Media release

Auckland Councillor Cameron Brewer

Monday, 13 May 2013

Labour Mayor right to support Convention Centre

Auckland Mayor Len Brown’s support of the proposed $402m New Zealand International Convention Centre announced by the Government and SkyCity this morning will rile a lot of his own supporters. However Mr Brown’s taking the right position given the significant economic benefits it will bring the city and country,” says Auckland Councillor Cameron Brewer, who chairs the council’s Business Advisory Panel and is deputy of the Economic Forum.

“The Mayor looked decidedly uncomfortable on television supporting the deal because he knows he was the poster boy for the Problem Gambling Foundation appearing in their television commercials in recent years. However it’s great he’s taking a wider and pragmatic view on the convention centre, despite strong opposition from his own Labour Party and some left-wing councillors.

“Not siding with the Maritime Union over the ongoing industrial action at the Ports of Auckland and now siding with the Government over the convention centre deal causes Auckland’s left-wing mayor some political problems in election year, but good on him.

“I call on Opposition parties to get in behind the Mayor of Auckland and a clear majority of councillors who support the convention centre, and not just play party politics to advance themselves in Wellington,” says Cameron Brewer.

Ends

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