Rankin eyes Auckland mayoralty

Christine Rankin

Flamboyant former Winz boss Christine Rankin is considering a bid for the Auckland mayoralty in 2007.

Ms Rankin confirmed this week she was contemplating challenging Dick Hubbard after being approached by two people offering to back a campaign.

"The politician is definitely inside me," the former domestic-purposes-beneficiary-turned-state-sector-chief-executive told the Herald on Sunday.

In 2001 Ms Rankin unsuccessfully pursued a $1.25 million grievance case against the State Services Commission for refusing to re-appoint her as chief executive of Work and Income.

The following year she re-invented herself as a social commentator with a stint on the now-defunct TV advice show How's Life? and joined the celebrity speaking circuit.

Politically right-wing, she said she had turned down opportunities in national politics at the last two elections because Parliament was "a rat's nest", but local government was another matter.

She contemplated running for the Wellington mayoralty but said she had not considered makinga bid in Auckland until this approach.

"It does appeal to me. I adore Auckland city, I think it's vibrant and fantastic and it needs that kind of leadership."

Formerly based in Wellington, Ms Rankin relocated to the North Shore this year but said she intended to move into Auckland city soon. Her former husband, David Rankin, is the current CEO of Auckland City Council.

- HERALD ON SUNDAY