Leaning left Efeso Collins stays in front of a exciting race for mayor of Auckland in a new poll commissioned by rival candidate Wayne Brown.
Collins was preferred by 16% of respondents, ahead of restaurateur Leo Molloy at 13%, Brown at 12%, the endorsed centre-right candidate Viv Beck at 10% and media freelancer Craig Lord at 5%. Of the 753 respondents, 45% were undecided.
Brown’s poll, by Key Research, focused on respondents who were likely to vote. That fitted in with his campaign, which targeted what he called “property owners 50 and older.”
Excluding the undecided, the numbers showed 28% support for Collins, Molloy at 23%, Brown at 21%, Beck at 19% and Lord at 8%.
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Brown was encouraged by the finding, saying: “After a period of some candidates raising their profile with publicity stunts, it is clear that this is an exciting race.
“As we get closer to the election, voters will increasingly look to see which candidate has the experience and skills to solve Auckland, which is a debate that fits my record.”
Collins said the poll confirmed it was a close race: “The only poll that really matters is the local elections that close on October 8, and I will continue to urge the public to vote in an election that is hugely important.” for the future of Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland.”
Brown’s campaign noted that the July 18-24 poll period followed Molloy’s appearance in a Newshub comedic interview with Guy Williams, which was full of explanation and ended with a boxing match.
The results are similar to the most recently published poll by Curia for the Auckland Ratepayers Alliancewho ran a full-page newspaper ad on Friday opposing Collins, the Manukau ward councilor backed by Labor and the Greens.
The July Curia-ARA survey of 500 Aucklanders found 35% undecided, but excluding this, Collins was supported by 27%, Molloy 23%, Beck 18%, Wayne Brown 15% , Craig Lord 13% and Ted Johnston 5%.
RICKY WILSON/Things
Seven Auckland mayoral candidates during a campaign debate in Takapuna.
Molloy claimed at the time that it showed the competition as a two-horse race between Collins and himself.
In the Wayne Brown survey, those who were undecided were asked to indicate who they could vote for – 365 showed a preference, with Brown being the best choice at 24%.
Beck was second with 22%, followed by Collins with 19%, Molloy 18% and Lord 8%. Another 8% had unspecified “other” candidates.
The poll also asked which topic was most important to respondents when deciding who to vote for.
The top category, with 22%, was a combination of, among other things: transport, roads, infrastructure and parking, followed by council power and leadership at 20%.
Climate change was top for only 4% and that of the government Three Waters Reforms – moving the municipality’s water activities to just 4 regional entities – combined with water quality, only 2% was top.
The Wayne Brown/Key Research poll has a margin of error of plus/minus 3.6%.
Nominations for the October 8 local elections will remain open until August 12.
Other declared candidates in the mayoral race include: Gary Brown, Ted Johnston, Michael Kampkes, John Lehmann and Michael Morris.