Brown: I'm not fussed about leaving a legacy

Auckland Mayor Len Brown says he is not trying to leave a legacy and just wants to leave the city in a good shape for his successor. Photo / Sarah Ivey

Auckland Mayor Len Brown says he is not trying to leave a legacy and just wants to leave the city in a good shape for his successor.

The mayor appears to have achieved a major breakthrough on the City Rail Link, with the Government expected to announce this month that it will fully fund its half share of the project from the start of construction in 2018.

But while securing funding for the $2.5 billion rail tunnel has been one of Mr Brown's top priorities as mayor, he has insisted he is not trying to make it his legacy.

"I'm always focused on the here and now, and how we can maximise the opportunity of Auckland being a united city," he said in an interview conducted before Christmas.

"There's a rare sense of endeavour, of the fact that Auckland has got its mojo back and we're just getting stuff done."

Mr Brown said finalising the City Rail Link and confirming government funding for other Auckland transport projects will "leave a blueprint for others to succeed on" over the next 15 to 20 years.

The second-term inaugural mayor of Auckland Council has been plagued with controversies, including revelations of his affair with Bevan Chuang in 2013 and recent concerns about increases to council rates.

But Mr Brown says being a mayor has been a great honour, and he has loved "every second" he has been in the job.

"I loved coming into the job, I will enjoy every minute of this last year and I [will] make sure it counts."

The mayor says he wants to leave the city in the best possible shape for the next mayor who takes over at the start of November. He says that includes getting trees planted on One Tree Hill and getting restoration under way at St James Theatre.

Labour MP Phil Goff and former Xero boss Victoria Crone are both vying to be his replacement.

Other people in the running include Orakei Local Board member Mark Thomas, right-winger Stephen Berry, activist Penny Bright and former Green Party member David Hay.