KEY POINTS:
Manukau Mayor Len Brown is in a stable but critical condition after four hours of major heart bypass surgery this morning.
Mr Brown, 51, was hospitalised after collapsing with a heart attack while giving a speech at the Pacific Music Awards on Saturday.
Mayoress Shirley Anne Inglis said the operation appears to have been successful.
"This has been an extremely traumatic time for us as a family, but we are ecstatic that Len seems to have come through this major surgery so well," she says
Ms Inglis said the family has been inundated with well wishes from the public.
Mr Brown is in the intensive care unit of Auckland Hospital and only immediate family are being let in to his room, one at a time.
Acting Mayor Gary Troup said the mayor had been under sedation but doctors had said tests were showing encouraging signs of improvement.
Mr Troup said doctors were unable to say for how long the mayor would be sedated or how long it would take for him to recover.
He wanted to emphasise that the heart attack was not necessarily stress-related.
"He's a very fit guy but worked hard as well. His intellect would tell him when to slow down.
"I'm here in the caretaking role and I hope that's short term. He's done great things for Manukau, I'm happy to keep the seat warm for him."
There were rumours that television crews' videotape of his fall was seized by members of the Destiny Church, but award organisers have denied this.
Mr Brown's wife, Shan Inglis, said last night her husband was always a hard worker.
"However, Len is also an extremely intelligent and sensible man. He knew his limitations.
"This has been a huge shock to us all as Len has been in very good health and thoroughly enjoying his role as mayor."
She and her family were grateful for the dedicated doctors at the hospital and overwhelmed by the tributes that had been pouring in from around the country and overseas.
Mr Brown's predecessor Sir Barry Curtis, who held the job for 24 years, said the job was one of the hardest in the country.
Sir Barry told Radio New Zealand he typically had almost 1000 engagements a year and working 90 hours a week was not uncommon.
Local Government New Zealand vice-president Kerry Prendergast, the Wellington Mayor, said most mayors worked 60 to 80 hours a week.
She said it was common for first-time mayors to have overly heavy workloads and advised them to keep a good work-life balance, the Radio New Zealand website reported.
* Anyone wishing to send messages of support to the family should drop them at the council reception in the Civic Building on Wiri Station Rd, or post them to Manukau City Council, Private Bag 76917, Manukau City.
- With NZPA and NZHERALD STAFF
