Len Brown was born on 1 October, 1956 in Taumarunui.
When he was 7, his family shifted north and he grew up in Otara and then Papatoetoe, attending schools in South Auckland – Mayfield Primary, Papatoetoe Intermediate and De La Salle College, where he played in the 1st XV.
Leaving school, he attended the University of Auckland to study law and arts in the late-1970s. After graduation, he joined the Auckland law firm of Wynyard Wood, where he became a partner.
He entered politics when he was first elected to the Manukau City council in 1992, serving as a councillor until 2004. He also served as chairperson of the Counties Manukau Health Council and was founder and co-coordinator of the Howick Free Legal Service and co-founder of the Greenmount East Tamaki Business Association.
Len ran for the Manukau City mayoralty in 2004, losing by a narrow 600 votes to long serving mayor Sir Barry Curtis. He returned to his legal profession before running for a second time for the Manukau mayoralty in 2007, winning the contest by more than 14,000 votes.
His key achievements include:
• Leading a council focused on being business friendly, equity in funding and rates, prudent financial management, commitment to free swimming pools, and the fair setting of the Uniform Annual General Charge.
• Leading a council committed to public ownership of its water company and keeping its investment in Auckland International Airport.
• Working toward several education initiatives, including collaborating in the establishment of the AUT campus in Manukau City and the development of a joint venture between Manukau Institute of Technology and transport (Manukau rail station hub).
• Working with other key leaders to develop an intensive transport infrastructure programme, including development of first new rail line in Auckland since the 1930s.
• With Sir John Walker, helping to found the Find Your Field of Dreams programme, securing Trust establishment and funding to provide sports projects across the city.
In August last year Len announced he would run for the mayoralty of the Auckland supercity in this year’s election. He announced his candidacy in front of more than 300 supporters at Sorrento in the Park, One Tree Hill, Maungakiekie. You can read his candidate announcement speech here.
Len is standing as an independent on a platform of delivering public transport, public ownership of the region’s public assets, environmental protection, fair rates, safer communities and economic and social development.
He is committed to being a mayor for ALL of Auckland with an inclusive, not a divisive, leadership style. Len will work to bring Auckland together and represent each of Auckland’s communities.
You can read more about Len Brown’s policies for Auckland here.
Len is married to fellow lawyer Shan Inglis. They have three children: Samantha, Olivia, and Victoria.
He suffered a serious heart condition in May 2008, as a result of an, at the time, unknown congenital problem. After successful surgery and changes to his lifestyle, he made a complete and full recovery. He is a regular gym-goer.
Outside politics and family, Len’s interests include gardening, reading and singing.
Become one of Len’s Friends right here.
