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Newsroom
29-05-2025
- Politics
- Newsroom
Mayor Brown has a better offer, turns chair over to restless deputy
Either Wayne Brown is super confident of his re-election in October, or he is just fed up with sitting around listening to colleagues' endless small points over two full days of meetings. For much of Thursday's full council meeting he appeared to want to be anywhere other than calling on councillors for questions or debate, his demeanour increasingly wearied and frustrated by everyone's need to hear the sound of their own voices. At one point he started awarding prizes of Danish pastries for any point made with brevity and salience. The councillors had been at it already for a full day on Wednesday, a budget committee thrashing through the council's 2025/26 Budget, eventually green lighting a 5.6 percent average residential rates rise. By Thursday afternoon, whether from boredom or needing to win the ear of Resource Management Act Reform Minister Chris Bishop, the first-term mayor left his job of chairing the governing body and turned the chair over to a high-profile deputy who's yet to declare if she will stand against him. Desley Simpson stepped up, as she does, seamlessly guiding the 19 other councillors through the afternoon's debates on subjects that were far from minor. They included a report on the early returns from Brown's prized investment vehicle, the Auckland Future Fund, approving the budget for the Independent Māori Statutory Board, and a major council-CCOs integration project. The Brown-Bishop external meeting from mid-afternoon was at the site of a proposed building project on Karangahape Rd that had been denied planning permission. Bishop favours planning permissions; Brown lives in an apartment just off K Rd. The urgent summit produced one tangible result – a photograph that Bishop tweeted to his X following of the pair and an unnamed person standing on the empty site. Meanwhile, back at the town hall, Simpson directed the final stanzas of the council's day with a degree of confidence that has already started to turn Brown's head in public meetings over the past weeks. Named Brown's deputy after his compelling mayoralty victory in October 2022, Simpson has coyly refused to say through 2025 if she intends to challenge the leader for his chair and chains. A domain name registered by her son last year 'for a laugh' has driven a wedge between the council's top two leaders. Simpson rose to national prominence in early 2023 when Brown was at his lowest point, failing to lead during the Anniversary Day flood disaster. As the new mayor flailed, criticising others and suggesting to Aucklanders he wasn't responsible for the rain, Simpson was active on social media messaging, comforting, calling for resources. Over the past weeks, the pair have been obviously more distanced. Simpson chided Brown for questioning if surf lifesaving clubs deserved council funding as they were, in his experience, glorified babysitting facilities. She interjected: 'Don't say that.' Brown snapped back 'I know a bit about this.' Last week at a committee meeting, as Brown outlined measures to fill a $7m gap in the city's events marketing budget, Simpson asked a question she said she had to ask publicly, on whether he would guarantee the spend from his mayoral budget if other efforts failed. Brown's response: 'You can ask that publicly, if you really must.' Simpson told journalist Simon Wilson of the NZ Herald last week he wouldn't have to wait long to know whether or not she would stand for the mayoralty. 'Timing that works for me,' she said, tantalisingly. 'You'll be surprised.' Desley Simpson chairing Thursday's governing body meeting. Photo: Screenshot from council livestream Taking on Brown would be a substantial undertaking. From the depths of his mishandling of the flooding two years ago, he has ground out budget and policy decisions that have won broad backing from councillors, and has become far more comfortable in his own skin – in real life and in quirky social media posts. Central government leaders josh with him as 'Brownie' and his efforts to fix bits of Auckland's government and finances have won grudging regard from some business and sector leaders. Another councillor, first-termer Kerrin Leoni is also mounting a challenge. Simpson, a self-assured leader and one highly attuned to public sentiment online and in communities, might yet believe a sunnier, younger, still-centre-right candidate could unseat a mayor known for his irascibility and dogmatic approach. Simpson is a deeply popular figure in her home Ōrakei ward, a former member of the National Party-aligned Communities and Ratepayers group that stands candidates around the city, and of course, married to former National Party president Peter Goodfellow. She's been a councillor for three terms. Her personal website says, high up: 'In the 2022 elections Desley received the highest personal vote of any councillor in Auckland (and in New Zealand).' Asked by Newsroom on Thursday evening how it felt to be in the mayoral chair, so close to an election, she made all the right noises. 'Not my first time and probably won't be my last,' she texted. 'Mayor was with Minister Bishop and I supported his decision to leave GB [governing body meeting] to attend that. 'After all, that's what you have a deputy for.' Her text ended with a smiling emoji, wearing sunglasses. A smart, informal, loyal and inscrutable response this close to declaring one way or the other if she might stand against Brown. 'Probably won't be my last' was heavy with realism, humour, intent or perhaps mischief. During his time in the chair across the morning and just after lunch, the mayor had repeatedly told councillors – who of course are not the audience he needs to impress come October – that there had been too much time spent on debates over the council CEO and financial updates. He awarded Josephine Bartley a Danish pastry for being brief and to the point, and told another 'no Danish cake for that one'. Brown listening to contributions at the council meeting on Thursday. Photo: Tim Murphy His jadedness included reminding the meeting that despite comments at the day before's budget session, 'for those not really good at numbers … things are actually pretty bloody good'. At one point, exasperated, he offered: 'If anyone surely can find another bloody comment, I'll have to listen to them.' And some mayoral advice to the councillors: 'If you have got something for the CEO, just drop him a note. We do not all have to endure every thought that crosses everyone's minds.' You could almost hear some of them thinking 'or that comes from that chair … for now'.
Newsroom
13-05-2025
- Business
- Newsroom
Auckland port sails past profit target, bright light for council firms
A flat domestic economy and international trading uncertainty have failed to cool business through the Port of Auckland, which eclipsed its annual profit target with three months to spare. The port company has told its owner, Auckland Council, it now expects to end the year around 20 percent up on its $65m budgeted net profit, nudging $80m due to 'an overall excellent performance.' That is despite weaker vehicle imports and lower trade in construction materials as demand for cement and aggregates weakened in the Auckland region. A report for Tuesday's meeting of the committee overseeing Auckland Council-owned businesses says growth in container volumes, solid imports of coal among other 'breakbulk' products, and better than expected cruise liner and passenger numbers have contributed to the strong result. The port firm paid the council an interim dividend of $25m in March and says it is on track to meet the $45m full dividend after year's end in July. Separately, a decision to sell the company's shares in a Northland port joint venture should see the company's board meet a council request for a special dividend of $46m to the council for reinvestment in the new Auckland Future Fund. Port chief executive Roger Gray says the third quarter success was partly due to better laden container volumes in and out of the port. Since the end of the third-quarter on March 31, container volumes have eased but coal imports remain high as power company Genesis rebuilds its Huntly station stockpile to supplement renewable electricity supply in winter. The Auckland port company reported a strong third quarter for the financial year. Photo: Tim Murphy Port of Auckland Ltd is on track to lift net profit above $100m a year in 2027, after targeting $85m next year, he says. An agreement with the council in 2024 involves the port company contributing $1.1 billion in 'impact' over the next decade to the council – representing the total for its combined net profits accounted for by the parent body, rather than dividends paid. Gray hopes the trade in construction materials and cement, which have been low, will lift with demand from projects like the port's own Bledisloe North wharf, for which it has applied for fast-track approval, and the Precinct properties development on the site of the current downtown carpark. The firm is less optimistic about the cruise business – the season just gone had fewer ships than last summer but with more passengers, as the tourism sector struggled to regain cruise ship numbers. Overall, Gray sees the port company delivering higher net profits than previously outlined in its statement of corporate intent. It will not 'sit on our laurels' if the numbers can exceed previous targets. The good news at the port business stood out among the council-controlled organisations reporting their third-quarter updates to councillors for the Tuesday meeting. The Eke Panuku development and property business, which will be folded into the council organisation after July 1, reported favourable operating results but failures in its targets for asset sales as well as for completed new dwellings (just 66 of a planned 157). The stubbornly subdued property market means Eke Panuku will not contribute the $76m in sales of 'council's surplus property' required of it in the council's budget, having achieved just $8.1m in the third quarter from a quarterly budget of $46m. 'The property market is challenging from a wider economic perspective with significant numbers of listings and developers holding unsold stock,' it tells councillors. Eke Panuku says it has a further $57m of further conditional sales 'under negotiation' but that is listed under risks to the financials rather than a positive. The business has also been affected by two other council decisions. The restructuring of the council economic and events agency Tatāki Auckland Unlimited means it may not need to keep leasing a Wynyard Pt building for which Eke Panuku had a tentative deal to sell, as the potential developer had been spooked by the likely exit of the other council-owned agency tenant. And higher proposed development contributions set by the council for beyond July 1 had created uncertainty and made some developments 'financially unfeasible' in the eyes of potential buyers of surplus council properties. 'Sites continue to be taken to the market to test market appetite but any improvement in market sentiment is still to appear,' Eke Panuku reports. 'Inflation and interest rates have reduced but economic conditions are affecting demand. This affects the delivery of current and future SOI asset sale targets and regeneration outcomes, including construction of new dwelling units. 'It is taking longer to attract partners with capacity to achieve viable projects in current conditions.'
Scoop
30-04-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Chris Swasbrook Appointed As Chair Of Te Papa
Press Release – New Zealand Government Acting Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Chris Swasbrook has been appointed as Chair of the Te Papa Board says Chris Bishop, Acting Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage. 'Chris Swasbrook is a prominent New Zealand investor with more than 25 years' experience working in finance. He has an extensive resume in executive and governance roles in many large-scale New Zealand businesses and organisations,' Mr Bishop says. 'Born in Auckland, he has been a long-time supporter of local business and arts communities. Chris is Chair of the Auckland Future Fund and an Inaugural Member and current Chair of the Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tamaki Advisory Committee – roles which have shown his commitment to thriving arts infrastructure in New Zealand. 'Chris will bring valuable commercial, financial and investment governance experience to Te Papa. His strategic insights and international perspective will undoubtedly prove valuable to our national museum. 'I would like to thank Jackie Lloyd who has stepped up as acting Chair following the departure of Hon Dame Fran Wilde. Both Jackie and Dame Fran have made immense contributions to the leadership of Te Papa which have enhanced the museum's standing on the world stage.' Biography: Chris Swasbrook has more than 25 years' experience in stockbroking and funds management. He is currently Managing Director of Elevation Capital and Co-Founder and Director of NZX-listed New Zealand Rural Land Company. He is also Chair of the Auckland Future Fund, Executive Chair of McCashin's Brewery, a board member of the Financial Markets Authority (FMA) and member of the NZX Listing Sub-Committee. Mr Swasbrook is also an Inaugural Member and current Chair of the Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tamaki Advisory Committee. He was previously a partner at Goldman Sachs, JBWere, and was Chair of Allied Farmers, Chair of Bethunes Investments, Director of NZX-listed Mowbray Collectables, Director of Ruapehu Alpine Lifts and Director of NZX-listed Satara Co-Operative Group.
Scoop
30-04-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Chris Swasbrook Appointed As Chair Of Te Papa
Acting Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Chris Swasbrook has been appointed as Chair of the Te Papa Board says Chris Bishop, Acting Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage. 'Chris Swasbrook is a prominent New Zealand investor with more than 25 years' experience working in finance. He has an extensive resume in executive and governance roles in many large-scale New Zealand businesses and organisations,' Mr Bishop says. 'Born in Auckland, he has been a long-time supporter of local business and arts communities. Chris is Chair of the Auckland Future Fund and an Inaugural Member and current Chair of the Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tamaki Advisory Committee – roles which have shown his commitment to thriving arts infrastructure in New Zealand. 'Chris will bring valuable commercial, financial and investment governance experience to Te Papa. His strategic insights and international perspective will undoubtedly prove valuable to our national museum. 'I would like to thank Jackie Lloyd who has stepped up as acting Chair following the departure of Hon Dame Fran Wilde. Both Jackie and Dame Fran have made immense contributions to the leadership of Te Papa which have enhanced the museum's standing on the world stage.' Biography: Chris Swasbrook has more than 25 years' experience in stockbroking and funds management. He is currently Managing Director of Elevation Capital and Co-Founder and Director of NZX-listed New Zealand Rural Land Company. He is also Chair of the Auckland Future Fund, Executive Chair of McCashin's Brewery, a board member of the Financial Markets Authority (FMA) and member of the NZX Listing Sub-Committee. Mr Swasbrook is also an Inaugural Member and current Chair of the Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tamaki Advisory Committee. He was previously a partner at Goldman Sachs, JBWere, and was Chair of Allied Farmers, Chair of Bethunes Investments, Director of NZX-listed Mowbray Collectables, Director of Ruapehu Alpine Lifts and Director of NZX-listed Satara Co-Operative Group.
