21 Oct 2010

Brown's vote crossed political lines, figures show

6:46 pm on 21 October 2010

New voting figures on Auckland's super city mayoral race show Len Brown managed to cross traditional political lines in defeating John Banks.

The left-leaning mayor-elect won 22 of the region's 32 local board areas, including suburbs that have voted National in general elections, such as Howick, Pakuranga, rural Franklin and Rodney.

Mr Brown won the west, south and most of central Auckland, beating former Auckland City mayor John Banks in 20 of the 23 board areas south of the Harbour Bridge.

Mr Brown's strongest support came from the poorer southern suburbs where he took between 78% and 89% of the mayoral votes.