Former Labour Party MP John Tamihere has officially announced his bid for Auckland mayor, saying today that he plans to "shake it up and sort it out".
“The first thing we’ll do is open the books and clean the house,” he said this morning in a press conference , in which he also announced former National Minister and Auckland councillor Christine Fletcher as his running mate.
Although the two have represented opposite political parties, Ms Fletcher said their pairing is about a "merging of minds".
"Politics in Auckland should not be about left or right, it's about getting projects off the ground," she said. "Auckland has plans for Africa. What we haven't got is people who are skillful at delivering."
Ms Fletcher said she believes current Auckland Council leadership is weak and that Mr Tamihere would be a stronger leader than current mayor Phil Goff.
Christine Fletcher and John Tamihere said they’ll bring integrity and respect to council.
On his newly released website , the Waipareira Trust chief executive, who has long been a vocal campaigner for various issues, summarised five pledges.
His first is a promise to "open the books and clean the house" at Auckland council, ensuring a thorough audit of where taxpayer money is being spent.
He said he wants control of the city to go back to the people instead of "faceless managers in central Auckland".
Other issues Mr Tamihere has pledged to address include social housing, homelessness, the regional fuel tax and council spending.
Key themes of his campaign are integrity, efficiency, democracy and leaving a better legacy for the children of our generation.
Mr Goff, a fellow former Labour MP who has served as Auckland's mayor since 2016, has said he's seriously considering another run but hasn't yet decided. He’ll make an announcement in February, he said.
SHARE ME