National clears way for Goff to keep mayoralty
The National Party will not run a candidate against sitting Auckland Mayor Phil Goff in next year’s local body elections, with leader Simon Bridges said to be against the idea.
A remit to run mayoral and council candidates under the National brand failed to gain adequate support at the party’s annual conference at SkyCity.
Goff, meanwhile, is giving ‘‘serious thought’’ to another tilt at the mayoralty at the next election on October 12, 2019.
Members attending the National Party conference went against the remit during a vote held on Sunday. Several sources confirmed National MPs against the idea got the outcome they wanted. The vote was held behind closed doors.
It was understood Bridges was against the idea and that the party was unlikely to push the proposal through without its leader’s support.
Goff told Stuff he had not made his mind up whether to run again next year, but would seriously consider it. ‘‘But is there a huge challenge still to complete there? Yeah, there is, and so I’ll be giving serious thought to that,’’ he said.
Goff received $552,515 in cash donations during the 2016 campaign and filed $410,814 in expenses, indicating he would have about $140,700 to kickstart his next campaign if he chose to stand.
Last week, a National Party source told Stuff: ‘‘There’s lots of rumours flying among members that Goff isn’t going to run and Labour will put up someone popular like Helen Clark. And even if he does run they believe he is really vulnerable and a good centre-right challenger could do very well.’’
Some National MPs, particularly Botany representative and Opposition transport spokesman
Jami-Lee Ross, have spoken out against policies implemented under Goff’s leadership, such as the regional fuel tax (RFT).
In early July, Ross said the cost of living in the city would skyrocket with the RFT in place.
Aucklanders would be paying a total of up to $1.5 billion more for petrol, he claimed.
‘‘This tax is unfair and unnecessary,’’ Ross said. ‘‘Auckland Council could easily find the money that the fuel tax would raise if it followed through on mayor Phil Goff’s promise to find 3 to 6 per cent of savings in its budget.’’