Incoming Auckland mayor Phil Goff plans to invite two former Air New Zealand executives to help restore confidence in the city's council.
Phil Goff giving his victory speech in Auckland yesterday. Photo: RNZ / Diego Opatowski
The Labour MP easily won the Auckland mayoralty yesterday ahead of Vic Crone and Chloe Swarbrick, and told Sunday Morning he had been given a strong mandate from the people of Auckland.
Former Air New Zealand chief executive Rob Fyfe. Photo: AFP
He said he wanted former airline chief executive Rob Fyfe and his former deputy Norm Thompson to work with the council's chief executive to help restore trust in the council.
A recent survey showed the council had just 15 percent trust and 17 percent public satisfaction which were appalling figures, Mr Goff said.
"When you get results like ... it means either you are not doing the right things, according to the public, or you are not communicating the things that you are doing well.
"We've got to work together to restore the trust and confidence of Aucklanders in their city council.
"We created the so-called super city, and people feel that it has not delivered what they want."
He said the housing crisis in Auckland was getting worse every year, and he reiterated his call for the government to place a 15 percent tax on overseas home buyers.
"If you've got a significant source of investment money coming in from overseas to buy up existing houses rather than build new houses, you're simply going to force prices up."
He said Auckland needed to build intensive housing along the main arterial routes.
Preliminary results released this morning put Mr Goff on 186,445 votes - more than 75,000 ahead of nearest rival Vic Crone on 110, 926,
Chloe Swarbrick was a distant third on 28,545.
Mr Goff is to give his valedictory speech to Parliament on Tuesday.
"Look there is a housing crisis, and I'm sorry, the government just has to acknowledge that"- Phil Goff
New Wellington mayor Justin Lester speaks at his victory party. Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King
Lester to launch 'Share an Idea' initiative
New Wellington mayor Justin Lester said he hoped to put the council at the centre of determining the city's future.
Mr Lester won a clear majority of 6000 votes over his nearest rival, former Porirua mayor Nick Leggett.
He told Sunday Morning he wanted to hold economic summit within six weeks to decide on a united plan for the capital, and planned to take suggestions through an online 'Share an Idea' initiative.
"I want to make sure I bring together the business sector the environmental sector, the social sector, to share their ideas, he said.
"Wellington is humming at the moment, we have a wonderful city"- Justin Lester
"It's not just about me, I'm not the sole arbiter and instigator of ideas. I want to make sure we get other people in as well."
Mr Lester said he wanted to set up an urban development agency to build more homes in Wellington and also implement a rates rebates for first home builders.