Auckland Mayor Brown Criticises National over Accommodation Levy Rejection

Mayor Wayne Brown of Auckland has voiced strong disapproval regarding the National Party's recent rejection of a "bed tax" for the city. He suggested the party is "panicking" as the general election approaches, leading to missteps in policy.

The proposed levy, intended to fund major events and tourism infrastructure, was part of a city deal signed earlier this year between the government and Auckland Council. However, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon recently ruled out the levy entirely if National is re-elected, stating the party does not wish to impose additional costs on New Zealanders.

Mayor Brown countered Luxon's reasoning, describing it as "nonsense." He argued that the 2.5 percent levy is "peanuts" and primarily impacts visitors, not Auckland residents, who are already present in the city. "The public understand the bed night levy better than the National MPs do. It's not a tax. I mean, you don't pay it unless you get in a hotel," Brown stated.

Brown indicated that he is not interested in alternative funding methods that would shift the burden to taxpayers, noting that "taxpayers and the ratepayers are the same people, actually." He believes that whichever party forms the government after the election will likely reconsider the levy.

The mayor also criticised the government's recent move to cap council rates increases at 4 percent annually. He pointed out that Auckland's nearly 8 percent rates increase this year was necessitated by its contribution to the City Rail Link, while next year's projected increase of 3.5 percent is already below the proposed cap.

Brown suggested that councils often face financial inefficiencies when interacting with the central government, citing a costly road project in Northland as an example of misplaced priorities. He emphasised Auckland's significance, stating, "This is where the elections are won and lost and I'm quite good at winning elections in Auckland. I won by 100,000 votes last time. I don't know if anyone noticed that."