Heavyweight Gulf hopefuls vow to avoid cheap shots

Auckland Regional Council chairman Mike Lee. Photo / Steven McNicholl

The two highest-profile candidates for the Waitemata and Gulf ward say they will be putting issues ahead of personalities as they enter the closing stage of the Super City election campaign.

City Vision-endorsed Mike Lee, the chairman of the Auckland Regional Council, and Citizens & Ratepayers-endorsed candidate Alex Swney, chief executive of Heart of the City, said they were confident of winning - but believe last-minute voters could hold the key.

Mr Swney said he and Mr Lee "differed most comprehensively" on heritage and the waterfront.

"Our position was to retain and make the most of the heritage sheds," he said.

"He flip-flopped around the place for nearly a year and eventually ended up where we were."

"The waterfront is where Aucklanders should be telling our story, where we need to be a City of Sails rather than a city of containers."

Mr Lee had initially wanted the sheds, removed but had a change of heart after talking to Historic Places Trust and heritage advocates.

Mr Swney described the battle for the single-seat ward as a "two and a quarter-horse race".

He said the emergence of right-leaning candidate Tenby Powell, who is standing as an independent after failing to obtain C&R endorsement, had added an element of uncertainty to his campaign.

"If this was just a two-horse race, I would be extremely confident. But with Tenby, I'm extremely hopeful."

Mr Swney said he was not leaving anything to chance - he had knocked on 3500 doors, visited the markets and campaigned on street corners in the central city.

"The biggest thing people are saying to me is 'thank you for asking for my vote because no one else has', and 'isn't it time for a change' has been an overwhelming sense among voters," Mr Swyney said.

"It's been incredibly encouraging."

Mr Lee said he had heard that polls conducted by other candidates running in the ward were putting him ahead, and he was confident of winning.

He said "limited money" meant he had to run a relatively low-key campaign, but he was campaigning on his track record of public service.

"The people of Auckland do know me, I have a profile and I do have a record of service since 1992."

He said speaking to voters in the city had given him some confidence about winning.

Mr Lee, who had earlier said he was seeking legal advice about Mr Swney's alleged smear tactics against him, said he would not take the matter further because he did not want to "elevate his status".

"This is not about personalities. It is about issues, it's about the sensible development of the waterfront and at the same time time recognising the value of our publicly owned port."

Six candidates are vying for the single vacancy in the he Waitemata and Gulf ward, which stretches from Herne Bay to islands in the Gulf.

The others are Janis Marler, Craig Thomas and Rob Thomas, all independents.