Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown meets his deputy Desley Simpson for first time since she eyes his job

Record number of travellers bound for Waitangi, Treaty Principles Bill described as the tip of the iceberg and expectations that unemployment will rise. Video / NZ Herald

Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown has had his first catch-up with his deputy Desley Simpson since it was revealed she may challenge him for his job.

Brown posted on social media he met with Simpson yesterday - “our first proper catch-up after the holidays”.

“We are focused on fixing Auckland,” said the mayor.

Desley Simpson met Mayor Wayne Brown yesterday for the first time since news of her interest in his job became known. Photo / Dean Purcell

Yesterday was the first time the pair has spoken properly since Simpson returned from a holiday in Italy on Thursday - the same day the Auckland Ratepayers’ Alliance revealed the domain “Desleyformayor.co.nz” had been registered.

“Simpson has been long-rumoured to want a tilt at the top” said Auckland Ratepayers’ Alliance spokesman Sam Warren.

Simpson, the councillor for Ōrākei, told the Herald on her return the domain was “a bit of a laugh”, but did not rule out standing.

She confirmed she had been thinking about running for mayor but it was “a bit soon” for a decision.

The Herald approached Brown and Simpson to ask what they discussed at the meeting, and what Simpson told the mayor about any plans to stand against him at October’s local body elections.

On Monday night, Brown said he was yet to speak to his deputy and that an earlier Herald report was incorrect.

“I haven’t asked the Deputy Mayor to stand down. We have not spoken,” he said on Monday.

In a statement, Simpson confirmed she had spoken to Brown but declined to comment further.

Announcing Simpson as his choice as deputy in October 2022, Brown said she was “universally admired for her integrity, professionalism and loyalty, and her ability to get things done through the council bureaucracy and committee processes”.

Deputy Mayor Desley Simpson and Mayor Wayne Brown have spoken about being a great team.

“Desley and I are going to be a great team,” he said.

In 2023, Simpson described Brown as very smart, astute and committed.

“He’s not a professional politician and I don’t believe he needs the money. He is here because he passionately has a few things he wants to deliver and wants to fix and leave Auckland in a better place.

“From my perspective, that’s why I’m here too. I think we are very complementary…the sum of two parts makes a good team,” said Simpson.

Dozens of supporters have called on Simpson to stand for mayor in a post on her Facebook page. “Run Desley run”, one supporter said.

Writing on her own Facebook page, Ōrākei Local Board member Penny Tucker said: “I have no idea whether or not she’ll stand for Mayor but I wish she would. Our city needs all the good character it can get. I think our city needs Desley to stick with us”.

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