KEY POINTS:
You're renowned for your publicity stunts - no one will forget you using a pregnant woman for one of your videos. Isn't standing for mayor a stunt? What could you possibly hope to achieve as mayor?
Standing for public office requires personal investment and sacrifice and is too serious to be treated as a publicity stunt by anyone. I am a busy man and standing is not a decision I have made lightly. Aucklanders should come forward and run because they want to make a difference, because they want to make things better. Local government in our region is broken and I believe I can help fix it.
What would it do for the reputation of Auckland here and overseas, having a pornographer as mayor? Wouldn't we be a joke?
Auckland's reputation is a joke now. Our infrastructure is inadequate and Third World, and we have a local government structure that is not in tune with making Auckland a world class city. Auckland's future is no joke. The business I am in is irrelevant, what is relevant is that I am successful in a hard business world and I am good at achieving regardless of adversity. Aucklanders will get the representatives they vote for, it's their decision. Aucklanders have the right to demand the best from their mayor and councillors. I don't intend to short change them.
I read somewhere that you did want to be a serious businessman. Why did you get into the adult movie business then? Would you do it over again?
I have achieved that goal. I am a serious and successful businessman and I always aim at being the best I can be in business, in my charitable interests and now in helping to fix up a broken Auckland. Life isn't about regrets, it's about learning and growing and giving back to your community. I am a successful businessman and I have no regrets to being that.
If you don't win the mayoralty, who do you want to win and why?
That's a hard question. I am standing to win so I can't recommend any other candidate and I don't believe there is much difference between the other runners who have put their hands up so far. I am the fresh face and I am determined to win and to make a difference, but I will play whatever role Aucklanders give me after the election.
What are the three biggest changes you'd make to Auckland to improve it? What are the worst things the last council did?
Firstly, we need fewer and more. More efficiency, better services, fewer politicians and far fewer bureaucrats. I want to make Auckland a place where it is easy for people to do business. We need a flatter structure and I want to give the people of Auckland the chance of having one city and proper governance. I want to make the mayor accountable by changing the governance structure to one that makes the mayor the chief executive who actually runs the council. The bureaucrats are out of control. If I am elected, my first priority will be to downsize the bureaucracy, limit their powers and make them accountable. Secondly, transport. People need to be able to come into, travel through, and leave the city easily and reliably. They want quality choices. In some cases we need new roads, in others better services. Thirdly, funding. We need a rates cap and Auckland city must focus on more innovative sources of revenue than the continual flogging of the poor old ratepayer. We also need to reduce the overhead costs of local government. I can't say what's the worst thing the council has done because there are just so many.
NEXT WEEK: Transport Minister Annette King on the "drugged-driving" aspect of the Land Transport Amendment Bill. Send your questions
