Nats MP has eye on mayoralty
The National MP for Ta¯ maki, Simon O’Connor, is considering running for the Auckland mayoralty next year.
O’Connor said he had been approached by people involved in local and national politics about putting his hat in the ring and is considering challenging Phil Goff for Auckland’s top job at next year’s local body elections.
Goff, the former Labour MP for Mt Roskill who led the Labour Party between 2008 and 2011, is expected to announce early next year he will seek a second term. Waipareira Trust chief executive John Tamihere and two-time mayoral candidate John Palino are also considering standing.
O’Connor said a lot of his constituent work related to local issues and concerns, like rates, the regional petrol tax, the upgrade of Tamaki Drive and cycleways.
He said the “council needs to be kicked into shape”, become more accountable and show stronger leadership.
On Tuesday, he challenged Goff in a Facebook post to show leadership over a cost blowout in moving speedway to Wiri.
“Moving the Western Springs Speedway is going to cost $30 million more than originally thought! How has the figure tripled in six months? This is disgraceful. The mayor needs to do much more than just ask ‘hard questions’, he has to show some leadership,” he wrote.
O’Connor, who has been the MP for the blue-ribbon seat of Ta¯ maki since 2011 and is the brother-in-law of National Party leader Simon Bridges, said he will decide before Christmas whether to ramp things up and decide formally in the new year.