March 15, 2024
Kightley ponders mayoral run
Actor and screenwriter Oscar Kightley is contemplating a run for the Auckland mayoralty.
The Sione’s Wedding star is serving his second term on the Henderson-Massey Local Board, and says he’s been fascinated ly the mechanics of local government since covering Waitemata City Council as a young reporter on the Auckland Star.
He told Radio Waatea talkback host Shane Te Pou the rapid growth in the west and south isn’t being matched with investment in the necessary transport infrastructure – and he’s like to bring back the sort of vision for the city shown by some past mayors.
“I think back to the sixties – I wasn’t here but Sir Dove Meyer Robinson wanted to bring light rail to Auckland and a big line of palm trees up Queen St. They were two of his biggest dreams and people says ‘no, we can’t afford it.’ How good would it be now if we had that sort of infrastructure or a place to build from rather than create it anew,” Mr Kightley says.
He’s talking to people about the prospects of taking on incumbent Wayne Brown or whoever stands in what could be a crowded field to replace him, with deputy mayor Desley Simpson, former National Party deputy leader Paula Bennett and bar owner Leo Molloy also possible candidates.