By Bernard Orsman of 
Photo: Supplied / NZ Herald
Former National Party leader and Auckland Chamber of Commerce chief executive Simon Bridges has topped a poll of possible mayoral candidates at next year's local body elections.
An Auckland Ratepayers' Alliance-Curia poll of prominent names found Bridges had a net favourability of +18 percent, well ahead of mayor Wayne Brown and former deputy prime minister and westie Paula Bennett, each on +12 percent.
Deputy mayor Desley Simpson was at +10 percent, well ahead of two members of the Labour Party, North Shore councillor Richard Hills at -1 percent, and former Mt Roskill MP and transport minister Michael Wood at -9 percent.
Of the six names in the poll, only Wood has categorically ruled out standing for the mayoralty, saying there is "zero chance" he will put his hat in the ring.
Simon Bridges. Photo: RNZ / Dom Thomas
Bridges, who last month was appointed to chairperson of NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, said he is very focused on his current responsibilities and enjoying them.
"I am unlikely to stand for public office in the future," he said.
Auckland Ratepayers' Alliance spokesman Sam Warren said Brown's popularity took a hit following last year's floods but his favourability is now back in the black and on par with the likes of Bennett and Simpson.
"Interestingly, it's Simon Bridges who leads the pack by a country mile since his appointment as chief executive of the Auckland Business Chamber, and more recently, news of chairing the NZ Transport Agency," said Warren.
The poll found Bridges edging Bennett in favourability with men and women, and Bridges more popular with National and ACT voters, who tend to have a higher voter turnout at local body elections. Simpson was more popular with Labour voters than Hills, but the climate-conscious Hills has strong backing among Green voters.
Bridges was more popular than Bennett in West Auckland, and Simpson reigns supreme on her home turf in the Blue Ribbon and vote-rich eastern suburbs.
Brown's favourability is holding up among men and women, and doing well with the over 60s, but he is in a battle with Bridges and Bennett across much of the city, except south Auckland where the incumbent has a handy lead over other potential rivals. Unfortunately for Brown, voter turnout is low in the south.
Paula Bennett. Photo: Aotearoa Media Collective
Bennett, who confirmed last month that she is considering a tilt at the mayoralty next year, had no comment on the poll.
Hills said it is always interesting to see polls pop up from time to time, saying: "The only thing on my mind is fighting to get the best outcomes for Aucklanders in the 10-year budget."
Simpson, who like Hills, is weighing up whether to stand at the elections on 11 October next year, had no comment.
Brown, who last month said he is "carrying on as if he will" stand for the mayoralty, did not want to comment, but a source close to him said he was not worried about the poll and focused on fixing Auckland.
Political polls include the net favourability of national politicians and regularly show senior politicians in negative territory.
The latest Taxpayers' Union-Curia poll this week found Prime Minister Christopher Luxon's net favourability has fallen another two points to -7 percent.
Labour leader Chris Hipkins' support plunged eight points to -6 percent, David Seymour is down three points to -11 percent while Winston Peters is down six points to -18 percent.
The poll of 1000 Aucklanders of voting age was taken between 20 March and 24 March and has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percent. To maximise the response rate, people who said they were unlikely or very unlikely to vote in next year's election were excluded.
-This story was originally published by the New Zealand Herald.
