Fletcher among likely Super City contenders

Christine Fletcher. Photo / Amos Chapple

Two former Mayors and a former National MP are understood to be vying for a seat around the Auckland Super City table.

The Herald understands former Auckland City Mayor and Government minister Christine Fletcher and former National MP Ian Revell want to stand on the Citizens & Ratepayers ticket.

Former North Shore Mayor George Wood has said he is putting together a ticket to protect the interests of North Shore and Rodney residents in the Super City.

Auckland Regional Council chairman Mike Lee has announced he will not be seeking the Super City mayoralty but standing for council in the central Maungawhau-Hauraki Gulf ward.

It is also understood that C&R leader David Hay plans to step down at the October elections after 27 years in local government.

Christine Fletcher, a former National MP for Eden and Epsom between 1990 and 1999, is understood to be eyeing one of two seats in the Mt Albert-Mt Roskill ward on the Auckland Council. She was Auckland City Mayor for the 1998-2001 term.

Mr Revell, who resigned as Parliament's Deputy Speaker over bullying allegations involving parking tickets in 1999, said he was considering his options.

"I'm very happy in real estate, but the Super City with a tight structure to run Auckland does interest me."

Mr Revell is believed to be a contender, with Auckland regional councillor Christine Rankin, for one of two C&R nominations in the North Shore ward.

Mr Hay, who is 62 and had to be convinced to make a return to the Auckland City Council in 2007 after an "unhappy" term on the Auckland Regional Council, is an experienced and strong figure in council politics.

He is refusing to comment on his political future, other than to say he has concerns about the local board and council-controlled organisation features of the Super City.

The word is first-term Auckland City councillor Ken Baguley and Manukau City councillor Dick Quax, whose Peoples Choice ticket has merged with C&R, are frontrunners to replace Mr Hay.

Mr Wood said he had held discussions with C&R but had decided to put together a ticket covering the North Shore, Hibiscus-Albany-East Coast Bays and Rodney wards to protect the interests of North Harbour people.

Mr Wood, who lost the North Shore mayoralty in 2007 to Andrew Williams, is likely to stand in the North Shore ward.