Brown visits Waiheke to campaign for mayor

SUPERCITY CANDIDATE: Len Brown talks Waiheke issues at Ostend Market

Residents got the chance to quiz a possible new supercity mayor last weekend when one of the candidates paid a visit to the market.

Manukau mayor Len Brown announced earlier this year he would be running against Auckland City mayor John Banks for the high profile supercity mayor's job.

Other possible candidates, such as Auckland Regional Council chairman Mike Lee have still to announce their intentions.

But Mr Brown is already on the campaign trail and Waiheke was his port of call on Saturday.

He says he enjoyed the visit and was given a warm reception by islanders, many of whom he met during a visit to the Saturday morning market in Ostend and at Oneroa's Lazy Lounge.

Mr Brown says he got the message the island's strong, individualist community had issues with John Banks and the style of council operation in Auckland City, with many residents telling of fears that Waiheke was losing its character.

But he sees the island as being part of the region rather than a part of the mainland.

"It's an issue of building a relationship between the new Auckland Council and Waiheke Island," he says.

Mr Brown says he does not believe he would have allowed the loss of the island's recycling system operated by previous contractor Clean Stream, adding he is keen to see the region introduce a green waste strategy.

Another major fear voiced by some was the threat of reticulation but Mr Brown says he supports the retention of water and septic tanks on the island.

He says there may be a case for reticulating areas of commercial growth in future but sees no point in doing away with what already works.

And he says Waiheke's new local board will have significant powers.

"It will have a big say in service delivery and levels of delivery. I believe the new structure will give the board more powers in terms of strategy and policy direction than it has got now."

Islanders can expect more visits from Mr Brown over coming months as the race to be supercity mayor heats up.