Latest news with #DesleySimpson
RNZ News
11 hours ago
- Politics
- RNZ News
Deputy Mayor endorses Wayne Brown for re-election
After toying with the idea of challenging him for the top job, Auckland's deputy mayor has instead endorsed Wayne Brown in his bid for re-election. In a joint press conference Desley Simpson said she was supporting the mayor's campaign for a second term, despite disagreeing with him on certain issues. If Mr Brown wins the mayoralty and Ms Simpson is re-elected as a councillor, he has agreed to make her his deputy again. Jessica Hopkins reports. Tags: To embed this content on your own webpage, cut and paste the following: See terms of use.
RNZ News
17 hours ago
- Politics
- RNZ News
Desley Simpson endorses Wayne Brown for Auckland Mayor
Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown and Deputy Mayor Desley Simpson. Photo: RNZ / Jessica Hopkins Auckland's deputy mayor has officially endorsed Wayne Brown in his re-election bid, after months of speculation she would run against him. In a joint press conference a short time ago Desley Simpson said she endorsed Brown's campaign for a second term as mayor. Desley Simpson said she had ruled out running for mayor in the October local body elections a long time ago. But in April Simpson told RNZ she was still undecided on running for mayor, after she confirmed earlier this year she was mulling it over. The changes Brown had made for Auckland had been significant for the city and praised his vision for the city, she said. Both denied they had ever shared harsh words with each other but agreed there has been disagreements. Brown said if re-elected this would be his last term.
RNZ News
29-05-2025
- General
- RNZ News
Desley Simpson leaves right-leaning Communities and Residents group
Auckland deputy mayor Desley Simpson. Photo: RNZ / Nick Monro * This story has been corrected to remove speculation as to why Desley Simpson left C&R Auckland deputy mayor Desley Simpson has broken long-standing ties with the city's right-leaning local government party Communities and Residents. The high-profile councillor has stood on the C&R ticket since she was first elected to council in 2016. But her picture was quietly removed from C&R's website, leaving Christine Fletcher as the group's only councillor. Sources familiar with the situation, who did not want to be named, told RNZ in December Simpson was no longer a member of C&R. When asked earlier this year, C&R president David Hay would not confirm Simpson had left. But Hay has now revealed to RNZ Simpson resigned 18 months ago, but they had not updated their website until recently. He said C&R has been accepting candidate nominations for an Ōrākei ward councillor, a position currently held by Simpson, and for an Albert-Eden-Puketāpapa councillor ahead of the local body elections later this year. The Albert-Eden-Puketāpapa ward has two councillors. C&R's Christine Fletcher and City Vision's Julie Fairey were elected to the roles in 2019. Hay said C&R would announce their candidate selections soon. Since news that Simpson was considering running for mayor of Auckland broke in January, she had been putting off confirming whether she would challenge her boss Wayne Brown for the city's top job. She earlier told RNZ she would advise the public of her decision by the end of May at the latest. Simpson has been approached for comment. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
29-05-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
Desley Simpson leaves Communities and Residents to be part of proposed working group
Auckland deputy mayor Desley Simpson. Photo: RNZ / Nick Monro Auckland deputy mayor Desley Simpson has broken long-standing ties with the city's right-leaning local government party Communities and Residents. The high-profile councillor has stood on the C&R ticket since she was first elected to council in 2016. But her picture was quietly removed from C&R's website, leaving Christine Fletcher as the group's only councillor. Sources familiar with the situation, who did not want to be named, told RNZ in December Simpson was no longer a member of C&R. When asked earlier this year, C&R president David Hay would not confirm Simpson had left. But Hay has now revealed to RNZ Simpson resigned 18 months ago, but they had not updated their website until recently. He said Simpson's reason for leaving the party was to be a part of mayor Wayne Brown's proposed Entrust review working group. Every three years, an election is held to select five trustees for Entrust, the majority shareholder of lines company Vector. C&R has controlled the Entrust board for the past 30 years. In 2024, around 9.39 percent, just 30,342 of eligible households in Auckland voted in the Entrust elections. Hay said he also understood there was tension between Wayne Brown and C&R because the party supported Heart of the City chief executive Viv Beck when she went against Brown in the Auckland mayoral race in 2019. Beck dropped out before voting began, however her name was still listed on the ballot. He said C&R has been accepting candidate nominations for an Ōrākei ward councillor, a position currently held by Simpson, and for an Albert-Eden-Puketāpapa councillor ahead of the local body elections later this year. The Albert-Eden-Puketāpapa ward has two councillors. C&R's Christine Fletcher and City Vision's Julie Fairey were elected to the roles in 2019. Hay said C&R would announce their candidate selections soon. Since news that Simpson was considering running for mayor of Auckland broke in January, she had been putting off confirming whether she would challenge her boss Wayne Brown for the city's top job. She earlier told RNZ she would advise the public of her decision by the end of May at the latest. Simpson has been approached for comment. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
NZ Herald
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- NZ Herald
‘You'll be surprised': D-Day for Desley Simpson is drawing near
This is a transcript of Simon Wilson's weekly newsletter Love this City – exploring the ideas and events, the reality and the potential of Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland. Auckland's deputy mayor Desley Simpson has announced ... that she is going to announce in early June whether she's
