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A political salvo aimed at wounding the leadership aspirations of Manukau mayor Len Brown is still causing outcry in South Auckland tonight.
Last night on the Close Up debate , Banks told Brown he didn't "want South Auckland replicated across the North Shore and across all of Auckland".
Banks said Brown had "led a social disaster, his city has been a social disaster for Auckland".
Brown, Banks' main rival for the role of Super City mayor said today Banks' comments were out of line.
"We are going to be coming together as a united people of Auckland and we're going to start by addressing our strengths and opportunities and not by being fixated by what our challenges are," he told ONE News.
Banks is also being criticised by long-time residents of South Auckland.
"I think his comments are very divisive, they are very old fashioned. How on earth can one man lead one city when he has a very entrenched view about South Auckland?," said Colleen Brown, a Manukau City Councillor.
"I have lived here for 20 years, I love the place, I choose to live here, so do a lot of other people. As a mayor of a city you need to have a political awareness of what to say and what not to say and he he's alienated a very huge number of people by these comments which is unwarranted in my view."
But the Auckland mayor stands by his comments and denies he's playing race-based politics.
"It's not about race. It's about people who feel they've been left well and truly by their civic leadership and it's simply not good enough," Banks said.
One commentator says although Banks has created controversy, he has raised a social issue worthy of wider debate.
"He's quite right that it is very difficult to talk about Manukau in terms of the whole range of social issues that need to be addressed without people jumping up and down saying we're doing lots of wonderful stuff," said Metro editor Simon Wilson.
The results of the Local Body Elections in all areas will be known on October 9.
What do you think of John Banks' comments? Have your say on our messageboard below.
Add a Comment:
Post new commentzing said on 2010-10-01 @ 14:43 NZDT: Report abusive post
The backlash about John Banks's comment are typical of the crap that exists in NZ. The elephant in the Auckland room is South Auckland but one mustn't talk about it. Why? Cos you're not allowed to tell the truth in NZ. You might offend some minority losers whose only form of defence is to mobilise the local gang. The word 'gutless' comes to mind. Let's have some debate.