Labour MP Phil Goff has announced he is standing as an independent candidate for the Auckland mayoralty, ending months of speculation about his political future.
Speaking to supporters at the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron yesterday afternoon, Mr Goff said he was standing for mayor "because I believe that together we can create a better Auckland - a city where talent and enterprise can thrive".
"That's the kind of city I want to lead. For Auckland to succeed, it must operate effectively and efficiently. The super-city was supposed to eliminate waste and bureaucratic duplication. That will be my priority. Under my leadership, we will be fiscally prudent and learn to do more with less."
If successful, Mr Goff said he would focus on a number of issues that directly impact on the lives of Aucklanders, including tackling traffic congestion and increasing the housing supply.
"People deserve to enjoy the fantastic lifestyle offered by Auckland with its stunning natural environment, friendly communities, diverse cultures and strong learning and working opportunities. Instead, they're watching their dream of home ownership drift further from their reach and spending hours trapped in their cars on motorways," he said. "Bringing forward infrastructure funding and providing more bus, cycle and walkways would help ease the gridlock. Policies that give the building industry the confidence to gear up for construction will also make it easier for homebuyers."
Mr Goff entered Parliament as the MP for Roskill in 1981 and apart from a three-year gap between 1990 and 1993 he has represented the Roskill and New Lynn electorates. He was the youngest Cabinet minister in the 1984 Labour Cabinet and leader of the opposition between 2008 and 2011. He is aged 62 and lives on a 8ha small farm at Ardmore with his wife Mary. They have three adult children.
Mr Goff said he was committed to working in an inclusive way with future fellow councillors.