Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown’s Campaign Funded by Major Developers

Auckland’s mayor, Wayne Brown, secured a significant victory in the October 2022 elections, buoyed by a substantial campaign fund totaling $616,728. This financial backing primarily came from some of the city’s most prominent developers and investors, as revealed by campaign donation declarations released by the Auckland electoral officer.

Key contributors to Brown’s campaign include notable figures such as John Hynds of the Hynds Group, Damien Grant of Waterstone Insolvency, and Matthew Horncastle from Williams Corporation. Other significant donors are Marc Ellis, Oyster Capital, Bayleys Real Estate, and hotelier Nigel McKenna. The Tramco Group donated $50,000, while both Peninsula Capital and CP Group contributed $25,000 each. The Stonewood Group, run by John and Michael Chow, added $20,000 to the war chest.

These donations are indicative of the influence that real estate and development sectors wield in Auckland’s political landscape. For instance, Precinct Properties, which collaborates with Auckland Council on redeveloping the Downtown car park site, contributed $10,000 to Brown’s campaign. Additionally, Golf Warehouse, which proposed a redevelopment of A.F. Thomas Park into a new nine-hole golf course, provided $20,000 in support.

Brown’s campaign expenditures were also notable, with a total of $323,872 spent. This figure included $105,463 allocated for media and billboard advertising and $18,400 for a campaign event held at the Park Hyatt. He also supported fellow Fix Auckland candidate Victoria Short, contributing $4,568 to her campaign. Short successfully unseated Wayne Walker in the Albany ward, earning her the moniker “Albany killer” from Brown.

In contrast to Brown’s extensive funding, his mayoral opponent, Kerrin Leoni, garnered $83,111 in donations, with key contributions from Labour Party figures, including Greg Presland with $7,576 and former mayor Phil Goff with $1,500.

The funding landscape for other candidates varied widely. Daniel Newman, a councillor representing Manurewa-Papakura, raised $24,000 primarily from local businesses. Julie Fairey of Albert-Eden declared only one donation of $2,000 but spent $22,367 on her campaign, including a $125 payment to the Waikowhai Scout Group for delivering campaign materials.

Several successful councillors reported minimal or no donations. Under New Zealand election law, donations below $300 do not require declaration, leading many candidates to operate below this threshold. For example, Josephine Bartley from Maungakiekie-Tāmaki declared no donations over $1,500 and reported campaign expenses of $4,320.

In the North Shore, John Gillon reported that his donations were similarly “under threshold,” spending $16,987 on his campaign, which included $4,882 for printing a personal newspaper. Overall, the funding and spending patterns among candidates highlight the varied financial support available within Auckland’s political environment, shaping the dynamics of local governance.

The ACT party also made its mark by financing local candidates for the first time. Helen Roza, a candidate from North Shore, received $9,147 toward her unsuccessful campaign, which totaled $26,295.

This election cycle further underscores the intricate relationship between political financing and local governance in Auckland, raising questions about the influence of major developers on decision-making within the supercity.