Auckland councillor and mayoral candidate Kerrin Leoni Photo: RNZ / Jessica Hopkins
The main challenger for the Auckland mayoralty has launched a broadside at Wayne Brown, saying he failed to fix the city, as he promised.
Auckland councillor and mayoral candidate Kerrin Leoni faced the media for the first time on Thursday morning since releasing her fiscal policy plan.
"Three years ago, Wayne Brown swaggered into Auckland, saying that he was going to fix Auckland.
"The feedback we're getting is that there has been no fix for Auckland. We've got the same issues happening right across the city, our debt has increased by $1 billion, our rates have gone up by over 20 percent, and Aucklanders are really unhappy with what they're getting at the moment from council."
She accused the mayor of not managing council finances well.
"Our most significant asset, the Auckland Airport shares is gone, it has been sold, and it's never coming back.
"He sold our biggest asset, but has still had to raise rates and increase our debt. I don't think his management of funds has been the best, and we could do a lot better."
She said the council's lease on the Ports of Auckland could be under threat if Brown was re-elected.
As part of her fiscal plan, Leoni proposed that a 75 percent council majority be met or a public referendum be held before the council sold any of its strategic assets.
"We want to ensure we're not selling any more strategic assets in the future.
"The Ports of Auckland could still be on the table if Wayne Brown gets back in. There's no legal document regarding the sale of the ports in the future that stops him from doing that.
"The North Harbour Stadium is another strategic asset that could be sold under his leadership in the next term. He has talked about that in the past."
She conceded that her policy to cut spending on consultants by 40 percent was a goal, and that it might be closer to 30 percent in reality.
Auckland mayor Wayne Brown Photo: RNZ / Marika Khabazi
No credibility - Brown
In a statement to RNZ, mayor Brown pushed back on Leoni's economic plan, questioning her credibility.
"Her announcement can't be taken seriously.
"She directly voted against plans to reduce spending in the current term. She has not bought solutions to the council table. She has not established any credibility on these issues.
"It is concerning that she wants a 'fiscal policy', which is set by central government rather than a council financial plan. If she wants to challenge those settings, she is standing for the wrong office."
Leoni also pledged to cap rates rises to below or at the inflation rate from the second year of her term if elected.
When asked by RNZ if he would match this, Brown said he would continue to keep rates as low as possible.
"Her promise doesn't match her voting record on council. Mine does. I have kept rates as low as possible through reducing wasteful spending, driving down costs, and improving asset performance. That's my renewed pledge."
In response to the mayor's comments, Leoni said all Auckland councillors had voted to reduce spending.
"In terms of solutions, one clear solution we voted on to save money for Aucklanders was the $50 cap for public transport in the city."
