KEY POINTS:
Former National Party cabinet minister John Banks has announced he is running for the Auckland mayoralty. Banks (60), who was deposed as Auckland mayor three years ago by Dick Hubbard, says if elected he plans to consult ratepayers and build goodwill because the days of personal attacks are over.
John Banks could be donning the Auckland City mayoral chains again this year, according to a nzherald.co.nz poll.
With more than 2000 votes cast by lunchtime on our site, Mr Banks was polling at 55 per cent, while the incumbent Dick Hubbard was in second place at 26 per cent. Is the time right for John Banks to return? Here is the latest selection of Your Views
Louise (Orakei)
Come on Aucklanders, come to your senses and bring back John Banks. He is energetic, visionary and most of all he is, in his own words, "Auckland's biggest cheerleader". Give him another chance - send Dick packing and let's get this wonderful city moving again!
Mr Asians and Indians
Yes to Mr Banks. Let's get rid of Dick, left wing along with Labour party. John is strong and true leader with no PC.
Hugh (Auckland)
Banks is a dangerous man. The minute I heard he was ahead in the polls I enrolled. Although being relatively apolitical most of the time I am almost considering helping to campaign against him.Why is he so appealing to the average Auckland voter? Maybe we crave a 'strong man' a Donald Trumpesque figure, morally superior, drunk on his own bombast, to tell us the little peons who to organise our sad little lives? Why can't he just leave us common folk to get on with steady, consensus government.
Steve (Swannanoa)
If Auckland chooses John Banks, I guess they'll be getting the arrogance they deserve, and share.When I read the "the South Island is under feet of snow" and that Ashburton has suddenly become part of Christchurch, it is blindingly obvious that short sightedness and downright ignorance of anything outside of the Auckland region is endemic in Auckland - why should choosing a suitable mayor (or mayors, come to that) be any different?
Paul
Blame Dick Hubband for the Queen Street upgrade much as you like! At least it is done for the interest of Auckland, something I believe everyone will benefit from and be thankful of once completed. The delay / disruption has nothing to do with the council, they are just the client! So point your fingers at the right direction. It's the Contractors that are to be blamed if you are that miserable! Beside, it's a large scale construction project, surely a bit of dirt here and there is not unexpected? On the other hand, I fail to think of anything that John Banks has done for Auckland since elected a Mayor. His lack of long term vision meaning the rest of Auckland now has to put up with the sight of all those nasty apartment blocks built during his time, something all of us will have to put up with for years to come! The only people who benefitted from that was the council and his developer mates! Voting for John Banks to me, sounds almost as stupid as re-electing George Bush for President. Don't do it Auckland! Not again!
Harry L (Waitakere City)
You need a good manager, someone who can get the best out of a large team, someone with vision and strategy. What's Theresa Gattung doing now that she's not head of Telecom. Seriously, she would be pretty good. And there are those rumours...
Mike of Albany
Banks or Hubbard? What a decision! Do I want warm porridge or a dictatorship? Okay, I will settle for a halfway solution. Hubbard has lost so much for Auckland we don't want him any more. He has killed its heart and soul. And he did it not by making a decision but by avoiding a decision, the big wuss! The V8s were a given - to put Jafaville on the international map - and he threw the chance away! What an idiot!
Albany Stadium was the obvious choice for the World Cup and he threw that one down the gurgler with even more money wasted on a Mount Eden dinosaur that no one wants! And the worst crime of all he threw away the only chance for transport to pay its way with tolls on the Harbour Bridge and planned second crossing! All new roads should be tolled as in the rest of the world. Grow up Dick and join reality.
If Super-Banks-Man can reverse these travesties then I will vote for him, no question.
John Irving
John Banks for mayor? You've got to be joking! When will dumb people stop voting in callous career politicians like John Banks? It seems that Auckland voters are swayed by novelty twits like Banks all too easily and think it funny to take a punt on something as important as the mayoralty. They'll be laughing on the other side of their faces if he's elected as they gaze up at a ruined CBD and look around at gridlock caused by the likes of 'Banksie'.
Marie (ex-Pt Chev)
Yes, John Banks for Mayor again - definitely. Clear thinking with a sense of humour and a love of animals. But more than that, he has a passion about what happens in New Zealand and the idiocracy we are being dealt on a daily basis. He can't be all bad! He needs to do something with regard to the transport system in Auckland, but also to replant the trees removed by this other crazy lot. I have a rental property in Auckland. Why do I have to pay for my tenants' waste water? When has there ever been a real shortage of water that waste water needs to be charged for? This is the only city to my knowledge that does this. Do something about it John. Also, let us know too who are on your wavelength who wish to be voted on the Auckland City Council. I have to live here in Invercargill, so need to know this. It is definitely time for a change for the better.
David (Pukekohe)
Maybe Auckland should consider asking Vicky Buck to stand for the Auckland Mayoralty - a lady of class with a proven track record might cut through all the crap we currently have to deal with between a failed national politician, a breakfast cereal king and a porn pusher. What a city.
Christine Morgan
He just couldn't change. I do not want his bombastic roughshod ideas of what is right for me and my city imposed on me.
LarryK
The question was: Is it time for John Banks to return to Auckland. Well, it's time someone that knows what they're doing did. Trouble is we have Hobson's choice, we can only vote for those that step up to the plate. Hmmm, incumbent, too weak. John? well, he did lose the plot once before but was strong with it. The porn dude? Probably would cut to the chase but big unknown quantity, the other guys in the photos look boring as, (book by it's cover etc). Lisa could be good but she's not in this which is a shame. I'd like to see where she rates. Whoever it is needs to be stronger than has been shown up till now, how many times did I read about the present mayor being challenged by Hucker over this and that. One good strong mayor is what we need right now, out of the present line up I think John is the only one with those attributes for better or worse.
Pamela (Auckland)
Definitely would not vote for Banks - feel it is too early to make a choice. Two months away at least.
Bruce
People do seem to have incredibly short memories. And this town seems to be perpetually run by self-interested short sighted people too. Dick Hubbard is by no means a perfect mayor (remember that the mayor has only one vote on a council) but he is far removed from the arrogant self-serving cabal that John Banks belongs to. They were ruthless in a micro return to the bad old days of the 80s, to the point where Bill Birch was brought back to strip out assets and slash essential services. Yet again. Grow up Auckland, you deserve better - get a vision which involves participation at all levels regardless of income, race or class, gets some decent public transport and reclaim this city for the population, not the self serving few. And John Banks is definitely in the latter.
Michael Wood
Past behaviour is always the best indicator of future behaviour, so let's just think back to the previous Banks mayoralty of 2001-04. Old folk terrorised by the threat of losing their pensioner flats, Bill Birch brought in as a contractor recommending sale of our public libraries, the flogging off of our valuable airport shares, and the embarrassment of our mayor engaging in nasty public name-calling.
Banks? No thanks.
Reality Check
The notion that the mayor makes a jot of difference ignores the fact that he is just a figurehead and spokesman, with only one vote on the council. The real problem is that council as a whole will not take control over the city manager and the hordes of bureaucrats under him who love to spend till we drop. What we need is a council with enough guts to get in and rip out the profligate waste and stupidity carried on day after day by all the Sir Humphries on Speed who infest that place. Too many dead-heads who think they should rule the world and have forgotten that they are public servants, who should not move a muscle or propose a word that the public does not initiate. In short, what we need is truly representative government and governance.
Sophia
John Banks - no thanks!
John Kerwin
Just as long he doesn't return to Whangarei. Question: can a leopard change its spots?
Denys (Three Kings)
Why are we talking who we want for mayor? The real power and money spenders in the council are the city managers. Maybe we should vote for them every three years.
Hang
Yes, yes, yes please.
BB
Has John Banks had an epiphany? I think not. He is still the arrogant "I know what's best for you" mudslinger he always was. If you are foolish enough to vote for him you deserve what you get!
Aussie Kiwi
John Banks as mayor? You have to be joking. Auckland desperately needs someone with big ideas on fixing Auckland Traffic. Can anyone remember what his ideas were for that? More motorways. Please, let's not take a step back Auckland.
Owen
Banks is after the glamour that he perceives goes with the job. Don't trust any beaten politician.
Mike E
Crow has my vote. Just wait till he gets in and slashes the size of local government. Low rates here we come!
Susan
If Banksie carries out what he is promising then Auckland should, once again, be a proud city.
Steven Duncan
Banks, Banks, he's our man! If anyone can, Banks can!
Mary
Out of this lot, I will go with Steve Crow. At least he will bring some colour and spice to the mayoralty.
John (Orewa)
Please let the Auckland. Ratepayers decide at the ballot box, not a trial by news media. If I was an Auckland ratepayer I would not vote for the loudmouth.
Goose
John Banks says he wants an end to personal attacks in office? This can only be because his pollsters have told him this is a weak point for him. He perfected that craft. How quickly we forget the loud-mouthed, pompous, pontificating of Mr Banks as Mayor. Please save the people of Auckland from a repeat performance.
Sunshine Coast, Queensland
John Banks gets my vote.
LarryK
The question was: Is it time for John Banks to return to auckland, well, it's time someone that knows what they're doing did. Trouble is we have Hobson's choice...we can only vote for those that step up to the plate. Hmmm,incumbent, too weak, John? well, he did lose the plot once before but was strong with it...the porn dude? probably would cut to the chase but big unknown quantity, the other guys in the photos look boring as, (book by it's cover etc..) Lisa could be good but she's not in this which is a shame...I'd like to see where she rates. Whoever it is needs to be stronger than has been shown up till now, how many times did I read about the present mayor being challenged by Hucker over this and that. One good strong mayor is what we need right now, out of the present line up I think John is the only one with those attributes for better or worse.
Bob
C'mon, we've had Les Mills, Christine Fletcher, Banks and Dick Hubbard - all equally useless, let's move on. Someone new, someone younger with a true vision for Auckland.
Weightgain4000
Fool me once shame on you! Fool me twice shame on me! Let hope the same follows on the only poll that matters Election day!
Angus
John Banks is politically incorrect.
Rated sufferer (St Heliers)
Hubbard may make cerials. But his old mothers cupboard money box leaks very badly. The council funds run out faster than they come in. Time he rests.
LJR (Kingsland)
I am amazed at how quickly people forget. Banks and his mates asset stripped Auckland City. They sold the airport shares, community houses, pensioner villages and anything else that was not nailed down. They wasted $750,000 of the ratepayers money on the V8 race which had never even a remote possibility of success. He spent millions of dollars on consultants for the Eastern Motorway which again, was never a possibility. He ran an arrogant, nasty Council which let the market deliver lots of ugly buildings which have blighted the CBD and continue to do so.Dick has not been perfect, but Banks was impossible.
Mike
Dick Hubbard is too pink fluffy footed to be the mayor of Auckland. We need a leader who is willing to make the tough decisions and get things done. The main priority needs to be Auckland's transport woes. At least John Banks was willing to put forward ideas and get things moving. Three years on and Dick Hubbard still hasn't got a clue and the transport is getting worse.
Ken Connoley
John Banks has vision, energy and intelligence. He will return the city to the citizens of Auckland instead of leaving it in the hands of 1930's style socialist.
John Chisholm
I will definitely vote for Banks.
Dave (New Lynn)
I was walking down Queen Street on Saturday night with a few friends and walked past the Town Hall and noticed it was covered in scaffolding that was brightly lit by a 2 million plus power spot light, at this stage I thought Dick you really are a Dick, what a waste of ratepayer dollars. To top it off as I walked further down the road I noticed that all the street lights had strange red glow emitting from below them, I could only think that this was to create a sense of atmosphere in the street, but then noticed someone had placed a strategically placed pile of vomit against a post, in turn it was lightened by the mood lighting that Dick Hubbard had authorised. Bring back John Banks, He is a leader, he knows what charity is and where to place tax payers money to get the best results for Auckland.
Mikos (Newmarket)
I don't mind some of his policies but his lack of respect for both the heritage and green space of Auckland means I will never vote Banks without hearing a major announcement regarding these two key areas. Under Banks last term the cheap and nasty apartment building spree flourished whereas Hubbard has at least started to bring it under control. Build a beautiful city and the rest tends to fit into place especially the economic side of things.
Trev (Eden Terrace)
Having banks as mayor made me cringe with embarrassment. At least Hubbard has adopted a more inclusive less polarising approach and his leadership in the urban design area and more long-term sustainable management of the city is worthy of support. Banks for mayor is about one thing - John Banks and his infantile need for attention and the trappings of office.Keep Banks where he belongs on the political scrap heap.
Kudu
A good man & strong leader. Auckland needs this man as Mayor.
70yr old pensioner
As an Aucklander, born and bred in this wonderful city, I can honestly say that the present council is the worst in my lifetime - rapacious, wasteful, dysfunctional and arrogant.
Wendy Stewart
I wouldn't vote for any of these people. I did vote for Dick last time around, but have been woefully disappointed with his performance.
Johnny Scroggin
Has everyone forgotten Auckland was a better place before John Banks? I'm voting for the porn guy.
Staff
I am voting for Banks, gets things done and keeps costs down.
Tony Bebelman
Weren't we pleased when John Banks left? Why on earth would we want him back now?Dick Hubbard has shown to be a well meaning amateur. John Hincliffe is an unknown while Steve Crow, although not known for his local government activities, would at least bring a breath of fresh air to our city. Steve would get my vote!
Jenny
John Banks everytime, he is a man in high principles, integrity and Auckland City was in a far better state when he was mayor than it is now. Auckland needs strong leadership and John Banks is the man.
Digby
Dick Hubbard - Too soft, lacking charisma, no substance.John Banks - Great business head, determined, knows where he is going and where we should be going too.
Vinnie
No thank you - stay out of politics Banks. People have very short memories indeed.
Bob from Remuera
The matter regarding water rates is the main reason for my anger towards the present mayor.The misuse of rate payers funds for overseas travel for no good reason,the gross mismanagement of the Queen St upgrade along with cutting down of the tres have all made me so angry that every time I see Hubbard's image on TV or print I get very angry.
Ian Morine
To Margot - going "back to the future", to someone that was tried and failed previously, is hardly something you should be proud of, I would have thought ! Can't the "right" of the political spectrum come up with a better candidate than someone like John Banks - just imagine the debt he will run up for Auckland to repay sometime in the future, as they are inclined to do (again).As I said before - why don't some people learn ?
MC
I agree with the comment that there should be an option of "neither" as well. What makes people so sure that John Banks will come good. Just wait what will happen to Auckland, get John Banks in and John Key as the PM - we are totally screwed. More ugly apartments on the waterfront, more rate hikes, more infighting, more people stressed with being stuck on the roads - while Banksie rides his expensive sports car in his Armani suits...rich people have only one thought it seems, and that is to screw the hardworking people and tell them how to do things and set rules.What did Banks and Hubbard achieve in the years they were paid handsomely by the ratepayers....not a bit - they are pushing the city backwards, rather than making it compete with cities internationally. I say none of the candidates deserve to serve our good people of Auckland. We need someone who takes pride in Auckland, who cares about the human aspect of management and etc - where are all the good guys!
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