Wayne Brown
The highs and the lows
March 29, 2022
Brown launched his mayoral campaign written on the back of research that came up with the winning slogan to “Fix Auckland’.
October 14, 2022
Wins mayoral contest by thrashing Efeso Collins, and seeing off Leo Molloy and Viv Beck who pull the pin before polling day.
Later that night
Transport chair Adrienne Young-Cooper resigns after getting wind Brown wants her gone.
The next morning
Ina letter to Aucklanders, Brown promises no sudden shocks to family budgets and building a functioning team, free of political labels.
Herald on Sunday December 2022
Draft of Brown’s first budget adopted with proposed widespread cuts to services and sale of the council’s airport shares.
January 27, 2023
Auckland deluged with record rainfall, claiming four lives. Questions were asked about the whereabouts of the mayor. Deputy Mayor Desley Simpson steps up when the disaster strikes.
January 30
Leaked Whatsapp message in which Brown gripes about having to cancel tennis “to deal with media drongos over the flooding”. He later regrets using the term.
February 22 Chief executive Jim Stabback
quits giving six months’ notice, but leaves six weeks earlier.
March 23
Brown persuades the council to withdraw from Local Government NZ.
April 13
A damning review commissioned by Brown into the January floods finds a “system failure” of leadership in the first 12 hours. Brown does not attend the release of the review.
June 29
The Government begins a process to allow denser housing along the light rail route. Brown calls it “a bombing run”.
June 29
A heavily revised budget is adopted, with most service cuts abandoned and partial sale of airport shares. Household rates rise 7.7 per cent.
August 7
Brown criticises the Government’s Waitemata tunnel crossing plan with tunnels and light rail, says Auckland should be calling the shots on cheaper and faster transport solutions.
August 25
$2 billion cost-sharing buyout with the Government for 700 uninhabitable properties and other storm-related costs.
September
Brown’s nomination for chair of Auckland Transport, his friend Andrew Ritchie, is rejected by the council.
September 29
Long-term plan negotiations begin, with big decisions to be made on service cuts, asset sales and/or big rate increases.