Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown. Photo: RNZ / Lucy Xia
The new mayor of Auckland, Wayne Brown, has been officially sworn in at the Auckland Council Inauguration today.
The inauguration of elected representatives is the ceremonial occasion where the newly elected ward councillors and mayor of Auckland are sworn into council following the local elections.
It is also the first official meeting of the new term of the Governing Body.
Brown said economically and fiscally the country faced a storm.
"I've spoken about Auckland is sailing into an economic and fiscal storm - tonight I'm sad to say that the wind and the rain is here already with us.
"Together as a team, we need to protect through the dark times the Auckland Council services that Aucklanders value."
Brown declared and signed a formal statement where he solemnly swore to act in the best interest of the Auckland community.
Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown with his deputy, Desley Simpson. Photo: RNZ
On Thursday, Brown fronted media and announced Desley Simpson as his deputy mayor.
Brown said Simpson was universally admired for her integrity, professionalism and loyalty.
"She's highly regarded as a regional leader with a broad Auckland perspective, she maintains the greatest support for her own community of any councillor in the governing body, having topped the poll with nearly 25,000 personal votes," he said.
"Desley and I are going to be a great team."
Simpson said it was a great honour and privilege to accept the position.
She was excited by the opportunity to work with Brown to help deliver on his mandate for change and to work with their colleagues to help them deliver on their priorities too.
"We're very different people."
They wanted to put a team together that made decisions, got on with the job and fixed Auckland, she said.