Len Brown will not seek re-election next year

Auckland mayor Len Brown told TV One’s Q+A programme that he will not seek re-election next year.

“I’ve been very humbled to be the mayor of the first united Auckland, but after two terms of tremendous challenge, great opportunity and what Ibelieve has been an excellent transition for the super city, I’ve decided that that is enough.”

Q+A, 9-10am Sundays on TV ONE and one hour later on TV ONE plus 1. Repeated Sunday evening at 11:35pm. Streamed live atwww.tvnz.co.nz

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Q + A
Episode 37
LEN BROWN
Interviewed by GREG BOYED

GREG I’m joined by Auckland mayor Len Brown, and I understand you’ve made a decision about your future. What is it?

LEN Happy to confirm that I will not be seeking nomination for the Auckland mayoralty in next year’s election.

GREG Why?

LEN I think, firstly, Shan and I and the family have determined that what I decided originally, which was three terms, in the event that I became the mayor of Manukau, that is enough for us. It has obviously been a extraordinary challenge, but also a brilliant challenge. I’ve been very humbled to be the mayor of the first united Auckland, but after two terms of tremendous challenge, great opportunity and what I believe has been an excellent transition for the supercity, I’ve decided that that is enough.

GREG After your admission of your affair, that must have been a factor in this. That must have been one of the roughest times in your life.

LEN Yeah, absolutely. And yes, that’s a factor, and there are a number of other factors. But clearly, the decision is made in my family and out of respect to Shan and our kids and the need for us to get on with our lives, you know, that decision has been made. Now, having said that, it is my absolute intention to continue to ensure that creating the world’s most liveable city is very much top of my agenda for the next year, and I will be working with the level of commitment that I started with and I will finish with. There is so much yet to do over the next year, but it is critical at this time. There has been a lot of chat, a lot of speculation, and I wanted to put an end to that and make it very clear what my intentions were.

GREG How much of a factor – he hasn’t confirmed definitely but all but confirmed – that Phil Goff is going to stand for mayor? How much of a factor does that play in your decision?

LEN Look, there will be 30 or 40 people who will want to run for the mayoralty of Auckland. It’s always a very heavily contested slate, and particularly with the amalgamation. And to Phil and anyone else who wants to run, I offer them nothing but the very best of luck. It is a job with extraordinary opportunity, but major challenges. And quite frankly, there is no training that could prepare you for doing this job.

GREG You were on the show just last week talking about some of the big challenges. In your view, with the finish line, I guess, in sight now, what are the big challenges in the job?

LEN Look, I think the one that we talked about most was the issue of really sorting out Auckland’s transport. You know, delivering that sense of a fully integrated transport system. And we’re well on the way to that, you know. It’s great for us to start the City Rail Link next month. And see a government commitment to a transport accord, which I think will be brilliant. That we will discuss light rail early next year and give some reasonable indications of what we’ll do with that. That we’re now totally focused on delivering cycleways. So there is an excellent base upon which to really build for the next mayor of Auckland and the next council of Auckland. So the challenges are quantum, but the opportunities are great. And to see our economy move with such pace and to see us move strongly and consistently in a common direction with a single vision and a single plan as a united city, it’s just been wonderful to see the city pull together behind that.

GREG So you’re not standing again. Are you disappointed at that? You mentioned before three terms, including your stint with Manukau. Are you disappointed?

LEN Nine years! By the end of it, nine years in this job, and I mean, it’s been a unique job. No one will ever have this opportunity again and I believe that the council in the first two terms has made every opportunity, by and large, a winning opportunity. I think we can be justifiably proud of the work thus far and towards the end of this term. So, you know, I’ve had nine years. And we’ve talked about this when I first went into this job and felt that three terms would be enough. In democracy, you’ve got to keep leadership fresh. And so, you know, I think that the judgement call around the time, the energy I’ve had to put into it, unrelenting. And no one, whatever their view of me, could ever question my commitment to the job. I love this city. I love doing this job. But nine years is enough.

GREG Just finally, what next? What does the former mayor of Manukau and Auckland Supercity do after that?

LEN I have no idea. The focus on this job has been so unrelenting, I’ve had no chances – and won’t have, really, until the end of the term – to really think about what I would like to do. Probably a little bit of a rest, but, look, something will pop up. When one door closes, another opens.

GREG All right. For the time being, Auckland Supercity Mayor Len Brown, thank you.

LEN Thanks, Greg.

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