Len Brown: Clear focus on building an Auckland for the future
Len Brown looks relaxed, even if a tad tired. In his interaction with the ethnic media, he is always quite upbeat, even exuberant. I have a feeling, a different side to the Mayor, might come to the fore this evening at the Town Hall in Auckland.
“I enjoy campaigning, it’s an opportunity to get out in the community,” says Mr. Brown. He has been spotted at all the right events, amongst the right people in the Indian community. Being personable is often attributed to him; sometimes as a compliment and sometimes as criticism, depending on who you care to ask.
Well-recognised he might be, but is Len Brown confident of being voted in the second time, third if you count his stint as the mayor of Manukau? His landslide victory in the first Auckland-wide mayoral election in 2010 notwithstanding, he is not taking the coming election lightly. “Confidence is not something one can have too much of in politics,” he says. “But this is an opportunity for me to clearly express my love for the community and for the city.”
Seated in the Auckland Town Hall, Mr. Brown seems at home. He seems philosophical, especially to the criticism of the Unitary Plan for Auckland. “You can’t please everyone,” he says, with a barely perceptible shrug.
He doesn’t hesitate to back the current plan with touching conviction. Other contenders in the mayoral race have pitched the idea of satellight cities. “As a proud South Aucklander, I can tell you, that’s moving backwards. The current plan, is a good one, it’s prudent and considers the population growth of the future. We don’t want an urban sprawl like LA,” he asserts. On many occasions, Mr. Brown has said that the Unitary Plan allows for choices and options, with growth that is “a little out, a little up”.
The Plan and with it the Mayor have had a fair share of criticism; but putting aside the doubters for a moment, a recent New Zealand Herald survey revealed that 60 per cent of the CEO respondents said Brown should return to the Auckland mayoral chambers. Only 16 per cent are against Brown getting a second term.
This is sure to draw cynical snorts from some, especially if they’re competing with Mr. Brown in the mayoral race.
“I make no apologies for having the backing of the business community,” he says. He smiles, admits he was surprised with the poll. “I am pleased and humbled by the results.”
Mr. Brown speaks confidently of his tenure; having maintained transparency in council’s dealings, rigorous financial management and keeping rates under control.
“Being able to achieve what we did without rate increases,” he says “is one of the top things in the list of those that he is proud of.” That, and the rugby world cup; “we knuckled down and delivered superbly despite massive pressure,” he recalls.
However, the city rail loop victory, he terms as one of the greatest triumphs of his tenure. “It is hugely impactful and to get the government’s backing after years; that’s pretty special,” he adds.
He has the determination to follow a plan and having a clear focused; this Len Brown is very different from the one that the ethnic media usually sees on display at the ‘ethnic media interactions’. Today, he is serious and ernest. His campaign head, David Lewis who he says is really just a mate, sits in on the interview.
Mr. Brown takes his time to answer the all important question about why we should vote for him. “I absolutely love the community and love the opportunity to represent the community. I have delivered on the vision and plan for the city, and that should give people the confidence,” he says.
Representation, specifically the ethnic community closer to home, within the Council was raised as an issue by members of the Ethnic Peoples’ Advisory Panel at a recent public meeting. Council data suggests that ethnic minorities are not fairly represented at management positions.
Mr. Brown reiterates his perspective on it from the meeting, “my job is to give a vision and plan for the city, make it the most liveable city in the world. The CEO is the one who is responsible for the running of the council.” He would not dabble in the actual running of the council, “it is quite hard to set KPIs around something like this,” he says. And adds, “ I would be encouraging of the CEO so he or she can do everything to broaden the representation.”
For the moment, Mr. Brown says it’s time to stick to the plan and move forward to building Auckland into the world’s “most liveable city”.
Len Brown looks relaxed, even if a tad tired. In his interaction with the ethnic media, he is always quite upbeat, even exuberant. I have a feeling, a different side to the Mayor, might come to the fore this evening at the Town Hall in Auckland. “I enjoy campaigning, it’s an opportunity to get out...
Len Brown looks relaxed, even if a tad tired. In his interaction with the ethnic media, he is always quite upbeat, even exuberant. I have a feeling, a different side to the Mayor, might come to the fore this evening at the Town Hall in Auckland.
“I enjoy campaigning, it’s an opportunity to get out in the community,” says Mr. Brown. He has been spotted at all the right events, amongst the right people in the Indian community. Being personable is often attributed to him; sometimes as a compliment and sometimes as criticism, depending on who you care to ask.
Well-recognised he might be, but is Len Brown confident of being voted in the second time, third if you count his stint as the mayor of Manukau? His landslide victory in the first Auckland-wide mayoral election in 2010 notwithstanding, he is not taking the coming election lightly. “Confidence is not something one can have too much of in politics,” he says. “But this is an opportunity for me to clearly express my love for the community and for the city.”
Seated in the Auckland Town Hall, Mr. Brown seems at home. He seems philosophical, especially to the criticism of the Unitary Plan for Auckland. “You can’t please everyone,” he says, with a barely perceptible shrug.
He doesn’t hesitate to back the current plan with touching conviction. Other contenders in the mayoral race have pitched the idea of satellight cities. “As a proud South Aucklander, I can tell you, that’s moving backwards. The current plan, is a good one, it’s prudent and considers the population growth of the future. We don’t want an urban sprawl like LA,” he asserts. On many occasions, Mr. Brown has said that the Unitary Plan allows for choices and options, with growth that is “a little out, a little up”.
The Plan and with it the Mayor have had a fair share of criticism; but putting aside the doubters for a moment, a recent New Zealand Herald survey revealed that 60 per cent of the CEO respondents said Brown should return to the Auckland mayoral chambers. Only 16 per cent are against Brown getting a second term.
This is sure to draw cynical snorts from some, especially if they’re competing with Mr. Brown in the mayoral race.
“I make no apologies for having the backing of the business community,” he says. He smiles, admits he was surprised with the poll. “I am pleased and humbled by the results.”
Mr. Brown speaks confidently of his tenure; having maintained transparency in council’s dealings, rigorous financial management and keeping rates under control.
“Being able to achieve what we did without rate increases,” he says “is one of the top things in the list of those that he is proud of.” That, and the rugby world cup; “we knuckled down and delivered superbly despite massive pressure,” he recalls.
However, the city rail loop victory, he terms as one of the greatest triumphs of his tenure. “It is hugely impactful and to get the government’s backing after years; that’s pretty special,” he adds.
He has the determination to follow a plan and having a clear focused; this Len Brown is very different from the one that the ethnic media usually sees on display at the ‘ethnic media interactions’. Today, he is serious and ernest. His campaign head, David Lewis who he says is really just a mate, sits in on the interview.
Mr. Brown takes his time to answer the all important question about why we should vote for him. “I absolutely love the community and love the opportunity to represent the community. I have delivered on the vision and plan for the city, and that should give people the confidence,” he says.
Representation, specifically the ethnic community closer to home, within the Council was raised as an issue by members of the Ethnic Peoples’ Advisory Panel at a recent public meeting. Council data suggests that ethnic minorities are not fairly represented at management positions.
Mr. Brown reiterates his perspective on it from the meeting, “my job is to give a vision and plan for the city, make it the most liveable city in the world. The CEO is the one who is responsible for the running of the council.” He would not dabble in the actual running of the council, “it is quite hard to set KPIs around something like this,” he says. And adds, “ I would be encouraging of the CEO so he or she can do everything to broaden the representation.”
For the moment, Mr. Brown says it’s time to stick to the plan and move forward to building Auckland into the world’s “most liveable city”.
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