Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown sat down with The Indian News to reflect on his first term in office, the challenges facing the city, and the role of Auckland’s Indian community. As his current term draws to a close, he points to achievements made while acknowledging the work still ahead.
When Brown became mayor, he set out five core policies, with reducing wasteful spending at the top of his agenda. “Bureaucracies often waste money, but we’re getting better at stopping that,” he said.
A key focus has been regaining control of council-controlled organisations. Urban redevelopment and economic development functions have already been brought back under council oversight after disappointing results externally. The next step, he said, is Auckland Transport—an “unloved organisation.”
“I know about roads—I’ve designed, built and sold them,” Brown noted. His vision is for council to directly manage roads while leaving Auckland Transport to handle public transport.
Instead of simply building more roads, Brown advocates using artificial intelligence to improve traffic light systems and cameras. “We already have the roads, but we don’t use them well,” he argued.
The $6 billion City Rail Link remains a major priority. Despite early cost overruns, Brown said the project is now tracking close to budget and will be completed next year, with funding set aside for ongoing operations.
He has also introduced a $50 weekly cap for unlimited bus and ferry travel, while congestion pricing is being planned for peak hours. “The idea is to make public transport cheaper and faster, while making car use more expensive at peak times,” he explained.
Brown has pushed Auckland’s port to finally turn a profit, warning it could be sold if it did not. The revenue, he stressed, has helped keep rate increases lower.
Another innovation was the launch of a floating harbour pool, built for just $200,000. “I’d like to see six or seven more around the city next term,” he said.
Balancing Rates and Services
On the sensitive subject of rising rates, Brown was blunt: “Stop complaining and be happy. If you want to live in Auckland and get all the facilities, be prepared to pay for it—otherwise, move to a smaller town.”
Auckland’s rate rise currently sits at around 5.8 percent, lower than many other cities, Brown pointed out. But he warned that infrastructure projects and population growth inevitably come at a cost. “People want more services but expect to pay less. That doesn’t add up,” he said. “I’d rather be honest than make promises that can’t be kept.”
Homelessness remains a pressing issue. Brown described it as three challenges: housing affordability, rough sleeping in the city centre, and retail crime.
He has allocated $500,000 from his mayoral budget for extra security downtown and successfully pushed for a new central police station. Still, he insists central government must do more. “Wellington doesn’t listen enough to Auckland. This city is a third of the country, yet they treat us like we’re just another small town.”
Supporting the Indian Community
Brown emphasised the importance of Auckland’s Indian community, both culturally and economically. He condemned attacks on Indian-owned businesses and personally funded extra patrols in Papatoetoe and other suburbs.
“You are not just a group to be courted every three years. You are an integral part of this city,” he said.
Brown also praised Indian and Chinese communities for their entrepreneurship, strong focus on education, and low crime rates. “They are good communities, and Auckland would be poorer without them.”
He has also championed deeper ties with India, leading delegations to pursue sister-city relationships with Bengaluru and Ahmedabad. “India is strong in high tech, and some of our companies are already in Bangalore. We want migrants here to move straight into high-paid jobs, not just run Ubers,” he explained.
Among his flagship achievements is the creation of a Future Fund, built from the sale of airport shares. This, he said, will provide Auckland with financial resilience during natural disasters or other crises, reducing reliance on ratepayers.
As re-election nears, Brown wants voters to judge him on results. “I’ve run large businesses before, and Auckland Council is bigger than most. Opponents who’ve never run even a corner dairy don’t understand how tough this job is.”
While he admits expectations are high, Brown believes Auckland has achieved more under his leadership than many realise—stabilised finances, improved transport, and stronger global ties.
Whether Aucklanders agree will soon be decided at the ballot box. What is clear, however, is that Wayne Brown has reshaped the city’s priorities—on transport, finances, and its role in the Asia-Pacific, while keeping community voices, including those of the Indian diaspora, firmly in focus. –as told to Yugal Parashar