McCarten Rules Out Run For Mayoralty Backs Hubbard

Amidst growing expectations on the left of New Zealand politics, former Alliance president, Unite Union head, and political strategist Matt McCarten has ruled out campaigning for the Auckland mayoralty.

In an exclusive interview with Scoop reporter Joseph Barratt, Mr McCarten said he had no intention of running for mayor of Auckland City, and gave qualified support for the incumbent Auckland City mayor Dick Hubbard.

He foresees water issues and water rates will continue to dominate the local government campaign.

A recent move by Auckland City Council to increase water rates has proved to be a contentious issue and has polarized local politicians and angered community groups.

Dick Hubbard is supporting raising water rates but according to Mr. McCarten he is still likely to win because politically “too many have put their hands up” from the centre-right for the mayoral race, it is potentially splitting the right vote.

“The right would have to come around one candidate and I don’t believe they can.” said Mr. McCarten, “If it’s a crowded field on the right then Hubbard should be able to win with about 40% of the vote.”

On suggestions that Mr. Hubbard has moved more right over his last term in office Mr. McCarten said that many voters would see Hubbard as “not necessarily as the left candidate but not a right (wing) candidate.

There is a cooling for support of Mr. Hubbard, said Mr. McCarten, “but I doubt it’s enough for people to go against him.”

Currently the dominant power-block is City Vision a centre-left local political body. It will put its support behind Hubbard as no other centre-left potential candidate has gained traction, explained Mr. McCarten.

In the last election City Vision supported Mr. Hubbard as an independent candidate.

Recent internal divisions over the water rates issue have seen Auckland City Council deputy mayor Bruce Hucker resign as leader of City Vision.

Dr. Hucker, contrary to most members of City Vision, supported a rise in water rates. This was coupled with a move to increase dividends paid to the council by (the council owned water company) Metrowater. Water rates is a method of increasing the council's overall revenue. However, Matt McCarten said this specific strategy was wrong. “The city needs more money to fix its infrastructure” said Mr. McCarten, “Every time it rains shit runs into the harbor.”

The easiest way to fix it is with rates but then that is unfair on residents, Mr. McCarten said.

He said rates are traditionally the most important issue in local body elections. Voter turnout at local government elections is traditionally low. Those who feel compelled to vote are property owners and women. A 40% turn out at the polls would be considered good, Mr McCarten said.

A water rates increase was strategically designed to skirt around voter sensitivities: “What Bruce (Hucker) has done is, he can’t hit the rates, so he’s hit the water," Mr McCarten said.

Image: Matt McCarten, by Joseph Barratt - Click for big version

Mr. McCarten urged politicians to think creatively about funding from sources that were not going to hit the pockets of lower and middle income families: “Why not put a bed tax on hotels? Tourism is New Zealand’s largest industry."

New Zealand already has some of the cheapest hotel room rates out of OCD countries McCarten said, raising room rates through a tariff is not going to greatly effect tourism in the country.

"If I was running for mayor I would go on the campaign that Auckland needs more money to fix its infrastructure."

He said that tourists come to the city, use the infrastructure, and the average Aucklander who has paid for those things through their rates don’t get anything from it "only the businesses do".

So is Matt McCarten to campaign for the Auckland mayoralty? He laughed and said, "no I'm much too busy" and added "I've got a real job!"

Nominations for mayor close on August 24 2007. Triennial elections for elected members of all local bodies throughout New Zealand are to be conducted by postal vote, on Saturday 13 October 2007.

For more see: Auckland City Council - 2007 Local Body Elections.

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