Mike Lee. Photo / Steven McNicholl
Auckland councillor Mike Lee will be taking on a new role this weekend.
Mr Lee, the council's transport committee chairman, will become a tram driver at the Wynyard Quarter opening tomorrow.
He has been training for three weeks after being approached about being a driver for the day.
"At first I thought, 'Oh no, I'm just too busy'. But then I thought, 'No, it's another challenge and it's an honour'.
"I did a bit of training down at Wynyard, but especially at Motat."
Mr Lee has been a big supporter of the tram project, in which two restored heritage trams take passengers around what will be known as the Wynyard Loop.
Accompanied by a supervisor, he will take members of the public for several tours tomorrow.
But he doubts many people will be keen to get on his tram.
"I imagine if people know that I'm driving, a whole lot of them will bail out," he said. "I've got to be very careful now because I'll be carrying passengers.
"My mokopuna will be on board too, so I have to be careful I don't jerk the brake, or else everybody will jump forward."
Mr Lee said he still remembered riding on trams in Wellington as a boy.
"I loved it. What I see is the trams were taken away from Auckland against the wishes of the average person. It was a terrible mistake and bringing them back I think is a great gesture."
Mr Lee will continue his training until he becomes a fully certified tram driver. Asked whether he held any other motorvehicle or motorcycle licences, he said: "I have a ship's radar maintenance certificate and a Master of Science degree.
"But don't worry, I'll be down there very early on Saturday morning to get some more practice runs in."
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