Mayor Brown brushes off protests

Len Brown. Photo / Richard Robinson

Embattled Len Brown faced hecklers today during his first public appearance of the year.

The scandal-hit Auckland mayor brushed off comments from a handful of banner-wielding protesters when he opened the new $17.5 million Panmure interchange station.

Brown refused to be drawn into talk about his recent troubles. Instead, he focused on transport-related issues.

The mayor has been keeping a low profile since councillors censured him last month for his behaviour during a two-year affair with junior council adviser Bevan Chuang.

He declined to answer questions about a private prosecution taken against him this week by retired Wellington accountant Graham McCready, who alleges Brown broke the law by not declaring free hotel room upgrades for himself and his wife.

The mayor answered "no comment" to any queries about his private life, other than saying he had enjoyed a relaxing Christmas break with his wife and children.

Protester Dick Cuthbert, from Herne Bay, brandished a placard that asked if Brown is a sex addict.

"I wanted to meet him at his first public showing for a while to remind him a lot of people are unhappy with his actions," Cuthbert said.

"Brown is a moral dwarf and incapable of proper leadership. He should go."