Media release

Auckland Councillor Cameron Brewer

Thursday, 12 February 2015

Mayor AWOL again – this time during key waterfront votes

“Ratepayers will be gobsmacked that Auckland Mayor Len Brown chose a fleeting visit to Christchurch ahead of voting with councillors today over the future of Auckland’s waterfront. Key issues up for discussion were wharf demolition and extension, where future cruise ship facilities should be, and critical decisions around port reclamation,” says Auckland Councillor for Orakei, Cameron Brewer.

“He didn’t need to be giving high-fives in Christchurch at the Cricket World Cup opening, but he ran out of a key meeting before voting to do just that. He should’ve stayed and dispatched our Auckland Ambassador Councillor Sir John Walker.

“Olympic great Sir John is loved in the sporting world. Cricket fans and officials would’ve been delighted to see him. Instead the Mayor sent himself to the South Island which was completely unnecessary when Aucklanders would’ve expected their Mayor to take a lead and position on waterfront issues.

“We’re seeing this more and more from a Mayor desperate for re-election. He’s running from the sensitive issues particularly for the left-wing which must be annoying for them. Last week he was missing in action over the issue of oil exploration off Auckland’s west coast. This week he’s notably absent from offering any leadership or direction on SkyCity’s Convention Centre given his infamous conflict of interest.

“The Mayor told Aucklanders, and convinced a majority of councillors, that he needed to stay on so we could all benefit from his leadership. Without him, the region’s and council’s reputation would be damaged we were told.

“We’ll less than 18 months on, he and his spin-doctors are now painstakingly choosing what he attends and which votes he casts. It’s very disappointing for Auckland’s ratepayers who deserve so much better,” says Cameron Brewer.

Ends

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