Len Brown: Difference between revisions

{{Use dmy dates|date=OctoberMay 20132024}}

|name office = 1st [[Mayor of = Len BrownAuckland]]

|office term_start = 1st [[Mayor1 ofNovember Auckland]]2010

|term_start term_end = 18 NovemberOctober 20102016

|term_end deputy = 8 October[[Penny 2016Hulse]]

|office2 term_start2 = [[Mayor of ManukauOctober City]]2007

|term_start2 term_end2 = 31 October 20072010

|term_end2 deputy2 = 31 October[[William 2010Sio]]

|deputy2 image = [[WilliamLen Sio]]brown.jpg

|death_date death_place =

|death_place restingplace =

|birthname nationality =

|nationality spouse = Shirley Inglis

|spouse relations = Shirley Inglis

|relations children = 3

|children party = 3[[New Zealand Labour Party|Labour]]

|alma_mater occupation = [[University of Auckland]]

|occupation profession = [[Lawyer]]

|profession signature = [[Lawyer]]

|religion website = [[Catholic Church|Roman Catholicism]]

'''Leonard<ref name="GENEROUS"/> "Len"Charles Brown''' (born <ref>{{birthcite news date|1956url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=222474 |10title=Election winners |1date=11 October 2001 |dfwork=yes [[The New Zealand Herald]] |accessdate=16 June 2019}}</ref> (born 1 October 1956)<ref name=stuff>{{cite news|title=Brown goes for top job |newspaperwork=[[North Shore Times (New Zealand)|North Shore Times]] |first=Romy |last=Udanga |date=1 September 2009 |url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/local-news/north-shore-times/2819496/Brown-goes-for-top-job |archiveurl=httphttps://wwwweb.webcitationarchive.org/6O1VxrECm?url=web/20131014211527/http://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/local-news/north-shore-times/2819496/Brown-goes-for-top-job |archivedate=1214 MarchOctober 20142013 |deadurl=no |dfurl-status=live }})</ref> in [[Taumarunui]], [[Ruapehu District]], [[Manawatu-Wanganui]]) is a former [[Mayor of Auckland|Mayor]]mayor of [[Auckland]], [[New Zealand]], and former head of the [[Auckland Council]]. He won the [[Auckland mayoral election, 2010|2010 Auckland mayoral election]] on 9 October 2010 and was sworn in as the [[Mayor of Auckland]] on 1 November 2010, being the first to hold that title for the amalgamated 'Auckland "Super City'", and was re-elected in 2013.<ref name=NZH2013>[http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11139635 New Zealand Herald: Super City elections 2013: Brown to wield the knife]</ref> Brown had previously been elected [[Mayormayor of Manukau City]] in October 2007, the second time he ran for that office. Brown is married to Shirley Anne "Shan" Inglis, and has three daughters: Samantha, Olivia and Victoria.<ref name="stuff" /><ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10559155 |title= Mayor Len Brown – life after the last rites |first= Phil |last= Taylor |publisher= The New Zealand Herald |date= 28 February 2009 |accessdate= 13 October 2013}}</ref> As Mayor of Auckland, Brown was a vocal advocate for the [[City Rail Link]] and helped pass the city's first Unitary Plan.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2016-10-06|title=What will Len Brown's legacy be?|url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/315057/what-will-len-brown%27s-legacy-be|access-date=2020-10-26|website=[[RNZ]] |language=en-nz}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Mood of the Boardroom: CEOs praise Len Brown's legacy|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/mood-of-the-boardroom-ceos-praise-len-browns-legacy/ROZUFVGHIJGXLX2QLHATHN6UTU/|access-date=2020-10-26|website=[[New Zealand Herald]] |language=en-NZ}}</ref>

Brown was born in [[Taumarunui]], a small town in the [[RuapehuKing DistrictCountry]], of the central [[Manawatu-WanganuiNorth Island]] of New Zealand. His family moved to [[OtaraŌtara]] in, [[South Auckland]] when he was seven years old.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lenbrownformayor.co.nz/about-len/|title=Meet Len|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100602080940/http://www.lenbrownformayor.co.nz/about-len/|archivedate=2 June 2010}}</ref> He attended Mayfield Primary School, [[Papatoetoe Intermediate School]] and [[De La Salle College, Mangere East|De La Salle College]]. He remembers his youth in prosperous small-town New Zealand fondly, remarking on them as "generous, generous days".<ref name="GENEROUS"/> His life growing up has been described as revolving around family, church, school and community, while parents Tom and Ngaire were described as strong believers in social equity and social justice as well as active in the community life.<ref name="GENEROUS">{{cite news|title='They were generous days...'|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/super-city/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501110&objectid=10656169&pnum=0|accessdate=9 July 2010|newspaper=[[The New Zealand Herald]]|date=3 July 2010}}</ref> While not having grown up fully in Auckland, his family often travelled to see relatives there, his parents having originally moved to Taumarunui from South Auckland.<ref name="GENEROUS"/>

He was first elected to the Manukau City council in 1992, and continued as councillor until 2004 when he did not run for re-election.<ref name=stuff/> He was also the chairperson of the Counties Manukau Health Council from 1998. Brown first ran for mayor of Manukau City in 2004, and narrowly lost to long serving mayor [[Barry Curtis (mayor)|Sir Barry Curtis]]; he lost by fewer than 600 votes. Brown had considered requesting a re-count due to the closeness of the vote, but decided that he had not been close enough to warrant it.<ref name="Final2004">{{cite news| title=News all good for Sir Barry |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/local-vote-2004/news/article.cfm?c_id=593&objectid=3600758 |work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |page=A12 |date=15 October 2004 |last=English |first=Philip}}</ref> Despite his affiliation with the [[New Zealand Labour Party]] since age 17,<ref name="GREYMAN">{{cite news |title='Grey man' to lead the Supercity? |first=Heather |last=McCracken |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/auckland-region/news/article.cfm?l_id=117&objectid=10649966|accessdate=26 July 2010|newspaperwork=[[The New Zealand Herald]]|date=6 June 2010}}</ref> Brown did not run for election in the [[2005 New Zealand general election, 2005|2005 Generalgeneral Electionelection]], and instead returned to working for Wynyard Wood.<ref name="After2004">{{cite news| title=Candidate clings to hope |url= http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=3600131 |work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |page=A11 |date=13 October 2004 |last=English |first=Philip}}</ref>

Brown announced his candidacy for the Manukau City mayoralty in 2006,<ref name="Announcement">{{cite web|url=http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK0608/S00188.htm |title=Len Brown Announces Manukau Mayoralty Candidacy |publisher=scoop.co.nz |last=Brown |first=Ken |date=18 August 2006 |accessdate=26 October 2007}}</ref> Barry Curtis announced that he would not be running for re-election, and Brown's main opposition were former Olympic runner [[Dick Quax]] and radio personality [[Willie Jackson (politician)|Willie Jackson]]. Brown resigned from WynardWynyard Wood in 2007 to focus on his candidacy full-time. In August 2007, both Quax and Brown were polling "neck and neck".<ref name="NeckandNeck">{{cite news |title=The Banks, Hubbard show and a few other risky predictions |first=Matt |last=McCarten |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/government/news/article.cfm?c_id=49&objectid=10458557 |work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |date=19 August 2007}}</ref> Brown ran on several policies, including; capping rates at the cost of inflation, increasing public transport, and working with youth in the region.<ref name="BrownIdeas">{{cite news|url=http://www.theaucklander.co.nz/local/news/brown-shares-his-ideas/3752871/|title=Brown shares his ideas |publisher=theaucklander.co.nz |accessdate=26 October 2007}}</ref>

Brown won the [[2007 New Zealand local elections, 2007|the election in October 2007]] with more than 32,000 votes; his next closest rival Dick Quax had less than 18,000,<ref name="ElectionWin">{{cite news| |title=Len Brown wins Manukau mayoralty |url=http://www.times.co.nz/cms/front_page_feature/2007/10/art100018140.php |publisher=times.co.nz |last=Taylor |first=Phil |date=17 October 2007 |accessdate=26 October 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110525071956/http://www.times.co.nz/cms/front_page_feature/2007/10/art100018140.php |archive-date=25 May 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and the election was humorously termed a 'Lenslide' by some.<ref name="GREYMAN"/> He was sworn in on 26 October 2007 at the Manukau City Council hall.<ref name="SwornIn">{{cite news| url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10472198 |title=Ovation as Brown sworn in |last=Haka |first=James |publisher=nzherald.co.nz |date=26 October 2007 |accessdate=26 October 2007}}</ref>

On 31 May 2008 he suffered a heart attack, while at a music awards ceremony. The condition arose from a previously unrecognised congenital heart problem and Brown was admitted to [[Auckland Hospital]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10513706|title=Manukau mayor collapse footage seizure denied|publisher=The New Zealand Herald|date=1 June 2008}}</ref> Brown had successful heartcoronary artery bypass surgery two days later and made a full recovery, returning to mayoral duties after a few months.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10559155&pnum=0|title=Mayor Len Brown – life after the last rites|publisher=The New Zealand Herald|date=28 February 2009|first=Phil|last=Taylor}}</ref> His wife acknowledged that the attack was not stress-related, but rather a family issue, with Len's mother having died from a heart attack at 47.<ref name="GREYMAN"/>

In August 2009, Brown announced that he would run for the mayoralty of the combined [[Auckland]] "super-city" in the [[2010 Auckland mayoral election, 2010]].<ref name="Announce">{{cite news|title=Len Brown puts hat in ring for super city mayoralty |newspaperwork=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |date=30 August 2009 |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10594141 |archiveurl=httphttps://wwwweb.webcitationarchive.org/6O1QFPhrU?url=web/20140326155440/http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10594141 |archivedate=1226 March 2014 |deadurl=no |dfurl-status=live }}</ref> His campaign speech focused on delivering public transport, public ownership of the region's public assets, environmental protection, economic and social development.<ref name="Announce" /><ref>{{Cite news|author=Collins, Simon |title=Social housing issue splits candidates |date=28 September 2010 |newspaperwork=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10676554 |archiveurl=httphttps://wwwweb.webcitationarchive.org/6O1UMqHMD?url=web/20140313000936/http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10676554 |archivedate=1213 March 2014 |deadurl=no |dfurl-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|author=Orsman, Bernard |title=Brown adds 'eco' to his city plan |date=17 August 2010 |newspaperwork=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10666629 |archiveurl=httphttps://wwwweb.webcitationarchive.org/6O1VCYQo7?url=web/20140312212321/http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10666629 |archivedate=12 March 2014 |deadurl=no |dfurl-status=live }}</ref> He won the position by a majority of 65,945 votes over main rival candidate, [[Auckland City]] mayor [[John Banks (New Zealand politician)|John Banks]],<ref name=FinalMayor2010 /> on 9 October 2010, spending approximately $390,000.<ref>{{Cite news|author=Rudman, Brian |title=Cash needed to grease wheels of democracy |date=12 March 2014 |newspaperwork=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/social-issues/news/article.cfm?c_id=87&objectid=11217949 |archiveurl=httphttps://wwwweb.webcitationarchive.org/6O1VUVPBZ?url=web/20140312212652/http://www.nzherald.co.nz/social-issues/news/article.cfm?c_id=87&objectid=11217949 |archivedate=12 March 2014 |deadurl=no |dfurl-status=live }}</ref>

====Credit -card and expense issues====

In June 2010, Brown came under media attention for matters relating to his spending on his council credit card and other council expense claims, which included items of a personal nature like toys, groceries and insect repellant.<ref>{{cite news |last=Marshall |first=Jonathan |url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/3781981/Brown-zaps-citys-card |title=Brown zaps city's card |publisher=[[The Sunday Star-Times]]|date=6 June 2010}}</ref> His subsequent explanations for these purchases were also scrutinised at a council meeting, where Brown repeatedly slapped his face and got emotional.<ref>{{cite news|author=Marshall, Jonathan|title=Manukau mayor Len Brown defends spending|newspaperwork= Fairfax NZ News|date=15 June 2010|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/3815687/Manukau-mayor-Len-Brown-defends-spending}}</ref> An advisor later explained that Brown's emotional behaviour was attributable to his use of a Maori tradition, which Brown subsequently denied.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=10656407|title=Len Brown's smackdown|publisher=[[The New Zealand Herald#Herald on Sunday|Herald on Sunday]]|date=4 July 2010|first1=Carolyne|last1=Meng-Yee|first2=Heather|last2=McCracken}}</ref> Another council expense claim included an $810 dinner at a restaurant, which Brown has refused to discuss who was in attendance.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/local-government/news/article.cfm?c_id=250&objectid=10654759&pnum=0|title=Only Jesus' scrutinised as much as me|publisher=[[The New Zealand Herald#Herald on Sunday|Herald on Sunday]]|date=27 June 2010|first=Carolyne|last=Meng-Yee}}</ref> He noted that the event was a fundraiser for a local singer for which the Council bought a table, an explanation later supported by the artist.<ref name="DINNER">{{cite news|title=Brown's dinner helps ex-bikie sing new tune|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10652692|accessdate=26 July 2010|work=[[The New Zealand Herald]]|date=18 June 2010|first=Bernard|last=Orsman}}</ref>

As Mayor of Auckland, Brown was an advocate for the proposed [[City Rail Link]],<ref>{{Cite news|author=RBG Technical Services |title=Len Brown determined to see rail link through |newspaperwork=[[New Zealand's Rhema]] |date=5 August 2013 |url=http://www.rhema.co.nz/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=823:len-brown-determined-to-see-rail-link-through |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131022114459/http://www.rhema.co.nz/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=823%3Alen-brown-determined-to-see-rail-link-through |archivedate=22 October 2013 |deadurl=no |dfurl-status=live }}</ref> to boost public transport usage. In June 2013, the National Government agreed to financially support construction of the rail project, and construction began in late-2015.<ref>

Brown was re-elected to the mayoralty in 2013, gaining 46.6% of the vote. In response to the low voter turnout (at 34% the lowest ever recorded in Auckland), Brown said the next election should include electronic voting and take place on one day, instead of being spread out over three weeks.<ref name=NZH2013/> In late 2015, he stated he would not contest the mayoralty at the [[2016 Auckland mayoral election, 2016|2016 election]], and was succeeded as mayor by [[Phil Goff]] as a result of that election.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://m.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11724629|accessdate=9 October 2016|title=Phil Goff elected Mayor of Auckland|date=8 October 2016}}</ref>

==== Extramarital affair ====

<!--Linked from redirect [[Bevan Chuang]] redirects here.-->

Days after his October 2013 re-election, stories broke regarding Brown having a two-year extramarital affair with Bevan Chuang, a younger woman who served on an Auckland Council advisory board, and having sex with this womanChuang in the mayoral office and town hall.<ref>{{cite news|title=Mayor Len Brown confirms affair|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/9285772/Mayor-Len-Brown-confirms-affair|newspaperwork=Fairfax NZ News|accessdate=15 October 2013}}</ref> Brown released a statement confirming the affair, though not the details on where they had sex.<ref>{{cite web|last=Brown|first=Len|title=Statement from Mayor Len Brown|url=http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK1310/S00612/statement-from-mayor-len-brown.htm|work=Scoop.co.nz|publisher=Scoop|accessdate=15 October 2013}}</ref> Later in the week, the woman he had an affair withChuang claimed to have been pressured to go public by a member of mayoral rival John Palino's election team to go public, which she later regretted.<ref>[http://www.3news.co.nz/Daughters-back-under-fire-Auckland-Mayor/tabid/1607/articleID/317580/Default.aspx Daughters back under-fire Auckland Mayor]doing. ''3 News NZ''. 17 October 2013.</ref><ref>{{Cite news|author1=Savage, Jared |author2=Orsman, Bernard |author3=Tan, Lincoln |title=Mayor provided reference for job at council-run art gallery |newspaperwork=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |date=17 October 2013 |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11141316 |archiveurl=httphttps://wwwweb.webcitationarchive.org/6O1Yi7Dy9?url=web/20140226141132/http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11141316 |archivedate=1226 MarchFebruary 2014 |deadurl=no |dfurl-status=live }}</ref>

The Auckland Council launched an investigation into spending by the mayor, which backed up his insistence that he never spent council money on his mistress, Bevan Chuang.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Council audit to probe how woman treated|newspaperwork=Radio New Zealand|date=21 October 2013|url=http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/225221/council-audit-to-probe-how-woman-treated|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131023054259/http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/225221/council-audit-to-probe-how-woman-treated|archivedate=23 October 2013|deadurlurl-status=nolive}}</ref> The report did find that he had received undisclosed upgrades from hotels around the city.<ref>{{Cite news|author=Beswick, Angela|title=Len Brown's hotel upgrades total more than $32,000|date=13 December 2013|newspaperwork=3 News (TV3 Auckland)|url=http://www.3news.co.nz/Len-Browns-hotel-upgrades-total-more-than-32000/tabid/1607/articleID/325070/Default.aspx|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131213173502/http://www.3news.co.nz/Len-Browns-hotel-upgrades-total-more-than-32000/tabid/1607/articleID/325070/Default.aspx|archivedate=13 December 2013|deadurlurl-status=nolive}}</ref>

The [[Serious Fraud Office (New Zealand)|Serious Fraud Office]] determined that the matter did not require further investigation or prosecution,<ref name="Solicitor-General">{{Cite news|author=Bennett, Lucy |date=28 February 2014 |title=Private prosecution against Len Brown shot down by Solicitor-General |newspaperwork=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11211691 |archiveurl=httphttps://wwwweb.webcitationarchive.org/6O1ZFZi5X?url=web/20140312212938/http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11211691 |archivedate=12 March 2014 |deadurl=no |dfurl-status=live }}</ref> and leave to bring a private prosecution for corruption<ref>{{Cite news|author=Ellingham, Jimmy |date=20 January 2014 |title=Len Brown prosecution a 'test case' |newspaperwork=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11189117 |archiveurl=httphttps://wwwweb.webcitationarchive.org/6O1Xi1pId?url=web/20140225125925/http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11189117 |archivedate=1225 MarchFebruary 2014 |deadurl=no |dfurl-status=live }}</ref> was denied by the [[Solicitor-General of New Zealand|Solicitor-General]] for lack of proper evidence.<ref name="Solicitor-General" />

{{Reflist|30em}}

{{s-ttl|title=[[Mayor of Auckland]]|years=2010 – 20162010–2016}}

[[Category:Mayors of Manukau City]]

[[Category:NewPeople Zealandeducated Romanat CatholicsDe La Salle College, Māngere East]]