Wealthy could 'buy' Auckland mayoralty - Brown

LEN BROWN: Believes the super-mayor campaign spending limit should be between $150,000 to $200,000.

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Auckland's super mayoral race could be bought by a wealthy candidate unless the campaign spending limit is cut back, Manukau Mayor Len Brown claims.

Mayoral candidates will next year be allowed to spend $580,000 and Brown wants this cut back to as little as $150,000.

He and Auckland Mayor John Banks are the only declared candidates at this stage.

Brown said that while the Auckland mayoralty is by far the biggest role in local government in New Zealand, the spending cap is out of all proportion to the limits in place for other cities.

"The proposed limit of $580,000 is clearly excessive. That sort of limit will price out many potential contenders and could mean the election is, in effect, bought by a wealthy candidate," he said.

"Given Auckland's size, the limit should be set within $150,000 to $200,000. 

That would allow serious candidates to buy the sort of advertising they need while preventing the race from being dominated by one or two people with access to large funding.

"We have seen the dangers of big money entering national politics, with concerns over sources and transparency of party funding, and the emergence of third party campaigns.  Local government has avoided these issues, but they could emerge were candidates under pressure to raise large sums in order to be competitive."

Brown said he would seek support from other Auckland mayors to have the limit cut.

Meanwhile in other super-city moves, the Waitakere City Council has asked for an increase in the number of representatives elected to the new Waitakere Local Board and four boundary adjustments.

"We support the commission's proposals as they relate to future governance in West Auckland but believe some adjustments are needed to ensure the new structure is strong enough to be effective," says Deputy Mayor Penny Hulse.

Currently the Local Government (Auckland Council) Act 2009 states that the maximum number of people on each board is nine and the council is calling for the commission to amend this.

"We don't think that will work in the Waitakere local board given its size," says Hulse.

- © Fairfax NZ News