KEY POINTS:
Sir Barry Curtis, the super salesman for Manukau City and New Zealand's longest-serving mayor, will not seek re-election in October.
But the eight-term mayor refuses to discuss rumours the Government will appoint him to a plum retirement job.
Sir Barry first joined the Manukau council as a councillor in 1968 - three years after the city was formed from a collection of villages, state-housing estates, fields and market gardens.
A former surveyor and town planner, he talks proudly of his leadership during the city's growing pains.
The city that he often calls "magnificent" is the country's third largest, with a population of 360,000 and growing by 10,000 a year.
Speaking to the Herald from a transport conference in Taupo, Sir Barry said he would announce his future role "in due course."
He would not be drawn on whether he thought a new council - without his influence - would vote to sell the city's 10.05 per cent stake in Auckland International Airport.
Its stake and blessing, and Auckland City's, are likely to be needed by Dubai Aerospace Enterprises and other potential purchasers if they are to get control of the airport at Mangere.
Sir Barry called the shares his city's "family silver" and provider of $108 million in dividends, special dividends and capital repayment since listing on the stock exchange in 1998.
It was not in the city's best interests to sell and he did not want majority control of the airport handed to a foreign country.
Regarded as a shrewd politician, Sir Barry surprised would-be successors at the 2004 election by saying he would stay on to see pet projects finished. A bout of pneumonia kept him off the campaign stage and he held his job by only 566 votes from former four-term councillor Len Brown.
Yesterday, Sir Barry said he did not endorse Mr Brown or any of the other three mayoral candidates and would leave it to the people to decide.
"I'm stepping down at a time when I want to step down knowing that I've achieved all my aspirations. All the infrastructure I set my heart to creating has now been completed or is under construction and cannot be reversed.
"I have made significant progress on creating a new tertiary institution at Manukau City Centre and I hope my successor will continue that initiative, and the rail link to the city centre is locked in place."
Despite debates on rates rises and cost-cutting, the mayor has defended the city's involvement in social development and provision of a free library service and swimming pools.
A major disappointment for him was the 2004 defeat of John Banks as Auckland mayor. "We were champions for the Eastern Corridor. It was a travesty. Had John not lost the election the Eastern Corridor would be well advanced now."
This year, Sir Barry pushed for Auckland local government reform, suggesting its seven councils be merged into three territorial authorities under a strengthened regional governance structure.
Prime Minister Helen Clark paid tribute to Sir Barry last night, describing him as a strong leader in a complex multicultural city. He could look back with pride at what he had achieved.
"Manukau is a progressive and socially cohesive city. The Labour-led Government always found him constructive to work with."
Career:
1968, elected to the Manukau City Council.
1971-83, elected to the Auckland Regional Authority.
1977-1983, chairman of the ARA planning committee.
1983, elected Mayor of Manukau.
Other current positions:
* Patron of community and sporting organisations.
* Chairman of National Taskforce for the Reduction of Community Violence leaders group.
* Member of the Auckland Regional Land Transport Committee.
* Auckland Regional Growth Forum deputy chairman.
