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A supporter of John Tamihere says the Labour Party's ruling council should have stayed out ot the Auckland mayoralty race.
The council refused to renew Mr Tamihere's membership after he announced he was standing for the job, and endorsed sitting mayor even though he is yet to announce he will stand again.
Former Labour cabinet minister and party life member Dover Samuels says with two high profile former ministers in the race, the prudent step would have been to wish them both luck.
"John is very respected in the Māori community and the wider community in Auckland, and so is Phil Goff – people know his track record. John hasn't had the advantage of showing his strengths with regards to the affairs of Auckland but he certainly has with regards to national affairs. People know his abilities," he says.
The Auckland mayoral race is not run on party lines, and last election Phil Goff ran as an independent.
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