Banks contemplates Auckland mayoralty comeback in 2007

John Banks is considering a political comeback for the Auckland City mayoralty he lost by a whopping 19,016 votes to businessman Dick Hubbard a year ago.

The first anniversary of the Hubbard/centre-left council has a handful of right-leaning figures contemplating the mayoralty in 2007, including Mr Banks, his former deputy-turned-Auckland Regional councillor David Hay and Auckland Chamber of Commerce chief executive Michael Barnett.

Citizens & Ratepayers Now councillor Scott Milne is another with mayoral aspirations but is likely to settle for deputy mayor if the centre-right wins back council control.

Mr Banks a former National Cabinet minister, said he would decide in the next six to 12 months whether to run and if so would mount a 12-month campaign.

He said Mr Hubbard's first 12 months had been a disaster, with colossal rates increases.

"This man ... came in with such lofty ideals, no policy but much hope for a new style and the total mixture has been at least disappointing and, at worst, disastrous for the city," he said.

"I would make the general observation that in Auckland City everything is more expensive and nothing is any better."

Mr Banks said he was beaten fair and square by someone "who, frankly, offered a political fraud and has been uncovered".

Mr Barnett, who is also an Auckland Regional councillor, said from time to time he had thought about standing for mayor but indicated he would back away if Mr Banks stood.

Mr Hay would not rule out standing for the Auckland City mayoralty - he was on the council for 15 years before being elected last year to the ARC - but said it was not an issue he had addressed.