Singing mayor aims for World Cup duet

Len Brown hopes to match Bruce Springsteen's Super Bowl opening act. Photo / Greg Bowker

Manukau's singing, rapping mayor, Len Brown, wants to sing the national anthem at Eden Park during the Rugby World Cup.

What's more, Mr Brown plans to invite Dunedin Mayor Peter Chin, who has sung the anthem at two test matches at Carisbrook, to join him in a duet.

"I'm known as the singing mayor of Manukau and I want to be the singing mayor of Auckland," Mr Brown said.

"I'd love the opportunity on behalf of the people of Auckland to sing in baritone alongside Peter Chin's excellent voice a duet from the south and the north. Wouldn't that be something?"

First, the two mayors have to be elected at October's local body elections and, second, convince the cup organisers their voices are up to the global occasion.

The popular Dunedin mayor, also a baritone, said it had been a huge honour to sing before 30,000 rugby fans on such notable occasions at Carisbrook and put the city on the map.

Unfortunately, both times the All Blacks lost, to the Springboks and France, he said.

Mr Chin indicated that he would consider an invitation from his northern colleague, whose voice he had not heard.

"The challenge is the ability of the singer. I've got no doubt he has got the confidence and would give it a pretty good crack."

A spokesman for the cup organisers declined to comment on whether Mr Brown could get his wish, saying the ceremonial details had not been decided.

International stars are a feature of major sporting events.

Bruce Springsteen performed at the 2009 Super Bowl final in Florida and controversial American singer R Kelly performed at this year's Fifa World Cup in South Africa.