Wayne Brown and Kerrin Leoni. Photo: RNZ
Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown says he will ask his council to increase funding for initiatives to tackle rising homelessness in the city if re-elected.
At a meeting with housing and other community groups on Wednesday night, leading mayoral candidates, Brown and Auckland councillor Kerrin Leoni, were asked to commit to several demands, including increasing the Auckland Council's annual homelessness budget.
About 300 people attended the housing and wages forum at St Matthew's Church in Auckland CBD, organised by Te Ohu Whakawhanaunga Tāmaki Makaurau (Te Ohu).
At the start of the event, organisers told the crowd there was to be "no heckling or booing".
Brown and Leoni both agreed to help council-controlled organisations, including Auckland Transport, become Living Wage Accredited Employers.
Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown said he will ask his council to increase funding for initiatives to tackle rising homelessness in the city. Photo: RNZ / Jessica Hopkins
But Brown would not commit to increasing Auckland Council's annual homelessness budget from $500,000 to $2 million, holding up a provided NO sign.
He said the decision sat with elected councillors.
"There are things that I can encourage the council to do, and I'll commit to asking the council to put some of their own money in. But I can't guarantee it. I only get one of those votes."
He said this past term he had redirected $500,000 from his mayoral budget to homelessness funding by employing fewer staff in his office.
"Anyone who gives you simple answers to complex questions is not telling the truth.
"I'm not a person who commits to anything I can't deliver or signs pledges just to get re-elected.
"But I can tell you this, you'll get $500,00 out of my office from reducing my operating costs."
Leoni told the forum she was "committed to the vision" of increasing homelessness funding.
"People are really struggling to survive, and right now Aucklanders need hope, they need a vision, and a leader who is going to really front for these issues in our city and come up with solutions."
Auckland councillor and mayoral candidate said she was committed to the vision" of increasing homelessness funding. Photo: RNZ / Jessica Hopkins
The candidates both agreed to push the government for more social and affordable housing.
Brown, who spoke first, left before Leoni took the stand.
Organisers said he informed them he had to leave at 7pm, one hour into the two-hour event.
Xavier Walsh from Te Ohu told RNZ after the meeting it was confident homelessness could improve if either Brown or Leoni were mayor.
"The mayor and Te Ohu Whakawhanaunga have a solid working relationship. I know we can work together in this next term if he [Brown] is elected, to fully realise our visions for a better Tāmaki Makaurau."
Walsh praised Brown for the council becoming an Accredited Living Wage employer during his first term.
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