Auckland Council Nominees Flood In

Mayoral Race Sees Wayne Brown Face Eight Challengers as Deadline Looms

With nominations closing for Auckland’s local elections, over 350 candidates have put their names forward for council positions. The mayoral race appears less crowded than in previous years, with incumbent Wayne Brown facing eight opponents.

Mayoral Field Shapes Up

Wayne Brown‘s bid for re-election is challenged by eight other candidates. Notably, his deputy, Desley Simpson, has opted against entering the mayoral contest, leaving a perceived gap on the right of the political spectrum. The strongest challenger from the left is councillor Kerrin Leoni, who is stepping down from her Whau seat to pursue the mayoralty. Other notable nominees include former New Conservatives leader Ted Johnston and the executive president of the Animal Justice Party, alongside numerous independent hopefuls.

Uncontested Wards and New Faces

As of the latest update, two councillor wards have only a single candidate each: incumbent Greg Sayers in Rodney and deputy mayor Desley Simpson in Ōrākei. The retirement of long-time councillor Sharon Stewart and Leoni‘s mayoral bid mean new representatives will emerge for the Howick and Whau divisions.

Prominent Figures Enter Local Government Race

Among the diverse field of candidates is disgraced former National MP Jami-Lee Ross, who is seeking a position on the Howick Local Board’s Flat Bush subdivision. This marks Ross’s latest foray into politics following a tumultuous career. In 2022, he was found not guilty of electoral donation fraud charges brought by the Serious Fraud Office. In 2018, Ross’s departure from the National Party significantly impacted then-leader Simon Bridges. He later launched the short-lived Advance NZ party.

The “Fix Auckland” ticket, led by Wayne Brown, has also seen further nominations, with candidates like Desley Simpson and others vying for seats in the Albany and Manukau wards. In Albany, Gary Brown and Victoria Short appear to be challenging incumbents Wayne Walker and John Watson. Manukau sees Vicky Hau and Luke Mealamu registered to contest against Labour-affiliated councillors Alf Filipaina and Lotu Fuli. The ACT Party is also fielding candidates across various councillor and local board positions.

The nomination period officially concludes at noon tomorrow. Voters will receive their ballot papers starting September 9, with the election concluding on October 11. The number of nominations reflects a broad spectrum of political engagement, with local board contests attracting the largest number of candidates, underscoring significant community interest in local governance.