Wayne Brown has made his first appearance as Auckland's new mayor and revealed what his first order of business will be in the coveted role.
Auckland on Saturday elected Brown as Mayor, receiving about 50,000 more votes than his nearest rival - Labour-endorsed Efeso Collins.
In his first appearance as mayor on Monday, Brown, 76, revealed his first order of business.
"I think I've got to get one of those security cards to get in, that's the first order of the day then we are going to be presented with a whole range of financial things for me to go through. Probably stuff that will bore you all to death but I like that sort of stuff," he told AM.
When asked what he thought Aucklaners wanted done first, Brown said "everything".
"I have about 300 texts listing every possible thing they need fixing so I am going to get on with the things I can deal with first."
Brown also revealed he planned to meet with all the councillors over the next few days.
And it seems the new mayor has already had some effect on the city with Auckland Transport's chair resigning hours after he won, saying she will "willingly exit the role".
In a statement, Adrienne Young-Cooper said she was resigning because it was clear Brown wanted "a clear runway".
"I governed Auckland Transport in accordance with the statement of intent agreed with Auckland Council and navigated the organisation through the extraordinary challenges of COVID-19 and its aftermath," Young-Cooper said.
"There are many talented and dedicated people serving the people of Auckland at AT. They deserve respect.
"I wish the new council and Auckland Transport all the best."
In a statement on Sunday Brown acknowledged Cooper Young's resignation.
"There is no council agency which is so important to Aucklanders or one about which you are angrier. I think the board of directors should heed the message from the election and offer to resign. Boards of directors at some other CCOs need also to consider their positions."
In the statement he said the city's number one issue is transport, closely followed by crime, unfinished projects, rising costs and council waste.
He also took a jab at the Government - hitting out at "ideological schemes".
"Let me be very clear: Wellington's job is to listen to what Aucklanders say are our priorities, and to fund them - not impose ideological schemes like the $30 billion airport tram, untrammelled housing intensification and Three Waters on a city that doesn't want them."
Reaction to Brown's win was mixed
Auckland MP Chlöe Swarbrick congratulated Brown and called on him to ensure the Council was held to account on " climate action, density done well, liveable streets and well resourced public amenities".
While Tamaki MP Simon O'Connor used his win to take a jab at his political opposition.
"Aucklanders are clearly tired of a left wing forever telling them how to live and what to believe. An excellent sign for further change in 2023."
Meanwhile outgoing mayor Phil Goff wished Brown well and said it wasn't for him to comment on the sidelines.
But not everyone was happy with Brown's win with a prominent LQBTQIA+ advocate expressing deep disappointment over it.
Shaneel Lal, who headed the ban on conversion therapy, said the win was a step backwards for the city's LGBTQIA community.
"I would say Wayne Brown's views on diversity are quite clear, he said that discussions around his age were as bad as opposing gay marriage."
