Williams more popular in West than on Shore

Andrew Williams. Photo / NZH.

Andrew Williams is more popular in Waitakere than on his home turf of the North Shore, according to the latest Herald-DigiPoll survey for the Super City mayoralty.

The North Shore Mayor has 8.5 per cent support among Waitakere residents who intend to vote, compared with 3.8 per cent on the Shore.

However, Mr Williams' overall support of 3.9 per cent signals an end of any ambitions to be the first mayor of the Super City.

He is well behind Manukau Mayor Len Brown and Auckland City Mayor John Banks, who are neck-and-neck in front on 29.6 per cent and 28.7 per cent respectively.

Mr Brown leads the pack of also-rans to lead the new Auckland Council for 1.4 million people, which comes into being on November 1. It will be the largest council in Australasia with a budget of $3.2 billion.

North Shore property manager Colin Craig, who is spending upwards of the $580,000 cap for mayoral candidates on a campaign focused on minimising rates and an alternative leaky homes solution, is fourth with 3.5 per cent support.

This week, Mr Craig got the backing of comedian and former Waitakere City councillor Ewen Gilmour, when he pulled out of the mayoral contest citing family illnesses and a lack of campaign funds.

He had 2.8 per cent support in the poll.

Water campaigner Penny Bright had 1.9 per cent support and actor Simon Prast, who has admitted to using the drug P, was on 1.7 per cent.

The poll comprised 768 people who said they intended to vote in the Super City elections. It has a margin of error of 3.5 per cent.