Big contrast in rivals' plans for countdown

Both candidates have a busy week ahead of them. Photo / Steven McNicholl

Auckland's top two mayoral contenders are preparing for a busy final week - but when it comes to waiting for the votes to be counted, they have very different plans for Saturday morning.

Len Brown, who is currently topping the polls, plans to campaign until the very last minute - hitting the streets and white pages right up until noon on Saturday.

His main rival, John Banks, has a more relaxing morning in mind.

Mr Brown said the polls mean nothing and he will be hard at work on Saturday morning before heading to One Tree Hill's Sorrento in the Park at midday to join family, friends and supporters while the final votes are counted.

"I'll be out amongst the people and just making sure that people recognise they can do their voting up until 12 o'clock - they can take their votes to their local library or the city council building."

Mr Banks is planning a quieter start to the day. He said he would probably have breakfast and read the Weekend Herald before possibly heading out for a ride on his motorbike.

He aims to head into the town hall for midday, by when around 95 per cent of votes should have been counted.

Mr Banks said it had been a "very robust campaign".

"I can say I have enjoyed it," he said. "There's been no real animosity, which is how it should be - but there has been some tension."

Mr Banks said February polls put him 13 points behind Mr Brown but he had been "making progress every week" since.

He admitted he had never imagined when he started the campaign 18 months ago just how close it would be in the final week.

"We would have never thought it would come down to 23 in the race and two horses in the final straight."

Both candidates now have a busy week ahead of them as they campaign for the votes that will decide the first mayor of the Super City.

Last night, Mr Banks and Mr Brown both attended a Christchurch earthquake fundraiser.