Auckland mayoral election, 2016

An election will be held in 2016 for the Mayor of Auckland, as part of the 2016 local government elections.

Background

Len Brown was elected Mayor of Manukau City in 2007. In 2010, Manukau City merged with several other councils to form the Auckland Council, and Brown was elected Mayor of Auckland in 2010 and 2013.

Candidates

Confirmed

• Penny Bright, activist and 2013 mayoral candidate^[1]
• Victoria Crone, New Zealand managing director of Xero; announced candidacy on 14 December 2015^[2][3]
• Phil Goff (independent), Labour MP for Mount Roskill;^[4][5] announced candidacy on 22 November 2015^[6]
• David Hay (independent), former Green parliamentary candidate for Rodney and Epsom and former policy analyst for Manukau City and Auckland Council; announced candidacy on 20 November 2015^[7]
• Adam Holland (Not A Party), Grandson of former New Zealand Prime Minister Sidney Holland, lawyer, Independent candidate for the 2013 Ikaroa-Rawhiti by-election, Independent candidate for the 2013 Christchurch East by-election, Independent candidate for parliamentary electorate of Epsom in 2014 general election, Independent candidate for the 2015 Northland by-election, accounced candidacy on 3 March 2016 and is also standing for Not A Party in the potential 2016 Mount Roskill by-election if MP Phil Goff wins the mayoral election^[8]
• John Palino, entrepreneur and 2013 mayoral runner-up; confirmed candidacy on 29 February 2016^[9]
• Tyrone Raumati, West Auckland based community leader^[10]
• Mark Thomas, deputy chair of the Orākei Local Board; announced candidacy on 24 September 2015^[11]

Withdrew

• Stephen Berry (Affordable Auckland), second runner-up in 2013 mayoral election and ACT candidate for parliamentary electorate of Upper Harbour in 2014 general election;^[1] announced candidacy on 11 April 2015 and is also running for a council seat for the Albany ward.^[12] Withdrew from mayoral race on 21 March 2016 and endorsed John Palino.^[13]

Potential

• John Banks, former Mayor of Auckland City, former National MP for Whangarei, ACT MP for Epsom and 2010 mayoral candidate^[14]
• Michael Barnett, CEO of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce^[15]
• Cameron Brewer, Auckland councillor for the Orākei ward^[16]
• Colin Craig, founder and former leader of the Conservative Party^[17]
• Tex Edwards, co-founder of mobile telecommunications company 2degrees^[18]
• Paul Henry, broadcaster^[19]
• Penny Hulse, incumbent deputy mayor of Auckland^[15]
• Maurice Williamson, National MP for Pakuranga^[20]

Declined

• Len Brown, incumbent mayor^[15][21]
• Theresa Gattung, former CEO of Telecom New Zealand^[18][22]

Opinion polling

Poll source	Date(s)	Sample size	Margin of error	Len Brown	Phil Goff	John Banks	Maurice Williamson	Cameron Brewer	Michael Barnett	Penny Hulse
Horizon Research[23]	19–26 March 2015	591	±4.1%	5%	20%	8%	6%	5%	5%	4%

References

1. Slade, Maria (23 November 2015). "Phil Goff: I will stand for Auckland mayor". Manukau Courier (Fairfax New Zealand). Archived from the original on 30 November 2015.
2. Slade, Maria (17 November 2015). "Xero NZ boss Victoria Crone considers running for Auckland mayoralty". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 17 November 2015.
3. "Victoria Crone confirms bid for Auckland mayoralty". Radio New Zealand News. 14 December 2015. Retrieved 14 December 2015.
4. Dearnaley, Matthew (18 March 2015). "Goff considers Auckland mayoralty bid". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 7 June 2015.
5. Slade, Maria (24 September 2015). "Phil Goff 'likely' to stand for Auckland mayoralty". Auckland Now (Fairfax New Zealand). Archived from the original on 24 September 2015.
6. Niall, Todd (22 November 2015). "Phil Goff confirms Auckland mayoral bid". Radio New Zealand News. Retrieved 22 November 2015.
7. Orsman, Bernard (20 November 2015). "David Hay to stand for Auckland mayor". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 30 November 2015.
8. "Lawyer contesting mayoralty and by-election". 3 March 2016.
9. "John Palino announces he's standing for Auckland mayor again". New Zealand Herald. 29 February 2016.
10. "Community leader to run for Auckland mayor". NZ Herald. 8 April 2016. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
11. Niall, Todd (22 November 2015). "Thomas to tilt at Auckland mayoralty". Radio New Zealand News. Retrieved 22 November 2015.
12. Fuseworks Media (11 April 2015). "Berry to stand for Auckland mayoralty in 2016". Voxy.co.nz. Retrieved 30 November 2015.
13. "Stephen Berry pulls out of Auckland mayoral race". New Zealand Herald. 21 March 2016.
14. Savage, Jared (19 May 2015). "John Banks cleared: 'You've no idea how lonely this has been'". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 7 June 2015.
15. Slade, Maria (27 January 2015). "Len Brown quiet on Auckland mayoral plans". Stuff (Fairfax New Zealand). Archived from the original on 6 June 2015.
16. Orsman, Bernard (4 December 2015). "Super City showdown: John Banks on growing list of mayoral race wannabes". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 7 June 2015.
17. "Colin Craig could run for Auckland Mayor". Stuff (Fairfax New Zealand). 2 August 2015. Archived from the original on 2 August 2015.
18. Nippert, Matt (21 November 2015). "From CEO to mayoral chains". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 21 November 2015.
19. Weekes, John (13 April 2014). "Bets on for Auckland mayoral race". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 7 June 2015.
20. "Maurice Williamson had been set to announce Auckland mayoralty plans". The New Zealand Herald. 3 September 2015. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
21. "Auckland mayor Len Brown will not stand again". Auckland Now (Fairfax New Zealand). 8 November 2015. Retrieved 8 November 2015.
22. Orsman, Bernard (8 August 2015). "Auckland mayor: Goff v Gattung?". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 28 August 2015.
23. "Brown down, Goff front runner in Mayoralty poll". Horizon Research. 1 April 2015. Archived from the original on 6 June 2015.