We needed Wayne Brown

Written By: - Date published: 2:01 pm, October 11th, 2022 - 81 comments
Categories: auckland supercity, jacinda ardern, labour, local government, supercity - Tags:

The left and the Ardern government need to start appreciating the new Auckland mayor.

His mandate is comprehensive. Any honest election review would be unwise because the results would blow back on the Ardern government that has smashed and shrunk the assets and decision making authority of local government. Reviews into the diminished purpose of local government and of the democratic system are already underway.

This Brown guy is already showing the Ardern government what they should have done as soon as they got into office: clear out the boards, reassert command of the remaining direct governance levers, and instruct the executive order that it will answer to elected politics again. It’s reaggregated power through recentralisation by leadership from day 1 and not taking two terms to get on with it. Imagine if Ardern had liquidated the corporate boards on entry rather than being screwed around at will by NZTA, Kiwirail, Transpower or the Electricity Authority. Instead …

This Brown guy on day 1 gained a clear impression of the whole with the helicopter tour over the whole region. Goff came from deep in Clevedon way to the south, and mostly just stuck to Council meetings. Central government ministers try to understand Auckland as the aggregate beast of 30% of New Zealanders and 40% of the national economy when there’s some civil emergency to emote about. It’s importantly symbolic and real in its purpose.

This Brown guy is the blank sheet that Auckland needs. Over 6 years we have had billions of ratepayer and taxpayer dollars pumped into projects in Auckland’s CBD, and honestly the result through disruption and COVID is a desert of beautiful concrete landscaping without a plan to revive. A poor return on investment. Any plan he forms couldn’t be worse than what’s happened now: massive regional private malls and their free parking are sucking Auckland’s centre dry.

This Brown guy is also about to reveal the City Rail Link debt bomb flying down hard at Auckland Council. Goff had already taken Auckland’s debt capacity up to its limit. Spending plans without a rating agency impact or big rates increase won’t be possible. I can see Brown appointing himself onto the CRL governance board given the risk it represents to Council. Brown is about to do what we are all doing anyway: tighten our belts in a static economy with high personal and regional public debt.

Brown will have a finely balanced council mix and will need to build a finely balanced committee structure to get much done. Anyone who thinks Mike Lee is the answer to Auckland transport’s woes should try and use Parnell train station. I suspect he will delay his committee structure and use the interregnum moment to its fullest.

We need a really noisy mayor who can push back against Wellington continuing to erase local democracy. Auckland (indeed other centres) needed a mayor not beholden to Labour politics so that he can push harder to get what we need: it’s the inverse of Mayor Len Brown cutting deals with National. For six years Auckland has had a mayor too quiet when he needed to speak out loud.  So far this term Labour has started and delivered only the tiniest of Auckland’s projects, stopped many others, and taken too long to turn around public housing. We’ve needed more.

It’s high time Auckland had a mayor who gained Ardern’s attention, and we’ve got it.

81 comments on “We needed Wayne Brown ”

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  1. Peter 1
    11 October 2022 at 2:07 pm

    Brown will have a year of a Labour Government and two years with a National / Act one. What will be the difference?

    • Ad 1.1
      11 October 2022 at 2:32 pm

      Let's not get ahead of ourselves.

    • psych nurse 1.2
      11 October 2022 at 7:09 pm

      If he lives that long, he appears unwell, visible weight loss, he teeth appear too big, his clothes hang off him and the venous engorgement of his hands a sure sign of out of control high blood pressure.

      • Shanreagh 1.2.1
        13 October 2022 at 9:53 am

        I saw a close up of his hands, I had bookmarked it but cannot find it now, and they have a very dense covering of hair……would he be on hormones of some sort to cause this? Or could it be caused by other medication?

        He certainly doesn't look in the peak of perfection, very rumpled looking compared with other oldies such as Joe Biden (79)

        Perhaps he could use some of the minimal amount he is being paid of $296,000 to buy himself some better fitting clothes etc. I love beards but not keen on the hairy neck variety, he could do with a trim here and it would make him look very distinguished.

        My tips on grooming and making an impact by wardrobe selection come free today……perhaps Ad could pass them on.

  2. Radical Alternative 2
    11 October 2022 at 2:31 pm

    From where I'm standing, it looks like Brown is scrambling to figure out what his agenda actually is. Cancelling all his media appearances should be a pretty big tell that there isn't much of a plan right now. As for the Labour government, it should be remembered that he wasn't the establishment National candidate, that was Viv Beck, and she had to drop out.

    One of Brown's top guys, Ben Thomas, has also been working with Neale Jones, who is a lot closer to Ardern than Hooton or Hurdle are to Luxon. Like I said, I don't think anyone really knows what Brown is going to do as Mayor, but it does seem as though he won't have as bad of a relationship with central government as some are claiming.

    • tinderdry6 2.1
      11 October 2022 at 2:42 pm

      "From where I'm standing, it looks like Brown is scrambling to figure out what his agenda actually is."

      He knows exactly what his agenda is, RA. Of course there's daylight between knowing what you want to do and actually doing it. And that's why the next three years is going to be so interesting.smiley

      • Radical Alternative 2.1.1
        11 October 2022 at 3:29 pm

        Can he explain what it is then? I'm not going to shed any tears for CCO execs, but after a while he's going to run out of scalps.

          • Shanreagh 2.1.1.1.1
            11 October 2022 at 6:05 pm

            He refers only to ratepayers as though no-one else is important. There are residents as well as ratepayers who live in Auckland.

            He seems to be the type of person that needs someone who has mana/strength and is able to talk to him and say ‘hey boss……’ about things that may be better expressed.

            He also, unfortunately seems to be the type of person though that will react very unfavorably to someone saying this, even if coming from a position of support for him & his policies.

            Luxon appears not to have this kind of person either judging by his own perception/communication blues.

            • tinderdry6 2.1.1.1.1.1
              11 October 2022 at 6:23 pm

              The mayor is elected by ratepayers. Ultimately, that's who he is accountable to.

              There are a lot of conclusions being drawn about Brown after just a few days. Let's see what he actually does.

              • Shanreagh …
                11 October 2022 at 6:27 pm

                So residents are excluded? Surely Auckland allows residents and property owners to vote. I thought we had tossed the property qualification years ago.

                I had always thought local body elections were on the same basis as the general elections? In the past we used to have a property qualifier so that elections were restricted to those who owned property.

                Ratepayers are the ones who own property.

                By residents I mean the people who rent either by choice or necessity.

                Have I got this wrong? Then are the figures about voting developed against the numbers of property owners rather than the number of the population?

              • bwaghorn …
                11 October 2022 at 6:37 pm

                Um no, it's not 1850, you don't have to be a raye payer to vote.

                • Shanreagh …
                  11 October 2022 at 6:40 pm

                  I thought so…..hence my point is valid about Wayne Brown only referring to ratepayers, no-one else exists or perhaps ratepayers are the only ones who are important. Anyway reflects a rightist mindset.

                  • tinderdry6 …
                    11 October 2022 at 6:58 pm

                    No-one is excluded. When Brown talks about ratepayers it is in the context of ratepayer's 'money'.

                    • Shanreagh …
                      11 October 2022 at 7:09 pm

                      As I said reflects a rightist mindset.

                      I could go chapter and verse about tenants paying rates as part of their rent, most prudent LL factor in rates as part of the amount to charge in rent. So it is not ratepayers anything. Once it comes into the council coffers it belongs to the ACC on trust for the total population of Auckland.

                      Charging rates on property is a mechanism for raising funds, they could just as easily levy rates on people who have blue eyes or one leg.

                      So when the Mayor of Auckland refers only to ratepayers it is not inclusive it particularly excludes those who do not own property.

                    • Anne …
                      11 October 2022 at 7:09 pm

                      Which is pretty much the point Shanreagh is making.

                      Ratepayers = main source of money = more money for us at the top = money, money money = right-wing tunnel-vision.

                  • tinderdry6 …
                    11 October 2022 at 8:03 pm

                    "So when the Mayor of Auckland refers only to ratepayers it is not inclusive it particularly excludes those who do not own property."

                    But he doesn't refer to ratepayers. He refers to "ratepayer's money". The expression is similar to when politicians talk about 'taxpayer's money'.

                    • Shanreagh …
                      11 October 2022 at 9:04 pm

                      I have heard him speak about 'ratepayer' this & 'ratepayer' that. I am sure he is not meaning residents as well.

                      There is a reason for wording like this.

                      It is easily avoided if one wanted to be inclusive by using the words 'residents' and 'rates take' or words like this.

                      He is focusing on ratepayers. That is his niche. The well being of Auckland residents, different story. They are not his niche…he is centre right after all. Actually I would class him as to the right of centre or a right winger.

                  • tinderdry6 …
                    11 October 2022 at 10:38 pm

                    "There is a reason for wording like this."

                    You see it, I don't. I see a man whose relatively simple messaging resonating with enough oof the voting public to elect him by a healthy margin. History will judge him by what he achieves, not by how you or interpret every word he speaks.

                • tinderdry6 …
                  11 October 2022 at 7:00 pm

                  Yes of course. My comment was clumsy. Apologies.

              • clive macann …
                15 October 2022 at 1:22 pm

                So you are saying non-rate paying residents did not and are not allowed to vote? News to me and every other resident of New Zealand.

            • lprent 2.1.1.1.1.2
              12 October 2022 at 9:01 am

              He refers only to ratepayers as though no-one else is important. There are residents as well as ratepayers who live in Auckland.

              What is your point? Residents (and businesses) also pay rates indirectly via whatever their accommodation costs are.

              Residents vote as well. Ratepayers actually covers everyone who is resident in Auckland.

              Unless you're trying to say that people from the Waikato or other regions outside Auckland should have a vote in Auckland as well?

              • Shanreagh …
                12 October 2022 at 10:44 am

                Yes my point is 'residents (and businesses) also pay rates indirectly via whatever their accommodation costs are.' I am not sure that your average renter in the street knows this though.

                So why not be inclusive and call them residents or businesses and not ratepayers. If I was a renter I would not feel very 'included' by someone talking about ratepayers only.

                My point is that language matters. Also that being inclusive & careful in language matters also.

                Not calling for votes from outside though non resident people owning property in Auckland will have got a vote.

                Judging by Brown and his likeness to Trump (pussy/piss) perhaps there is a place for people outside Auckland voting, Ha ha,

                As was often sarcastically said when Trump was elected. The electing of the President of the United States is too important in world terms to allow only those from the US to vote if Trump is the result. I can see parallels with Auckland.

                But as was said yesterday by Stuart Munro this may be a blessing as it will shine a light and perhaps knock for six this idea that righties* know how to manage. *Especially righties with more than a touch of arrogance.

          • Radical Alternative 2.1.1.1.2
            11 October 2022 at 7:09 pm

            I'd like a bit more detail from the Mayor of the city I live in

            "Let’s keep finding the opportunities to give the harbour back to our people as a place to work, live and have fun."

            This sounds identical to something the head of a CCO would say

            • tinderdry6 2.1.1.1.2.1
              11 October 2022 at 8:08 pm

              Fair enough. It's typically broad. To his credit, Efeso had a more detailed set of policies on his website (sorry for some reason his site is now behind a login page otherwise I would link).

  3. mikesh 3
    11 October 2022 at 2:56 pm

    He said that it was "central government's job to listen to what Aucklanders' wanted, and then provide the funds". This from a guy who able to attract only about 180, 000 votes. What is the population of Auckland? Have the reached 1.8 million yet?

    I can see him choking on his own hubris.

    • Ghostwhowalksnz 3.1
      11 October 2022 at 4:35 pm

      Herad of how opinion polling works ?

      1000 person sample can give a good indication from a population of 4 mill voters, change that to 350,000 voters in Auckland Council election and you have an incredible good sample of how 1.2 mill people think.

      Brown didnt have a majority of the voters – no Mayor in Auckland Council ever has – but its a mandate all right.

      Its not a perfect system, but democracy is like that .

      Your hubris isnt accepting a democratic result…. a very Trumpian thing to do

    • mikesh 3.2
      11 October 2022 at 7:25 pm

      It's not the result that I'm thinking of. It's his attitude. He seems to think that he should decide what Auckland wants, and that the government should then hand over he dosh without questioning. Parliament has a lot of Auckland members, on both sides of the house, who no doubt might also have an opinion on what Auckland needs.

      Whatever one thinks of Phil Goff, the video clip of Brown singing "Hit the road, Goff". didn't exactly help.

      • Incognito 3.2.1
        11 October 2022 at 7:43 pm

        It appears that Mayor Brown likes to play the man rather than the ball and has a vindictive streak. Not quite the traits I’d wish to see in Auckland’s First Citizen.

    • lprent 3.3
      12 October 2022 at 9:03 am

      What is the population of Auckland? Have the reached 1.8 million yet?

      Roughly 1.65 million. It slowed (thank god) during the pandemic.

  4. Adrian 4
    11 October 2022 at 3:00 pm

    Never buy a car off a bullshitter and even from this distance Brown is one of the biggest bullshitters I've ever listened to. We used to call them opticians, I men, Ï this and I that.

  5. Stuart Munro 5
    11 October 2022 at 3:15 pm

    The proof or disproof of the pudding will be a little further down the track, and a vocal right of centre mayor may well prove a gift to Labour if he provides screw-ups in the pre-election period.

    The CCOs seem to be uniformly unpopular however, and their clearing away won't cause many tears to be shed. If only the same were true for the probable rates increases.

    • Shanreagh 5.1
      11 October 2022 at 4:48 pm

      The proof or disproof of the pudding will be a little further down the track, and a vocal right of centre mayor may well prove a gift to Labour if he provides screw-ups in the pre-election period.

      Agree with this. And as thinking people we can always learn and adjust our aims accordingly.

      Ad, if Grant Robertson had been PM would you have written this post in the same way. We know you hold nothing for the current PM and perhaps it is me but I can sense anti Ardern rather than seeing if there are things we can learn from what has happened.

      Also bearing in mind that the initial thoughts of a comprehensive swing to the right have not been fulfilled once the votes cast on the day had been counted and with specials still to come.

      I agree that any last vestiges Nat/Lab of the neo-lib experiment of the late 80s & 90s should have been higher up the order to be demolished than they have been..those whose operation affects the people on low incomes especially. Electricity especially.. 'Competition' has not eventuated with supermarkets and breaking this down has been slow as well.

      I feel though that we have got the message, whatever that was, from Auckland. You could say unkindly that the white shoes and wide boys brigade that we used to tease Auckland about may just have come back with this crass and boorish person. If he does do some good then good on him…..it will be in despite him and not caused by him.

      Would you say that his tenure in Northland or in one of the Health Boards was some thing to be proud of. What bits especially? Past experience being a good predictor of future worth.

      Now I sense a large feeling of 'looka me, looka me' as we got at various times through Covid as if Auckland was in need of special pleading, special special special things for special, special people.

      Rather sick of the anti the rest of NZ coming from Auckland.

      • Ad 5.1.1
        11 October 2022 at 7:25 pm

        We can focus on the performance of Auckland Council once there is a committee structure and policy starts to roll out.

        From his Far North experience he will reduce debt and transform the Council entities. Best not to get in his way.

        The political rise and fall of Wayne Brown (newsroom.co.nz)

        That tells me he will ensure that power shifts back to the political order. Plenty of the existing Council leadership team will leave – and plenty have been there for too long.

        From his commercial CV the stuff I liked was leading Vector to fix the Auckland power blackout, Chairing the Auckland District Health Board and bringing its reform back on track, and Chairing Transpower when the entire grid failed in 2006. You’re probably too young to remember any of that.

        We should expect a Mayor who doesn't appreciate the difference between a Mayor and a Council Chief Executive. That's what we used to have prior to 1989, which I like a lot: staff answering to elected people.

        • Shanreagh 5.1.1.1
          11 October 2022 at 8:47 pm

          You’re probably too young to remember any of that.

          Flattery will get you hardly anywhere as they say.

          Perhaps not as young as all that as while at Uni marched against Dove Meyer Robinson's proposed train system……..what were we thinking? Walked up Queen St holding ropes?

          And the usuals Vietnam and the US.

          You have left off the less flattering bit such as the Audit Office investigations etc. Many good people in public life also have good resumes but without having had the Audit Office involved.

          https://oag.parliament.nz/2012/inquiry-far-north-district-council/docs/inquiry-far-north-district-council.pdf/view

          I don’t envy the staff, many who will have been doing their very best, being involved in largescale and long running restructurings and redundancies. Intensely damaging to souls and never really worth it in the end as the entity has to make-up for lost ground and staff. However it is a blunt NZ tool of management ideally suited to those in a 1980/90s mindset (when this NZ management style really was in its heyday)

    • lprent 5.2
      12 October 2022 at 9:13 am

      The CCOs seem to be uniformly unpopular however, and their clearing away won't cause many tears to be shed. If only the same were true for the probable rates increases.

      He is pretty much bullshitting about the CCOs. Quite simply he doesn't have the power to do jackshit alone about the boards or employees. Even the council itself doesn't have that much power – they can only vote to appoint board members as vacancies arise.

      So to get what he wants, he'd have to convince board members to step down or to change policies. The problem is that he'd have to convince them that would produce a outcome that is better than they were already providing. So far he has shown neither viable plans nor the skills and abilities to convince anyone apart from fools who have problems understanding even simple slogans..

      Like when he was in the local district health board, Brown is just blustering and will probably be pretty ineffectual because he is fundamentally unconvincing about his competence to anyone who has watched him for any length of time.

      • Shanreagh 5.2.1
        12 October 2022 at 10:48 am

        This I agree with. Bluster and bully is the name of the game.

      • Tiger Mountain 5.2.2
        12 October 2022 at 2:08 pm

        This is anecdotal, but my partner had reason to go to the Mangonui Cruising Club bar in Mill Bay several weeks back to meet some friends. “Browny” was on the cash bar, and repeatedly botched drink orders and gave wrong change according to my partner. Embarrassing for a Supercity Mayor.

  6. John G 6
    11 October 2022 at 3:25 pm

    It's also worth remembering Brown is 76 so is very unlikely to be doing more than one term. That changes the dynamics somewhat, as he doesn't have long to build relationships, but he also doesn't have to worry about getting reelected.

  7. observer 7
    11 October 2022 at 3:48 pm

    This post will age terribly.

    "Things are bad, we need change, therefore the change that happened is good". The absurd justification for everything from Mao to Rogernomics to Trump.

    But there's not much point debating an imagined future for Auckland now, real events will settle it.

    • Ad 7.1
      11 October 2022 at 4:22 pm

      A quick review of Auckland's most effective mayors of the last 40 years, if one assesses them by their key moves:

      – Sir Barry Curtis 1983-2007 Established Manukau Town Centre, key regional parks, about 25% of Auckland suburbs, Manukau rail spur, key industry expansion. Rapid expansion of south Auckland dislocated poor.

      – Phil Warren ARC Chair 1992-2002 formed Metropolitan Urban Limit, massive increase in regional parks. Crushed by Shipley government.

      – Bruce Jesson ARTA Chair 1992-95 partially resisted the worst of Shipley's Auckland asset privatisation. Too short in power.

      – Sir Bob Harvey 1992-2010 Waitakere Massive expansion of Auckland film and television industry, protection of Waitakere Ranges, 15% expansion of Auckland through Westgate and Hobsonville. Crippled by tiny rating base and miniscule industry.

      – Christine Fletcher AC 1998-2001 Pushed Britomart rail station ahead. One-hit wonder.

      – George Wood North Shore 1998-2007 North Shore water treatment plant, North Shore Busway, Massey University masterplan. Undersold politician who lifted entire North Shore.

      – John Banks 2001-4 and 2007-10 sold out Auckland Council's social housing, sold chunk of Auckland Airport shares. Racist monetarist rich guy.

      – Len Brown 2010-16 Auckland Mayor Did deal with Precinct/AMP and government to route and fund City Rail Link, multiple cycleways, formation of CCOs. Unable to handle corporatised power, got good deals done.

      Phil Goff 2017-2022 Auckland Mayor Entire CBD rebuilt to masterplan, went to debt ceiling, City carbon plan, CBD economic decline, 2 CCOs merged.

      Any Auckland mayor now has to deal with an exceedingly weak and corporatised set of entities, weakened still further with the removal of 3 waters.

      Of those who have sought to resist or reaggregate the loss of political accountability, Jesson was there for too little time, Goff was too timid, Wood the most successful.

      Wayne Brown so far is acting like Jesson reborn.

      • Ghostwhowalksnz 7.1.1
        11 October 2022 at 4:51 pm

        The North Shore water treatment plant ( sewage) in Rosedale Rd has been around for decades

        The North Shore was able to keep its sewage treatment separate when the Auckland Regional Authority was formed and took over the Auckland and Suburbs Drainage Board.

        North Shore treatment plant and connecting sewers was only combined under Watercare when the Super city was created in 2010

        His wikipedia entry seems to be a bit of puffery over the Rosedale plant, as Mayor of the city it was merely upgraded to more modern standards and the outfall is still into the sea 1.2km off Mairangi Bay

        • lprent 7.1.1.1
          12 October 2022 at 9:16 am

          The North Shore water treatment plant ( sewage) in Rosedale Rd has been around for decades

          Yeah – I used to drive past it in the 80s heading up to the farm

    • Kat 7.2
      11 October 2022 at 4:31 pm

      Observer, I would agree with your observation. I would also put forward the notion that the author is merely expressing his opinions on what he would like the Labour govt to do and uses "The Brown guy" as a convenient and controversial protagonist figure.

    • Incognito 7.3
      11 October 2022 at 5:40 pm

      My gut feeling is that Brown will be a disruptor rather than a ‘fixer’, at best. Time will tell.

      • Kat 7.3.1
        11 October 2022 at 6:02 pm

        He appears a disruption already. How that guy Brown responds to and manages incidents will be the making or breaking of him and his council. Doubt anyone here willing to hold their breath……….for too long

      • Grey Area 7.3.2
        11 October 2022 at 6:09 pm

        Yep. He has the wrecker vibe rather than being a builder.

        • Shanreagh 7.3.2.1
          11 October 2022 at 6:15 pm

          Yes indeed …disruptors can be useful but only if they can be moved aside once their purpose has been fulfilled. 3 years may be 2 years too many.

  8. Ghostwhowalksnz 8
    11 October 2022 at 4:20 pm

    The City Rail Link Board has the usual types , one from Raglan, one from Wellington, one from Wanaka and the last two from St Heliers and Oneroa on Waiheke

    They are just board paper shufflers The majority not even living in Auckland. And only one change from when the English government appointed them, the one from Nelson replaced !

    https://app.companiesoffice.govt.nz/companies/app/ui/pages/companies/6267870/directors

    • Tricledrown 8.1
      12 October 2022 at 10:48 am

      When it comes to underground rail links budgets blow out very quickly.Looking around the world ie HS2 in the UK is one of the latest.With the pandemic ,Labour shortages, fuel prices , material prices and shortages all add up very quickly .Wayne Brown can't control those outside factors and won't be able to blame it on any one else.Cost's will continue to rise until its completed but this will make it even harder to get people out of Cars so more congestion as future projects will be canned by austerity driven council and an incoming National govt.

  9. Tiger Mountain 9
    12 October 2022 at 9:20 am

    “Wank wank money in the bank” as per the crude saying.

    Brown has a shocking record of unauthorised personal expenditure, insider trading for development projects, sacking union members but not non members. A disrupter may be needed, but not a right wing one.

    • Shanreagh 9.1
      12 October 2022 at 10:57 am

      Yes this is why I am amazed at the uncritical acceptance of his past record as if it is some thing to proud of. Many good local body Mayors and Councillors have long terms in office untainted by Audit Office queries and investigations etc. It would give me pause as to whether a person was suited for office based on this past performance.

  10. Sanctuary 10
    12 October 2022 at 10:35 am

    From what I have seen Brown doesn't go anywhere without Matthew Hooton glued to his hip. We've elected Mayor Hooton, not Brown.

    • Incognito 10.1
      12 October 2022 at 10:43 am

      The tail wagging the dog.

    • Shanreagh 10.2
      12 October 2022 at 10:54 am

      Probably wants Hooton to be his Chief of Staff or maybe Brown will lean on the CEO of the Auckland City Council to resign and slide Hooton in. Anything is possible for someone who does not follow the rules and conventions that keep everyone/everything safe. Having a personal office staffed/stuff with personal appointees can wreak havoc with the smooth operating of an organisation as the workers find it necessary to clear everything with the personal office staff first whereas before they may have had a direct link to the Mayor.

  11. roblogic 11
    12 October 2022 at 2:41 pm

    From the experience of Northlanders, WB will be nothing but trouble and it will take Auckland 10 years to fix up the mess left by "Mr fix it"

  12. observer 12
    12 October 2022 at 4:39 pm

    Wayne Brown update:

    When the Herald put it to him that most people would regard his salary of $296,000 as large, the businessman said: "It's not to me."

    I'm afraid that's the real Wayne Brown, not the one dreamed of in Ad's post.

    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/auckland-mayor-wayne-brown-cagey-about-work-hours-does-not-think-296000-is-a-big-salary/S67EM6NM2ZLYQDZOLJKCFLLAWY/

    • X Socialist 12.1
      13 October 2022 at 8:35 am

      Maybe Wayne Brown has a point? The below figures are well out of date btw.

      https://www.taxpayers.org.nz/ceo_rich_list

      Example:

      Te Puni Kōkiri – Ministry of Māori Development- Ms Michelle Hippolite -$444,000.

      A case could be made that Brown is well underpaid by comparison. The bottom line is who cares what he's paid; or how many hours he works. The only thing ratepayers care about is results. If Brown doesn't deliver he will be a one term wonder. Was Phil Goff asked these questions?
    • Anne 12.2
      13 October 2022 at 10:19 am

      "When the Herald put it to him that most people would regard his salary of $296,000 as large, the businessman said: "It's not to me."

      In other words, all that matters is what matters to him.

      I'm looking forward to the s***t storms. There's going to be plenty of them. I see Matthew Hooton is part of his top team. That's a starter for trouble to begin with.

  13. Mat Simpson 13
    12 October 2022 at 7:26 pm

    " The left and the Ardern government need to start appreciating the new Auckland mayor "

    The left is dead and only New Labour exists as Tony Blair and his cohorts re packaged neo liberal policies under a social democrat banner that did not threaten capitalism or the upper classes.

    • Stuart Munro 13.1
      13 October 2022 at 6:32 am

      The economic imbalances that create the Left are significant and growing. The Blairites, aside from being an abomination, are a shrinking class isolated from the insecurity created by their failure to hold the line. Things fall apart – the 'centrists' cannot hold.

  14. Shanreagh 14
    13 October 2022 at 10:40 am

    Good grief this guy Brown is positively Trumpian

    https://twitter.com/publicaddress/status/1580276585487564800

    If you look at the tweets about CRL it seems he may not have been correct here as well.

    https://twitter.com/publicaddress/status/1580276590797557761

    If he wants to start then then he needs to get some reading in, checking for comprehension with others, keeping hold of his tongue until he has a grip on things.

    One thing going for Trump, clothes-wise, is that he looked smart, well fitting clothes etc.

    • Incognito 14.1
      13 October 2022 at 11:19 am

      Pissing against (wrong) trees, scent marking, and showing who’s top dog in a dog-eat-dog world aka Wayne’s World. Yes, definitely some similarities with Trump, but Auckland is a completely different pen compared to the US of A. IMHO.

  15. mark 15
    15 October 2022 at 4:53 am

    Yes, the country needs more thieves who want more for themselves, sack public officials so they can steal from the public purse without scrutiny and place their own cronies in power to cover their tracks.

    NZ has enough billionaires buying land to hide from the world without more help from inside the country.

    Lots of complains but nothing in concrete ideas

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  • New Zealand supports UN Palestine resolution
    New Zealand voted in favour of a resolution broadening Palestine’s participation at the United Nations General Assembly overnight, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.    “The resolution enhances the rights of Palestine to participate in the work of the UN General Assembly while stopping short of admitting Palestine as a full ...
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    22 hours ago

  • Speech to the 2024 Infrastructure Symposium
    Introduction Good morning. It’s a great privilege to be here at the 2024 Infrastructure Symposium. I was extremely happy when the Prime Minister asked me to be his Minister for Infrastructure. It is one of the great barriers holding the New Zealand economy back from achieving its potential. Building high ...
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    1 day ago

  • $571 million for Defence pay and projects
    Defence Minister Judith Collins today announced the upcoming Budget will include new funding of $571 million for Defence Force pay and projects. “Our servicemen and women do New Zealand proud throughout the world and this funding will help ensure we retain their services and expertise as we navigate an increasingly ...
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    2 days ago

  • Climate change – mitigating the risks and costs
    New Zealand’s ability to cope with climate change will be strengthened as part of the Government’s focus to build resilience as we rebuild the economy, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “An enduring and long-term approach is needed to provide New Zealanders and the economy with certainty as the climate ...
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    2 days ago

  • Getting new job seekers on the pathway to work
    Jobseeker beneficiaries who have work obligations must now meet with MSD within two weeks of their benefit starting to determine their next step towards finding a job, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “A key part of the coalition Government’s plan to have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker ...
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    3 days ago

  • Accelerating Social Investment
    A new standalone Social Investment Agency will power-up the social investment approach, driving positive change for our most vulnerable New Zealanders, Social Investment Minister Nicola Willis says.  “Despite the Government currently investing more than $70 billion every year into social services, we are not seeing the outcomes we want for ...
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    3 days ago

  • Getting Back on Track
    Check against delivery Good morning. It is a pleasure to be with you to outline the Coalition Government’s approach to our first Budget. Thank you Mark Skelly, President of the Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce, together with  your Board and team, for hosting me.   I’d like to acknowledge His Worship ...
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    3 days ago

  • NZ – European Union ties more critical than ever
    Your Excellency Ambassador Meredith,   Members of the Diplomatic Corps and Ambassadors from European Union Member States,   Ministerial colleagues, Members of Parliament, and other distinguished guests, Thank you everyone for joining us.   Ladies and gentlemen -    In diplomacy, we often speak of ‘close’ and ‘long-standing’ relations.   ...
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    3 days ago

  • Therapeutic Products Act to be repealed
    The Therapeutic Products Act (TPA) will be repealed this year so that a better regime can be put in place to provide New Zealanders safe and timely access to medicines, medical devices and health products, Associate Health Minister Casey Costello announced today. “The medicines and products we are talking about ...
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    3 days ago

  • Decisions on Wellington City Council’s District Plan
    The Minister Responsible for RMA Reform, Chris Bishop, today released his decision on twenty recommendations referred to him by the Wellington City Council relating to its Intensification Planning Instrument, after the Council rejected those recommendations of the Independent Hearings Panel and made alternative recommendations. “Wellington notified its District Plan on ...
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    4 days ago

  • Rape Awareness Week: Government committed to action on sexual violence
    Rape Awareness Week (6-10 May) is an important opportunity to acknowledge the continued effort required by government and communities to ensure that all New Zealanders can live free from violence, say Ministers Karen Chhour and Louise Upston.  “With 1 in 3 women and 1 in 8 men experiencing sexual violence ...
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    4 days ago

  • Smarter lunch programme feeds more, costs less
    Associate Education Minister David Seymour has today announced that the Government will be delivering a more efficient Healthy School Lunches Programme, saving taxpayers approximately $107 million a year compared to how Labour funded it, by embracing innovation and commercial expertise. “We are delivering on our commitment to treat taxpayers’ money ...
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    4 days ago

  • Report provides insights into marine recovery
    New research on the impacts of extreme weather on coastal marine habitats in Tairāwhiti and Hawke’s Bay will help fishery managers plan for and respond to any future events, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. A report released today on research by Niwa on behalf of Fisheries New Zealand ...
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    4 days ago

  • NZ to send political delegation to the Pacific
    Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Winston Peters will lead a broad political delegation on a five-stop Pacific tour next week to strengthen New Zealand’s engagement with the region.   The delegation will visit Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, and Tuvalu.    “New Zealand has deep and ...
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    4 days ago

  • Low gas production threatens energy security
    There has been a material decline in gas production according to figures released today by the Gas Industry Co.  Figures released by the Gas Industry Company show that there was a 12.5 per cent reduction in gas production during 2023, and a 27.8 per cent reduction in gas production in the ...
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    4 days ago

  • Defence industry talent, commitment recognised
    Defence Minister Judith Collins tonight announced the recipients of the Minister of Defence Awards of Excellence for Industry, saying they all contribute to New Zealanders’ security and wellbeing. “Congratulations to this year’s recipients, whose innovative products and services play a critical role in the delivery of New Zealand’s defence capabilities, ...
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    4 days ago

  • Speech to the Minister of Defence Awards of Excellence for Industry
    Welcome to you all - it is a pleasure to be here this evening.I would like to start by thanking Greg Lowe, Chair of the New Zealand Defence Industry Advisory Council, for co-hosting this reception with me. This evening is about recognising businesses from across New Zealand and overseas who in ...
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    4 days ago

  • Speech to the Sixth Annual New Zealand Government Data Summit
    It is a pleasure to be speaking to you as the Minister for Digitising Government.  I would like to thank Akolade for the invitation to address this Summit, and to acknowledge the great effort you are making to grow New Zealand’s digital future. Today, we stand at the cusp of ...
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    4 days ago

  • Ceasefire agreement needed now: Peters
    New Zealand is urging both Israel and Hamas to agree to an immediate ceasefire to avoid the further humanitarian catastrophe that military action in Rafah would unleash, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.   “The immense suffering in Gaza cannot be allowed to worsen further. Both sides have a responsibility to ...
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    5 days ago

  • Daily school attendance data now available
    A new online data dashboard released today as part of the Government’s school attendance action plan makes more timely daily attendance data available to the public and parents, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour.  The interactive dashboard will be updated once a week to show a national average of how ...
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    5 days ago

  • Ambassador to United States appointed
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced Rosemary Banks will be New Zealand’s next Ambassador to the United States of America.    “Our relationship with the United States is crucial for New Zealand in strategic, security and economic terms,” Mr Peters says.    “New Zealand and the United States have a ...
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    5 days ago

  • New permit proposed for recreational gold mining
    The Government is considering creating a new tier of minerals permitting that will make it easier for hobby miners to prospect for gold. “New Zealand was built on gold, it’s in our DNA. Our gold deposits, particularly in regions such as Otago and the West Coast have always attracted fortune-hunters. ...
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    5 days ago

  • NZ and the UAE launch FTA negotiations
    Minister for Trade Todd McClay today announced that New Zealand and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will commence negotiations on a free trade agreement (FTA). Minister McClay met with his counterpart UAE Trade Minister Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi in Dubai, where they announced the launch of negotiations on a ...
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    5 days ago

  • New Zealand Sign Language Week an opportunity for anyone to sign
    New Zealand Sign Language Week is an excellent opportunity for all Kiwis to give the language a go, Disabilities Issues Minister Louise Upston says. This week (May 6 to 12) is New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) Week. The theme is “an Aotearoa where anyone can sign anywhere” and aims to ...
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    5 days ago

  • Next stop NASA for New Zealand students
    Six tertiary students have been selected to work on NASA projects in the US through a New Zealand Space Scholarship, Space Minister Judith Collins announced today. “This is a fantastic opportunity for these talented students. They will undertake internships at NASA’s Ames Research Center or its Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), where ...
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    5 days ago

  • $1.9 billion investment to keep NZ safe from crime
    New Zealanders will be safer because of a $1.9 billion investment in more frontline Corrections officers, more support for offenders to turn away from crime, and more prison capacity, Corrections Minister Mark Mitchell says. “Our Government said we would crack down on crime. We promised to restore law and order, ...
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    5 days ago

  • OECD reinforces need to control spending
    The OECD’s latest report on New Zealand reinforces the importance of bringing Government spending under control, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The OECD conducts country surveys every two years to review its members’ economic policies. The 2024 New Zealand survey was presented in Wellington today by OECD Chief Economist Clare Lombardelli.   ...
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    6 days ago

  • Agreement delivers Local Water Done Well for Auckland
    The Government has delivered on its election promise to provide a financially sustainable model for Auckland under its Local Water Done Well plan. The plan, which has been unanimously endorsed by Auckland Council’s Governing Body, will see Aucklanders avoid the previously projected 25.8 per cent water rates increases while retaining ...
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    7 days ago

  • Gaza and the Pacific on the agenda with Germany
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters discussed the need for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, and enhanced cooperation in the Pacific with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock during her first official visit to New Zealand today.    "New Zealand and Germany enjoy shared interests and values, including the rule of law, democracy, respect for the international system ...
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    1 week ago

  • Decision allows for housing growth in Western Bay of Plenty
    The Minister Responsible for RMA Reform, Chris Bishop today released his decision on four recommendations referred to him by the Western Bay of Plenty District Council, opening the door to housing growth in the area. The Council’s Plan Change 92 allows more homes to be built in existing and new ...
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    1 week ago

  • Speech to New Zealand China Council
    Thank you, John McKinnon and the New Zealand China Council for the invitation to speak to you today.    Thank you too, all members of the China Council. Your effort has played an essential role in helping to build, shape, and grow a balanced and resilient relationship between our two ...
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    1 week ago

  • Modern insurance law will protect Kiwi households
    The Government is modernising insurance law to better protect Kiwis and provide security in the event of a disaster, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly announced today. “These reforms are long overdue. New Zealand’s insurance law is complicated and dated, some of which is more than 100 years old. ...
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    1 week ago

  • Government recommits to equal pay
    The coalition Government is refreshing its approach to supporting pay equity claims as time-limited funding for the Pay Equity Taskforce comes to an end, Public Service Minister Nicola Willis says.  “Three years ago, the then-government introduced changes to the Equal Pay Act to support pay equity bargaining. The changes were ...
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    1 week ago

  • Transforming how our children learn to read
    Structured literacy will change the way New Zealand children learn to read - improving achievement and setting students up for success, Education Minister Erica Stanford says.  “Being able to read and write is a fundamental life skill that too many young people are missing out on. Recent data shows that ...
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    1 week ago

  • NZ not backing down in Canada dairy dispute
    Trade Minister Todd McClay says Canada’s refusal to comply in full with a CPTPP trade dispute ruling in our favour over dairy trade is cynical and New Zealand has no intention of backing down. Mr McClay said he has asked for urgent legal advice in respect of our ‘next move’ ...
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    1 week ago

  • Stronger oversight for our most vulnerable children
    The rights of our children and young people will be enhanced by changes the coalition Government will make to strengthen oversight of the Oranga Tamariki system, including restoring a single Children’s Commissioner. “The Government is committed to delivering better public services that care for our most at-risk young people and ...
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    1 week ago

  • Streamlining Building Consent Changes
    The Government is making it easier for minor changes to be made to a building consent so building a home is easier and more affordable, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says.      “The coalition Government is focused on making it easier and cheaper to build homes so we can ...
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    1 week ago

  • Minister acknowledges passing of Sir Robert Martin (KNZM)
    New Zealand lost a true legend when internationally renowned disability advocate Sir Robert Martin (KNZM) passed away at his home in Whanganui last night, Disabilities Issues Minister Louise Upston says. “Our Government’s thoughts are with his wife Lynda, family and community, those he has worked with, the disability community in ...
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    1 week ago

  • Speech to New Zealand Institute of International Affairs, Parliament – Annual Lecture: Challenges ...
    Good evening –   Before discussing the challenges and opportunities facing New Zealand’s foreign policy, we’d like to first acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs. You have contributed to debates about New Zealand foreign policy over a long period of time, and we thank you for hosting us.  ...
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    1 week ago

  • Accelerating airport security lines
    From today, passengers travelling internationally from Auckland Airport will be able to keep laptops and liquids in their carry-on bags for security screening thanks to new technology, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Creating a more efficient and seamless travel experience is important for holidaymakers and businesses, enabling faster movement through ...
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    1 week ago

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