Among the donors who gave $5000 to Brown were former All Black and Waiheke resident Marc Ellis, and Black Knights Football, which refers to Auckland FC, of which former All Black Ali Williams and his wife Anna Mowbray are minority co-owners.
Williams attended Brown’s election-night party at the West End Tennis Club at Coxs Bay, a short walk from the $24 million coastal home he shares with Mowbray.
Through his Rank Group company, Hart, who is worth an estimated $12.1 billion, gave $50,000 to Brown’s campaign. Property investment firm Tramco Group, whose directors own big landholdings on the Auckland waterfront, also chipped in with $50,000.
Other donors included Precinct Properties ($10,000), engineering firm BECA ($5000), Park Hyatt Hotel ($18,400), Hancocks Wine ($8000), Golf Warehouse ($20,000), Bayleys Real Estate ($10,000) and Hopper Developments ($5000).
Wayne Brown at his celebration event with wife Toni at the West End Tennis Club after being re-elected as Auckland’s mayor. Photo / Jason Dorday
Leoni, who was the Labour councillor for Whau but stood as an independent in the mayoral race, received donations from former Auckland Mayor and Labour leader Phil Goff ($1500), former Labour minister Judith Tizard ($5000) and longtime Labour operative Greg Presland ($7576).
She said Brown had the advantage of building relationships during his first term to raise donations, but she was proud of obtaining 20% of the vote by raising and spending $83,000.
The greater handicap during the election campaign was the lack of mainstream media coverage, with live television debates largely watched by older people, who formed the largest group of voters, she said.
The election resulted in the lowest super city turnout of under 30%.
Leoni, a mother of twins who has degrees in politics and economics, Māori development and social services, said she was having a break from the council to refocus and would decide on what to do next in the New Year.
Former Mayor and Labour leader Phil Goff donated $1500 to Kerrin Leoni’s campaign. Photo / Michael Craig
Brown, who has said he will not seek a third term, declined to say what would happen to the nearly $280,000 left over from his campaign, saying he does not comment on other people’s donations, except to say they were a sign of the level of support for what candidates stood for.
Auckland Council electoral officer Dale Ofsoske said there were no rules governing how candidates used leftover campaign funds, though many choose to keep them for future campaigns.
Candidates could do what they liked with the money, he said.
Three years ago, Brown raised $310,000 in donations and had to dig into his own pocket to top up the $470,00 cost of his campaign.
Donations of $10,000 or more to Wayne Brown
Tramco Group – $50,000
Rank Group – $50,000
CP Group – Aphi Funds manager – $25,000
Peninsula Capital $25,000
Knight Investments Ltd – D Nakhle – $20,000
Hugh Green Ltd – $20,000
Stonewood Group – $20,000
Golf Warehouse – $20,000
Aedifice Development – $20,000
AHL Park Hyatt Hotel – $18,400
Clifftop Services – PC Cooper – $15,000
Mr MJ Todd – $15,000
Gilligan Rowe & Associates – $11,000
Liu Vincent – $10,000
Southside Group – Chris Jones – $10,000
Van Den Brink – $10,000
Williams Corporation – M. Horncastle – $10,000
Precinct Properties – $10,000
Oyster Capital – $10,000
Bayleys Real Estate – $10,000
N McKenna – $10,000
Donations of $1500 or more to Kerrin Leoni
Greg Presland – $7576
Judith Tizard – $5000
Te Ata Thompson – $2000
Phil Goff – $1500
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