Mayor's infidelity 'a matter for family' as PM focuses on to-do list

Prime Minister John Key has refused to be drawn into the sex scandal surrounding Auckland Mayor Len Brown, saying: "Len's got a job to do."

Mr Key has also dismissed suggestions the scandal could have been generated by people who were close to the National Party.

The Prime Minister did not directly address questions yesterday about whether the under-fire mayor had his unequivocal support, but said: "I intend to work with him as the Mayor of Auckland, and in the end my job is to work with elected officials and get the job done for Auckland."

He said the publication of Mr Brown's two-year affair with local board candidate Bevan Chuang was "a matter for Len Brown and his family".

The sex scandal comes at a time when the National-led Government is working closely with Mr Brown and the Auckland Council to rapidly increase affordable housing in Auckland.

Mr Key did not believe the controversy would destabilise the council.

"From the Government's point of view, we're interested in the things that matter to Auckland, and that is certainly housing ... as is transport, and we'll be talking to Len about those issues, not other issues."

There has been public speculation about the political motives of Ms Chuang's revelations.

Ms Chuang ran in the local elections on the National-aligned Communities and Residents ticket, and Mr Slater's father, a former National Party president, managed mayoral candidate John Palino's campaign. Mr Palino was Mr Brown's main rival.

Mr Key said he was confident the National Party or related groups were not involved in a political stunt.