Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown makes an announcement on the future of the Ports of Auckland on 7 May, 2024. Photo: RNZ / Marika Khabazi
Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown is rejecting claims he has not done enough to support flood-impacted residents in west Auckland.
It comes after West Auckland's flooding spokesperson Lyall Carter told RNZ that while deputy mayor Desley Simpson and other councillors had visited the community and listened to their concerns, mayor Brown had not.
In a statement to RNZ, the mayor's office said he had visited West Auckland numerous times since the 2023 floods at the invitation of local councillors Ken Turner and Shane Henderson.
The statement said the mayor had been actively involved in the work the council-led Recovery Office was doing to support affected homeowners across the city, and ensuring resilience and preparedness was top of mind.
"He has continually been updated about different issues that have needed the mayor's attention and support.
"The mayor led a plan, through the Long-Term Plan process, to respond to the devastating effects of flooding and negotiations with government around property buy-outs.
"The floods affected many communities in west and south Auckland and the mayor attended a groundbreaking event on 11 April for the first blue-green flood resilience project in Māngere, which was significantly impacted by the 2023 floods."
Carter argued that while Brown had been to West Auckland, the community did not feel heard when it came to concerns about ongoing looting and antisocial behaviour on flooded properties.
He said residents had wanted to share their ideas for how now vacant land could be better used.
"Mayor Brown has attended some photo opportunities and instructed westies about how to clean their gutters to mitigate flooding (while council-controlled streams and rivers remain clogged), but this invitation is to come and listen, not talk.
"Busy ministers, MPs, and councillors have joined us over the years to hear from the flood impacted community, and our challenge now is for mayor Brown to do the same.
"Mayor Brown has built his reputation on speaking his mind, so why won't he listen to flood-affected Westies speaking theirs?"
