Thanks to all those who have sent in their support since my announcement yesterday. I’ll put a video of my candidacy speech up on my youtube channel soon.

It’s been a busy 24 hours since my appearance on Q+A yesterday and there has been some good coverage of the announcement on One News, 3News, NZ Herald, Stuff, Radio NZ, Radio Live, Maori TV and Newstalk.

I’m busy doing more media appearances this morning. I’ll be talking about my campaign themes and policies.

One of the things I said yesterday is that the Auckland Council I lead will meet in each of the current council’s chambers. I think this is important to make sure the council is in touch with people right around the region, and the region can keep up with what the council is up to.

During the next 12 months I will be developing and releasing more policy for the new Auckland Council. I will be focused on delivering public transport, building the region’s infrastructure, public ownership of public assets, environmental protection, and social and economic development. Keep an eye on this site for updates.

Len Brown to run for Auckland mayor

Manukau Mayor Len Brown today announced his candidacy for the mayoralty of the new Auckland council at next year’s local body elections, saying the new Auckland council needs a unifying mayor to bring the region together.

“Auckland is undergoing significant change and for this change to work the region needs a leadership style which is inclusive and is focused on working with communities. More here…

Here’s a copy of the speech I made this afternoon to more than 300 supporters at Sorrento in the Park on Maungakiekie. It was a great event.

A mayor for All of Auckland

We come here today with many of us focused, perhaps as never before, on our city.  Auckland is poised at an historical moment, a civic coming together, a time for committing to a unity of purpose and vision, to the establishment of a world city – the pre-eminent economic and cultural hub in the South Pacific… read more…

Hello and welcome to my campaign website.

I’ve declared myself as a candiate for the mayoralty of the new Auckland super council.  It was a great event with hundreds of supporters turning up to Sorrento in Cornwall Park.  There was a special ceremony beforehand, when Ngati Whatua and Tainui led a karakia for me and my family on the summit of Maungakiekie.

All my working life has been in Auckland, working as a lawyer, a councillor and now as a mayor.  This is going to be an amazing campaign.  We are going to have hundreds of people on the ground.  We are going to be on the doorsteps, in town halls, cottage meetings, school classrooms, factory floors, and boardrooms.  I will be seeking to lead a team of like-minded groups and independents in a great coalition from all of Auckland.

This is not what I thought was in my stars 18 months ago when I was elected Mayor of Manukau.  But I would be humbled and proud to lead this city at this unique, historic time. 

I’ll be posting thoughts about the future of our city and ideas about how we can bring our city together. Check back soon.