Auckland Mayor Told National Politicians: Keep Out or Sod Off

Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown told national politicians to stay out of local affairs or leave, marking a sharp tone in his campaign for the November 7 election. On Wednesday, the Mayor released a manifesto outlining his priorities and his demands for how the next government should treat the city. He stated that his core message to central government members was simple: keep out of it or get out of the way.

Brown expressed frustration over recent decisions made by the national government that he believed imposed high costs on Auckland with limited benefits. He described his attitude as having a "gutsful" of such interventions. The Mayor argued that the city functions effectively without constant national oversight, noting that Auckland accounts for 40% of the country's population and operates much like a state government.

The Mayor's grievances centered on transport and housing policy. He criticized the New Zealand Transport Agency for allocating large sums to a 25-kilometer highway project between Warkworth and Te Hana without providing the city with a clear route. Brown noted that the estimated cost of the project was $3.2 billion, with potential rises to $3.6 billion. He questioned the value of the investment, pointing out that the new road would reduce travel time by only seven minutes and could allow only one truck to pass in a day.

In housing, Brown objected to the Medium-Density Residential Standards that permit three three-storey homes on a single section. He accused the member for Epsom, ACT leader David Seymour, of reversing course on these standards due to election concerns in leafy suburbs. Brown dismissed this political maneuvering, stating that the city knew how to develop rationally with the existing infrastructure of trains and bus routes.

The Mayor argued that New Zealand was the most centrally managed country in the world, a status that hindered local autonomy. He claimed that while cooperation between the council and the government had occurred in the past, the current election cycle was characterized by political attacks and unaffordable promises. Brown urged voters to hold national politicians accountable to his veto, reminding them that he represented a city where his mandate was a landslide.

The manifesto listed five specific priorities for the next government's engagement with Auckland. These included delivering faster, better, and cheaper public transport, supporting growth in strategic locations, and backing the city's global economic efforts. Brown also called for the continued reduction of unnecessary regulations and emphasized the need to maintain resilience and environmental protections.

Brown's address concluded with a direct challenge to the political class. He wanted national leaders to recognize that the Mayor of Auckland would be a barrier to policies he deemed inefficient. He cited his strong electoral mandate as a factor that national politicians could not ignore, urging them to consider the city's distinct needs before announcing new initiatives.