Viv Beck

2022 - 9 - 16

Post cover — Image courtesy of "New Zealand Herald"

'Heavy heart': Viv Beck quits Auckland mayoral race; rivals respond (New Zealand Herald)

Auckland mayoral candidate Viv Beck has pulled out of the race today, abruptly abandoning a bid that has been dogged by questions over campaign finances.

But it's not good enough and Aucklanders deserve better - which is a contest of ideas." To date, Collins has led the polls, but with support in the mid 20s, he is a long way off the 50 per cent of the vote secured by Brown and Goff at each of their two election victories. "Wayne needs to front up about his erroneous claims that Auckland's CCOs can be self-funded, he needs to front up about his wacky numbers on the Ports of Auckland and he needs to front up what he's selling or who he's going to fire to pay for the cuts that he's promising," Collins said. Kit Parkinson, president of the Communities and Residents ticket that endorsed Beck for the mayoralty, said this would have been a difficult decision for Viv but agreed it was the right decision to make at the right time as voting begins. Beck stood on a pro-business, centre-right platform with policies of getting tough on crime and dumping the Government's $14.6 billion light rail project for rapid buses alongside the Northwestern Motorway and from Botany to the airport. When the latest poll showed Molloy had dropped from second to third, the self-described "hospo legend" said he could not win and removed his name from the ballot to help a "change" candidate beat Collins. "As mayor, I will take a tough line on costs and I will fix the big infrastructure projects that are over time and over budget to ensure value for money for ratepayers. Fellow candidate Efeso Collins also thanked Beck but now called on Aucklanders to back him "as the only candidate with a positive vision for this city". "I have also been heartened by the support I have received from people keen to see a different style of leadership governing our region and to those people, including C&R, I say a sincere thank you." "I am concerned about gross inaccuracies that have been said about me and my campaign and will be reflecting on the impact this type of behaviour has on democracy. "I'd like to see our region thrive, with a shared vision for a vibrant, inclusive and sustainable future and I look forward to playing my part in making this a reality." "I would like to acknowledge the hard work and unwavering support from my team, in particular the quality work on policies to address Aucklander's concerns.

Auckland mayoralty: Viv Beck withdraws from race (Stuff.co.nz)

Candidate Viv Beck has ruled herself out of the Auckland mayoralty, saying she doesn't want to split the centre-right vote.

Voting closes on October 8. [Mike Hutcheson, who’d agreed to step in and help, quit](https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/local-body-elections/129735281/auckland-mayoralty-beck-advisor-departs-opposing-cogovernance-ad) in a disagreement over a social media post in which Beck [declared herself against co-governance](https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/local-body-elections/129678067/auckland-mayoralty-viv-becks-position-shifts-against-cogovernance). [begin arriving in homes on Friday](https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/local-body-elections/129883352/auckland-local-election-voting-to-begin-with-fewer-post-boxes-but-more-dropoff-points). [said she owed it $353,000](https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/local-body-elections/129724011/auckland-mayoralty-viv-beck-committed-to-race-despite-unpaid-bill-row) and had not paid. [Auckland mayoralty: Viv Beck 'committed' to race despite unpaid bill row](https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/local-body-elections/129724011/auckland-mayoralty-viv-beck-committed-to-race-despite-unpaid-bill-row?rm=a) [It’s not my debt,” Beck told Stuff](https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/local-body-elections/129815666/its-not-my-debt-auckland-mayoral-candidate-viv-beck-breaks-silence-on-353k-campaign-advertising-row) on September 7, after a week of silence since telling the audience of the Stuff AUT debate that she would be making a statement on the ad agency’s assertion. [Auckland mayoralty: Beck advisor departs, opposing co-governance ad](https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/local-body-elections/129735281/auckland-mayoralty-beck-advisor-departs-opposing-cogovernance-ad?rm=a) ['It's not my debt': Auckland mayoral candidate Viv Beck breaks silence on $353k campaign advertising row](https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/local-body-elections/129815666/its-not-my-debt-auckland-mayoral-candidate-viv-beck-breaks-silence-on-353k-campaign-advertising-row?rm=a) [Efeso Collins](https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/129832113/death-threats-swastikas-racism-on-efeso-collins-campaign-trail) and businessman [Wayne Brown](https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/local-government/128196253/auckland-mayoralty-wayne-brown-the-fixer-fires-first-campaign-shots), along with media freelancer [Craig Lord](https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/local-government/128380366/auckland-mayoralty-craig-lord-wants-to-get-back-to-core-business), atop a field of 22 candidates. [the shock withdrawal of high-profile candidate](https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/300660330/restaurateur-leo-molloy-drops-out-of-auckland-mayoral-race) restaurateur Leo Molloy on August 12 – the last day before names would appear on voting papers. The National Party-aligned local body organisation Communities and Residents (C&R), which for the first time ever had endorsed a mayoral candidate for Auckland Council in Viv Beck, said it would not switch backing to another. “I am concerned about gross inaccuracies that have been said about me and my campaign and will be reflecting on the impact this type of behaviour has on democracy,” she said in a statement.

Auckland mayoralty: Viv Beck pulls out from race (RNZ)

Auckland mayoral candidate Viv Beck is quitting the race in a bid to avoid splitting the centre-right vote with Wayne Brown.

So her name still appears and yes, she could still be elected Mayor if she gets sufficient votes." "I want to thank Viv Beck for conducting her campaign with such grace and her willingness to engage with all sides and I wish her all the best for her next endeavours." Brown acknowledged the friendly and constructive way Beck had conducted her campaign though the revelations of her debt was "not a good look". "So now you have a choice between a person who wants to be careful with the spend and someone who wants to spend a lot." In a statement today, Beck said she was concerned about "gross inaccuracies" said about her and her campaign, and would be "reflecting on the impact this type of behaviour has on democracy". Auckland mayoral candidate Viv Beck is quitting the race in a bid to avoid splitting the centre-right vote with Wayne Brown.

Viv Beck pulls out of Auckland mayoralty race (1 News)

Auckland mayoral candidate Viv Beck. (Source: 1 News / Irra Lee). In a statement on Friday morning she said it's ...

Beck remarked she'd be "reflecting on the impact this type of behaviour has on democracy". The head of the Auckland CBD business association, Heart of the City, remarked she was concerned about "gross inaccuracies" which had been said about her and her campaign. Beck said her decision came "with a heavy heart" and thanked her team and supporters.

Viv Beck pulls out of Auckland mayoral race (The Spinoff)

It leaves Labour-endorsed Efeso Collins and centre-right candidate Wayne Brown as frontrunners. Jacinda Ardern has arrived in London ahead of the funeral of ...

“So this is a time for us to be there for him, and his family, too,’ the prime minister said. “At the end of the day, although this is a period of transition for him, he has also lost his beloved mother. “I’ll simply share the sorrow that New Zealand has, and pass on our deepest condolences.

Viv Beck Withdraws From The Mayoral Race | Scoop News (Scoop.co.nz)

Viv Beck has today announced her withdrawal from Auckland's Mayoral race. “My decision comes with a heavy heart but given the strength of concern about ...

“I would like to acknowledge the hard work and unwavering support from my team, in particular the quality work on policies to address Aucklander’s concerns. I’d like to see our region thrive, with a shared vision for a vibrant, inclusive and sustainable future and I look forward to playing my part in making this a reality.” “Overall, I am grateful to have had the opportunity to speak with so many people over the last few months and to hear their views on what needs to be done if we are to realise our region’s full potential.

Viv Beck withdraws from Auckland Mayoral race (Newshub)

The former Heart of the City chief executive, who has been polling behind the Labour and Greens-endorsed Efeso Collins and independent candidate Wayne Brown, ...

How Viv Beck's Auckland mayoral campaign went from bad to worse (New Zealand Herald)

Analysis: This has been such a shambles to watch, says one political insider.

Other members of the society were Hello managing director James Polhill and property developer Andrew Krukziener, who said he had supported Beck with a "six-figure pledge" which had been paid in two tranches. Parkinson ran for the hills, insisting the bill had nothing to do with C&R. Her campaign team was locked out of their Facebook account and website as a result. Beck labelled it misogynistic behaviour and carried on. Kernaghan didn't last long and was replaced by another media manager with National Party connections, Josh Beddell. Her name will remain on the ballot.

Viv Beck

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