Bernard Orsman: Len's departure inevitable

Mayor Len Brown. Photo / Jason Oxenham.

Len Brown's decision to leave the Super City was inevitable.

A highly publicised affair and Labour MP Phil Goff grabbing his territory made it impossible to stand for a third term.

News last week that Goff has pencilled in November 22 to announce his candidacy for the mayoralty was the final reality check for Brown, who has known for months he is toast but hasn't been able to cross the line into early retirement.

If Goff's declaration wasn't enough, the mayor got a reminder of his popularity at Wednesday's All Black parade with boos from the crowd.

From all accounts, Brown is not one for taking advice. Key members of his two Super City campaigns delivered the "blunt message" earlier this year that he had no chance of winning and should step down.

He was told he would receive no financial backing, political support or volunteers to erect billboards and deliver pamphlets for a campaign where his sex life would be centre stage.

Politics is about winning. The centre-left, with sharper political smarts than the centre-right rabble in Auckland, has taken the step to replace Brown with Goff.

Now that Brown has stepped aside, his advisers say he can relax, enjoy his last year in office and the legacy will come.

Brown has a mixed bag of results to his name. He began with a strong mandate, put the structures in place for the Super City, and then got consumed by his own hubris.

His biggest legacy will be the city rail link, a project Brown won Government backing for and will be underway before he leaves office.

He will not be remembered fondly by many for management of the city finances: rising debt, hefty rates increases and promised efficiencies and savings from the Super City that failed to materialise.

Relations with Wellington have been strained and Brown developed a habit of being missing in action on big issues like the port debate.

His departure provides the platform for fresh thinking and ideas to take Auckland forward.