Hubbard chooses veteran politician as adviser

Auckland City Mayor Dick Hubbard has hired a veteran of West Auckland's local government wars, former Waitakere deputy mayor Dorothy Wilson, as a political adviser in his office.

This follows a baptism of fire for the political novice, culminating in Mr Hubbard making a last-minute push against the Civil Union Bill and a gay mayoral assistant quitting in protest.

Hayden Jones, a board member of the Gay Auckland Business Association, left Mr Hubbard's office on Thursday after the mayor and his wife, Diana, signed a letter urging MPs to oppose the bill on the basis that the children of non-married couples were more likely to be victims of abuse and murder.

Mr Jones, who had been seconded to the mayoral office, has gone back to the council's treasury division.

Mr Hubbard plans to talk with Mr Jones today and respond to a "please explain" letter from the association about his "monumental betrayal" in saying he stood for diversity and tolerance.

In the letter, the association said it feared Mr Hubbard could be the "[John] Banks in sheep's clothing so many predicted during the election campaign".

Mr Hubbard refused to comment yesterday on whether he made an error signing the anti-civil union letter or whether he stood by his views.

On Thursday, Mr Hubbard described himself as a "moral conservative" who believed in the sanctity of traditional marriage.

The appointment of Dorothy Wilson ends a search by Mr Hubbard for a political adviser independent of council staff after a tumultuous two months in the job, including a power struggle with deputy mayor Dr Bruce Hucker, the dirty dirt scare and the loss of the V8 street race.

Dorothy Wilson, who retired as Waitakere deputy mayor in 1998 and has strong links to Mayor Bob Harvey and the Labour Party, is expected to strengthen the relationship between Mr Hubbard and the "consultative group" of councillors comprising City Vision-Labour, Action Hobson and independents Faye Storer and Bill Christian.

She is an "Eco City" stalwart who served under mayors Tim Shadbolt, Assid Corban and Bob Harvey in turbulent times for West Auckland local body politics and shares Mr Hubbard's passion for financial and environmental sustainability.

First two months

October 9: Elected mayor.
October 20: Police investigation into John Banks' campaign manager Brian Nicolle dropped.
October 21: Bruce Hucker sworn in as deputy mayor.
October 29: Herald reveals dirty dirt scare.
November 8: Hucker unveils left-wing policy statement.
November 10: Hubbard coup against Hucker fails.
November 23: Planning commissioners reject V8 streetcar race.
December 6: Hubbard signs anti-Civil Union Bill letter.
December 9: Gay assistant quits mayoral office.
December 11: Former Waitakere City deputy mayor appointed political adviser.