Auckland mayor Wayne Brown Photo: MARIKA KHABAZI / RNZ
Auckland mayor Wayne Brown has told a ratepayers lobby group to "f*** off", in response to their request for him to join a pledge to keep rates down.
An email screenshot sighted by RNZ showed the mayor's curt reply to the Auckland Ratepayers' Alliance, with the subject heading - "Is Wayne Brown planning a rates blow-out?".
A spokesperson for Brown's campaign said in a statement that the mayor wished to be "unambiguous", after what he sees as a bombardment by the group's PR stunt emails.
"Their so called pledge is unrealistic and meaningless," the statement said.
The Auckland mayor's 'unambiguous' response. Photo: Supplied / Auckland Ratepayers' Alliance
The spokesperson said the mayor directed his expletive at "the idea of a planned rates blow-out".
Sam Warren from the Ratepayers' Alliance said the mayor's "f**** off" comment are like water off a duck's back - "He's known as Mr Grumpy for a reason," he added.
However, while the mayor is entitled to his own opinion, Aucklanders are fed up with high rates, said Warren.
He said the 7.9 percent rate increase to be delivered in 2026/2027 is upsetting.
"Wayne Brown likes to frame himself as a ratepayer hero. He talks the talk, but won't walk the walk. Hundreds of incumbent and hopeful candidates around New Zealand have signed the Ratepayer Protection Pledge. Other cities' leaders are saying 'yes' and have signed the Pledge. So should Mr Brown.
"Unless Wayne Brown changes tack, he'll be delivering the highest ever rates hike for the Super City. He should be swearing about that."
The Ratepayer Protection Pledge asked candidates to commit to opposing any measures that will see the burden of rates exceed the level of inflation and population growth.
It also asked them to support initiatives to improve the transparency of council expenditure, and oppose unelected appointments onto council committees that hold spending and regulatory powers.
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