The NZ Herald rates the Auckland Council half way through their first term. In order:

• Cameron Brewer A
• Mike Lee A
• Cathy Casey B+
• Sandra Coney B+
• George Wood B
• Dick Quax B
• Chris Fletcher C+
• Ann Hartley C+
• Richard Northey C+
• Arthur Anae C
• Len Brown C
• Michael Goudie C
• Penny Hulse C
• Noelene Raffills C
• John Walker C
• Wayne Walker C
• Penny Webster C
• Des Morrison C-
• Calum Penrose C-
• Alf Filipaina D
• Sharon Stewart D

The comments on Cameron Brewer are:

Brewer is leader of the opposition, and more effective than the entire C&R team combined. Some accuse Brewer of being a self-publicist, but there is no more effective councillor at getting their name in the media.

Brewer has unashamedly postioned himself as the leading opponent of Brown and provided an alternative voice. The ambitious Brewer says he has no plans to challenge Brown next year. He is probably too far to the right to lure the middle ground.

I think Cameron would be a very serious contender in 2016, if Brown is re-elected for a second term in 2013 – which is far from certain.

Tags: Auckland Council, Cameron Brewer, Len Brown

Bernard Orsman writes in the NZ Herald:

First-term Auckland councillor Cameron Brewer is not ruling out challenging Mayor Len Brown for the mayoralty in 2013 after making a big splash in his first eight months.

The Orakei councillor and National Party member said a challenge was “highly unlikely … but you never rule anything out in politics”.

Speculation is growing about Mr Brewer’s political motives after he was the only councillor to vote last week against Mr Brown’s first budget and rates increase of 3.94 per cent.

I think Cameron will become Mayor of Auckland at some stage. But that is a different issue to whether he should stand in 2013. Personally I think he would be better placed to stand in 2016.

Tags: Auckland Council, Cameron Brewer

The headline in the Herald is:

Brewer’s stance dubbed ‘betrayal’

No, this is not a fall out between brewing companies, but in Auckland politics.

Newmarket Business Association chief executive and National Party member Cameron Brewer is taking on the Citizens & Ratepayers establishment for the Orakei seat at the Super City elections.

Mr Brewer confirmed yesterday that he was stepping down as the self-styled Mayor of Newmarket to stand as an independent candidate for the single-member Orakei ward against C&R’s Doug Armstrong.

A split between centre-right candidates could result in the seat going to Labour/City Vision. If that happens, those responsible won’t be popular. On the other hand, it is such a blue area, that even with a split, the prospect isn’t highly likely.

“This is a decapitation strike,” a senior C&R member said of the decision by Mr Brewer to challenge the right-leaning ticket.

“He is making enemies out of some of his closest friends. I’m pretty angry. John Slater feels betrayed,” the member said.

Mr Slater, C&R president, Newmarket Business Association chairman and former National Party president, said approaches were made to Mr Brewer last year about standing as a C&R candidate but he indicated he was past politics.

Mr Slater did not think Mr Brewer would win Orakei against Mr Armstrong, whom he credited with doing a “stirling job as chairman of the finance committee”.

From Fiji, where he is holidaying, the 67-year-old Mr Armstrong said Mr Brewer lived 17km away in Pt Chevalier and was “not one of us”.

“He is a worthy opponent, but a relative novice. I stand on my record on rates and delivering amenities, such as resanding of Kohimarama beach,” Mr Armstrong said.

Mr Brewer, a former press secretary to Auckland City Mayor John Banks and National Party Prime Minister Dame Jenny Shipley, said he respected Mr Armstrong but the public were calling for new faces to bring a fresh and energetic approach to local body politics for the next six, nine or 12 years.

“I’m that person,” Mr Brewer said.

Time will tell. It will be one of many interesting races to follow.

Tags: Auckland Council, C&R, Cameron Brewer

The Herald headline is:

Ex-National MPs deluging Citizens & Ratepayers card

I think the sub-editor is getting a bit excited here, as the deluge is in fact just two ex MPs, and as one is an ex Mayor also, that is the more relevant I would say.

Former National MPs are filling the ranks of the Citizens & Ratepayers ticket with the announcement that Marie Hasler will contest the Waitakere ward for the Super City.

The former Waitakere MP and Cabinet minister joins former National Cabinet minister and Auckland City Mayor Christine Fletcher seeking a position for C&R on the Auckland Council.

But the real focus is on Mr Brewer:

Meanwhile, speculation is growing about Newmarket Business Association chief executive and National Party member Cameron Brewer.

The Herald understands Mr Brewer has been approached about standing for C&R in the Waitemata and Gulf ward for the Auckland Council if Auckland Chamber of Commerce chief executive Michael Barnett does not contest the seat.

Mr Barnett was selected as the C&R candidate but withdrew in May after being diagnosed with throat cancer.

Yesterday, he said he was halfway through treatment and his position had not changed.

The Herald understands Mr Brewer, 37, is also considering going head-to-head with C&R’s Doug Armstrong in the blue-ribbon Orakei seat to provide a young and energetic alternative to the 67-year-old retired engineer.

He is polling to assess his name recognition and see if he could get elected as an independent councillor.

It will be very interesting to see what Cameron does.

Tags: Auckland Council, Cameron Brewer

Cameron Brewer is well known as the ranking media whore in New Zealand. His ability to get his name or the name of the Newmarket Business Association in the media is legendary.

I think he may have set a new record with this story though:

Ross Bay was yesterday ordained Anglican Bishop of Auckland.

His ordination and installation as 11th Anglican Bishop of Auckland took place in Parnell’s Holy Trinity Cathedral in front of about 1000 people.

Cameron Brewer, chief executive of the Newmarket Business Association, described Bishop Bay’s rise in the church as “meteoric”

He’s even worked himself into a story on the new Bishop of Auckland. Amazing.

Tags: Cameron Brewer

Newmarket Retailers Assn CEO Cameron Brewer writes:

Increasing the goods and services tax would hurt the country’s retailers just as they’re getting back on their feet. Christmas trade was an improvement on the previous year, but retail is still not out of the woods.

It would impact retailers, but the issue is what tax cuts would we get to compensate, and what would be the impact on the overall economy.

I’d be against GST going up, with no reductions in other taxes. But there is an argument to be made for slightly more taxation on consumption and less on income.

My wife tells me that before GST came into effect nearly 24 years ago, she remembers her mother rushing off to buy a vacuum cleaner. So yes, leading up to an increase taking effect, there would be a rush on consumption.

However the shops would then go quiet as people’s cost of living went up overnight.

Yep, but an increase from 12.5% to 15% is a lot less of an impact than bringing in a 10% GST. On an item that did cost $100 a 10% GST increased the cost by well 10%. That same $100 item now already costs $112.50 and would go to $115. That extra $2.50 is an 2.2% increase in total price – less than the annual inflation rate of late.

If an increase in GST is to lead to a fall in consumption, a tightening of business margins and a Government being hurt politically, it is hard to imagine theFinance Minister announcing it in his second Budget.

There are political risks around any GST increase. However it occurs to me that the overall economy as a whole would grow faster with less tax on income and capital and savings and a bit more tax on consumption. The target is a 30% top tax rate for individuals, trusts and companies. Now before the recession and Cullen’s last budget, one might have been able to do that by reducing surpluses. However unless one is politically suicidal, it will take several years of spending restraint to get back into surplus.

Tags: Cameron Brewer, GST

Cameron Slater blogged on how to get free parking in Newmarket. Newmarket Lord Mayor Cameron Brewer is not happy and responds with some gentle jabs:

Whaleoil claims that in one Newmarket carparking building that offers the first 30 minutes free, people leaving can easily just get a fresh ticket which will get them out for free.

“However here’s the catch. I understand that the person would have to be at least over 150kgs to trigger the weight sensors which in turn trigger the ticket dispenser. For Whaleoil to be able to get a free ticket he must be mistaken for a small vehicle. He must be at least the size of a motorbike with an average size adult aboard.” …

“It is now time for this man to apologise to the people of Newmarket for promoting dishonesty and to the public of Auckland for misleading them, albeit that there might be some free parking for obese people, but they probably have access to our disabled parks anyway,” said Cameron Brewer.

What can one say!

Tags: Cameron Brewer, Newmarket, Whale Oil