From flood fiasco to looming landslide: Wayne Brown's mayoral turnaround
Few mayoralties have gotten off to a worse start than Wayne Brown’s. In January 2023, just a few months into the job, Auckland was smashed by widespread and rapid flooding. In the days, weeks, and months that followed, Brown’s handling of that event came under intense scrutiny that would have hobbled the careers of many politicians. Yet, as voting opens in the 2025 local government elections, Brown looks set to dominate the mayoral election once again. So, how has Wayne Brown become such a dominant force in Auckland’s, and arguably the country’s, politics?
Brown has enjoyed a relatively successful first triennium at the helm. Amongst other things he’s achieved a bespoke solution from the Coalition Government on housing intensification, he’s successfully persuaded the Coalition to bring most of Auckland Transport’s powers back into the council, his long-term plan was passed nearly unanimously - including the controversial Auckland Future Fund and the $50 weekly cap on public transport fares, he secured greater dividends from the Port of Auckland, he’s shrunk the roles of and increased oversight of various council-controlled organisations, and he got “Brownie’s Pool” on the waterfront opened.
His mayoralty hasn’t been without controversy though. Beyond the ongoing scandal that was the handling of the Auckland floods there’s been a constant parade of issues. From allegations of vulgar comments, a debunked theory about voter fraud, claims of attempts to interfere in procurement processes, and his Chief of Staff falling on his sword over a company liquidation, Brown’s mayoralty has seen its fair share of choppy waters.
But despite all this, Brown seems set to romp home on 11 October with nearly two thirds of Auckland’s indicating they’d back his re-election. That his main challenger, Councillor Kerrin Leoni, is sitting third at 7 percent is a clear indication of Brown’s political dominance. Failing some colossal scandal in the coming weeks, Brown looks set to be re-elected with at least as strong, if not an even stronger, endorsement from the electorate than he enjoyed in 2022.
So how has Brown done this?
In my opinion, Brown has made the most of his office and the unique powers, profile, and resources it offers as the country’s only executive mayoralty. Brown has done so with a blunt assertiveness that his predecessors have either failed or been reluctant to embrace with regards to how to use the elevated platform afforded to the Auckland mayoralty. For example, Brown has shown a willingness to get his elbows out regardless of who’s occupying the Beehive to pursue his relentless “Auckland first” approach, taking on both Labour and National. In the lead up to the 2023 general election, Brown was equally scathing of transport plans released for Auckland by both parties. Brown’s fierce opposition was contributed to the undermining Labour’s attempted three waters reform and he’s taken a similar approach to savaging the Coalition’s current programme of local government legislative amendments. Brown appears to have calculated, likely correctly, that occupants of the Beehive would prefer to not to lock horns with him if they can avoid it because of how central winning Auckland is to controlling Parliament, a task made much easier if the city’s mayor isn’t constantly taking pot shots at you (though to be fair, Brown is going to do this regardless!).
While Brown comes off as blunt and crude, he has also been shrewd. The Auckland mayoralty does offer Brown more powers, leadership, and resourcing than his peers elsewhere in the country, but these can only get him so far. What Brown has done is understand how to use his profile as an informal lever to pressure central government in Wellington to accommodate him. His brash, uncompromising media style and strong public mandate has allowed him to set the agenda and effectively bridge the gap between what powers he does have and the changes he wants to achieve. Brown also has demonstrated a surprising knack of being able to pivot in order to stitch together alliances across political lines to progress his agenda.
None of this is to say that Brown is some political savant. From discussing his mayoralty with several Auckland councillors and local board members over this term, his leadership often comes off as being even messier behind the scenes than what we catch in the media. Councillors often talked about having to step in and fix things once Brown has lost interest moved onto his next big issue. They’ve also noted his unique ability to somehow end up insulting everyone - a trait that could make life painful in his second term if a more solidified left or right bloc manages to form around the governing body’s table and they decide to fight fire with fire.
In any event, barring some unforeseen catastrophe Brown’s unapologetic Auckland first single-mindedness, his willingness to fearlessly take on the Beehive, and his preparedness to use his uniquely set up office to its fullest extent means we look set for another three years of the Wayne Brown show.