

Occasional Standard reader Matthew Hooton is doing his best to sort this out.

The poll was apparently six weeks old at the time.

Whatever the motivation the implication that Molloy and Beck were on 6% compared to Brown’s 21% was rather naughty.  Beck was on 18% and Molloy was reported to be trailing.

I can’t see him giving up.  He has claimed that he intends to spend $1.5 million on the campaign but then said that he did not want funding to become a who’s got the biggest whizzer competition.  Such ambition does not get deflated easily.  And his humanitarian nature is exemplified by his intention to install sprinklers downtown to get rid of the homeless and the intoxicated.

This highlights one problem.  On the right there are significant financial resources.  On the left there is people power.  The centre left has performed well in each of the super city elections.  This next one will be the most important yet.

Either we get ourselves ready for the future or we degenerate into a car worshiping version of Los Angeles of the Southern Hemisphere.

One thing the right will not be able to match is the talent and support of Pasifeka.  Collins announced yesterday that Nesian Mystic had gifted to him the use of For the People.

Stand by.  This campaign is going to be fascinating.

9 comments on “The Auckland Mayoralty campaign ”

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  1. Molly 1
    15 May 2022 at 1:28 pm

    One vote I'll be making whole-heartedly.

    I've never been disappointed with any of his speeches, even when delivered off-the-cuff.

    Fingers are crossed.

  2. Blazer 2
    15 May 2022 at 3:17 pm

    Molloy has always been all mouth.

    An ex bankrupt,failed horse trainer who has relied on wealthy 'friends' to fund him.

    They include M.Wyborne,P.Vela and his sister is multi millionairess Julie Christie of NZ reality T.V fame.

    Good to see the right wing vote..split.

  3. Anne 3
    15 May 2022 at 4:19 pm

    You didn't mention his delightful sense of humour and innate ability to communicate to ALL sections of society. He is indeed one out of the box and the more people who see and hear him, the greater his winning margin will be.

    Warning: watch out for the closet and racist based smear campaign against him in the coming months.

  4. Patricia Bremner 4
    15 May 2022 at 5:15 pm

    I agree Anne. He is just what we need to move forward. Efeso for the People.

    Any relative or friend of Julie Christie…. shudder.

  5. DukeEll 5
    15 May 2022 at 5:41 pm

    Collins will be a great mayor. Wonderful to build a platform of policies built on leaving the city better for future generations. Hopefully decisions are made on 10-15 year horizons now rather than electoral cycle horizons

    • Anne 5.1
      15 May 2022 at 6:01 pm

      In a speech he gave to a group of us last week he referred to "a fleet of policies" (or was it suite?) that would create a far better city for our children and grandchildren because in his view that is what it is all about.

  6. Tiger Mountain 6
    16 May 2022 at 8:51 am

    Given the woeful participation rates of recent years from 32–38% for Auckland Mayoralty contests, Efeso has to be in with more than a chance you would think. But with the slow death of post, alienation and transience due to rental housing, can turnout be improved among Efeso’s likely support groups?

    A community organising approach could do it via encouraging voter registration and assisting people to cast their votes. And…building some exciting spirit again in Auckland, the largest Polynesian city. Are any more coots in suits really needed?

    A split right field is good news, will they consolidate their candidates? Tory egotism would suggest not–but–the Supercity prize has eluded them since Len Brown rallied South Auckland to beat Banksie, so I would not count out the backroom bandits and dirty politics squad in this contest. And don’t count out a few identity politics supporters attacking him from the other side either!

    As for policy he should stick to basic working class issues, fare free public transport and other amenities. In the background he needs to send a message to the undemocratic CCOs and the $100,000 plus salary crowd at Council–put them on notice, work out the constitutional issues and move promptly if the council numbers stack up.

    Efeso Collins for Mayor!

  7. Tiger Mountain 7
    16 May 2022 at 9:13 am

    I should add too–Wayne Brown alert!!

    As a Far Northerner, many up here view him as a real pest. Wayne is a “funny guy”…lets hope he does not plan to fix Auckland the way he fixed the Far North when Mayor…
    transferred part of commercial and farmer rating burden to residential owners, sacked scores of workers at Council Offices, had a confrontational relationship with community boards, set up sister cities in China and Canada to enable mining contracts and exploration in Te Tai Tokerau, flew on council funds to various overseas locations, used insider knowledge to pursue personal business projects while in office…

    Wayne had close relationships with the local small newspaper Editors, which they probably endured more than encouraged as happens in the provinces. Anyway, during the public debate over rating, CV vs LV; when he was out of area, particularly overseas, he had all letters to Editor pertaining to him emailed so he could have right of reply in same edition!

    And as reported in Metro magazine years ago when Brown was on the Auck. DHB he suspended standing orders and did pretty much what he liked.
    You have been alerted.

    • AB 7.1
      16 May 2022 at 10:40 am

      Yep. Brown is the sort of tyrannical, ideologically muddled egotist common among right-wing men – especially those who view themselves as 'high-performers'. Definitely use a barge pole before going near.