Snap, crackle and pop missing from mayoralty

Hasn't Dick made a difference. Yeah, right.

The Tui billboards have spoken - but six months on from Dick Hubbard's landslide victory in the Auckland mayoralty what exactly has the cereal king achieved?

Some are reserving their decision on that one, but the man himself accepts the first six months in the job have been a tough baptism. "I inherited more problems in the first three months of being mayor than most would have in three years."

And they weren't small problems either: losing the V8 race, stepping straight into the contaminated soil issue, and the hullabaloo about the Western Springs speedway.

And, according to Mr Hubbard, being mayor of New Zealand's biggest city means stepping into a very bright spotlight "that is not on any other city in New Zealand".

Especially when you propose a hefty rates increase.

However, watch this space, says Mr Hubbard, and expect announcements about major issues over the next few months.

Deputy mayor Bruce Hucker has given Mr Hubbard a big tick for effort and communication skills. "He is doing really well as a mayor, he listens to people and he doesn't have the degree of arrogance that some mayors in the past have had. We are working really well together."

But former mayor Christine Fletcher believes six months is long enough in the job to show some results. She felt Mr Hubbard had to put in more effort.

"Auckland needs him to succeed but I fear that he is about to make a gross mistake with his support for the rates increase. That will be his Waterloo and he will end up being a one-term mayor."

Michael Barnett, director of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce, said ratepayers should give Mr Hubbard some time.

Six months was just too early to make a significant difference if you considered Auckland's problems, he said.

"None of them are immediate fixes, it is going to take some time."

The biggest disappointment had been the lack of consultation over the rates rises, said Mr Barnett.

"He was a man who said no surprises, he should have gone through a consultative process but he jumped the gun."

Former mayor John Banks was reluctant to comment on his successor's performance, except to remind Mr Hubbard that life was never meant to be easy.

"I got beaten fair and square, and I'm giving the man every opportunity and wouldn't be churlish enough to make any comment."

Perhaps one day a billboard will read: "Come back Banksie, all is forgiven. Yeah right."


- HERALD ON SUNDAY