John Banks (New Zealand)

Infobox Officeholder


honorific-prefix = The Honourable
name =John Archibald Banks
honorific-suffix = QSO
nationality =NZL
birth_date =Birth date and age|1946|12|2|df=yes
birth_place =Wellington, New Zealand
spouse =
order=38^th Mayor of Auckland
predecessor=Christine Fletcher (2001)
Dick Hubbard (2007)
successor=Dick Hubbard (2004)
term_start=2001 - 2004
2007 - present
term_end=
order2=Minister of Police
primeminister2=Jim Bolger
predecessor2=
successor2=
term_start2=1990
term_end2=1996
constituency_MP3 = Whangarei
term_start3 = 1981
term_end3 = 1999
parliament3 = New Zealand
predecessor3 = "Seat created"
successor3 = Philip Heatley
party=National|

John Archibald Banks QSO (born 2 December 1946) is a New Zealand politician. For three years (2001 - 2004), he served as Mayor of Auckland and was re-elected to this office in 2007. [cite news|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10469691|title=Banks ousts Hubbard|publisher=New Zealand Herald|date=13 October 2007|author=Bernard Orsman|accessdate=2007-10-13] He is also a former Cabinet Minister for the National Party.

His personality, especially during the time of his first Auckland mayoralty term, has been called that of a bully, "raised by Sir Robert Muldoon in the ways of the bear pit". However, it has been commented on that his leadership style has become much less brusque and confrontative in recent times, something he himself ascribes to the "long, cold shower" he received in being defeated by political newcomer Dick Hubbard in the 2004 elections.

Before politics

Banks, born in Wellington, moved to Auckland while still at high school. His father, Archie, was a small-time criminal, who spent much of his life in prison, a fact Banks does not try to hide, going as far as to mention his father's prison experiences in his criticism of the style of the proposed Mount Eden Prisons building. [" [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/topic/story.cfm?c_id=290&objectid=10480111 Mayor incensed at high-rise jail plan Mayor incensed at high-rise jail plan] " - "The New Zealand Herald", Tuesday 04 December 2007] ]

In his career before entering politics, Banks worked as a market researcher in the pharmaceutical industry, as a commercial property developer, and as a restaurant owner. He served for a time as Chairman of the New Zealand Licensed Restaurant and Cabaret Association.

Banks began his political career in local-body politics with election to the Birkenhead Borough Council.

Member of Parliament

In the 1978 general election, Banks stood as the National Party candidate for the Roskill electorate, but was unsuccessful. In the 1981 election, he stood in a different seat, Whangarei, and won. He would retain this seat for the remainder of his parliamentary career.

Cabinet minister

When National won the 1990 elections, Banks entered Cabinet, becoming Minister of Police, Minister of Tourism, and Minister of Sport. He quickly gained a high public profile due to his controversial views, most of which reflected a highly conservative political outlook. His political opponents accused him of racism towards Māori and immigrants, and of homophobia. Despite this, Banks earned the respect of the Police force and senior police hierarchy as "one of their own". Banks also had a troubled relationship with some of his political colleagues, who were concerned over his allegedly confrontational style. Banks sometimes clashed with Prime Minister Jim Bolger and other senior ministers. In 1996, he resigned from Cabinet, becoming a backbencher after he refused to participate in the same cabinet as New Zealand First leader and coalition partner Winston Peters. At around the same time he also gained a position as the host of a talkback radio programme, taking over from former Prime Minister Sir Robert Muldoon.

Banks retired from Parliament at the 1999 elections.

Mayor of Auckland

First term 2001-2004

In 2001, he contested and won the Auckland City mayoralty, defeating the incumbent Christine Fletcher (herself also a former National MP). Banks remained controversial in his new role, although often regarding financial and management issues rather than social policy. He governed with the support of the traditional incumbent ticket at Auckland City, Citizens and Ratepayers Now. Banks brought in a streamlined decision making process at council, kept spending increases within inflation, sold half of the Auckland International Airport shares to pay off Auckland City's increasing debt and proposed massive roading and public transport projects such as the "Eastern Corridor". Banks' personal style, coupled with his mayoral agenda, polarised many Aucklanders. A serious challenge to his mayoralty came from philanthropic cereal-maker Dick Hubbard in late August 2004. Six weeks out from the next election, a "New Zealand Herald" public opinion poll gave Hubbard 32.2 per cent and Banks 27.3 per cent, with Christine Fletcher trailing by a wide gap.

The campaign gained notoriety as one of the "nastiest" and hardest-fought in memory. In September 2004, Banks's campaign manager, Brian Nicolle, resigned amidst allegations of "gutter politics" after he ordered distribution of copies of a "National Business Review" article highly critical of Hubbard to hundreds of letterboxes in Auckland, and then proceeded to deny it. Nicolle eventually confirmed he ordered the article distribution. This was done without the authorisation of Banks as the candidate, which helped make the story even more controversial during the campaign.

The "New Zealand Herald" poll's pattern held for most of the campaign as the postal votes came in. On October 9, 2004, Hubbard defeated "Banksie" in his bid to be re-elected as Mayor of Auckland. At the same time, the city also elected a centre-left council, dominated by the City Vision and Action Hobson councillors. In early interviews after his election loss, Banks stated that he would look after his varied business interests, both in New Zealand and Australia.

Post 2004 election

For a time, rumours suggested that he might return to national politics, standing as a candidate either for the National Party or for ACT New Zealand. Speculation eventually focused on ACT, and several meetings took place between Banks and senior party members. In the end, however, Banks declined to become an ACT candidate, despite indications that he could win a seat for the ailing party that would guarantee them representation.Fact|date=August 2007

In February 2005, Banks returned to talkback radio reprising his "Breakfast with Banksie" early morning radio show on Radio Pacific.

Re-election in 2007

In October 2006, Banks announced he was giving serious consideration to standing for the Auckland Mayoralty again. He indicated that if he did become Mayor again, he would practise a more inclusive style of leadership with a firmer focus on financial matters. He has indicated qualified support for the proposed 2007 "Hero Parade", which was an annual gay parade held in the 1990s prior to his becoming Mayor. [ [http://www.qna.net.nz/news/793.html (QNA)] ] Banks has confirmed that he has ditched the controversial Eastern Corridor proposal that caused a split in his voting base.

In July 2007 Banks announced his intention to stand for Mayor in the October 2007 local body election, running on a platform of "affordable progress" and transparency in council meetings. Polls soon showed him in a clear lead. [ [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10452012 Online surveys] ] Banks has campaigned heavily on platforms of affordable progess, plus openness and accountability, particularly in regard to Auckland City's leaky homes crisis.

On 13 October 2007, Banks was re-elected as mayor of Auckland, becoming the only the second Mayor in Auckland City's history to have come back to the Mayoralty after defeat, the other being Dove-Myer Robinson in 1968.

econd Mayoral term 2007-

Upon his successful re-election, Banks indicated a number of initial changes and spending cuts in order to meet his goal of keeping future rates increases at affordable levels. Banks and the Citizens and Ratepayers council majority re-introduced a streamlined council structure, bringing in five super-committees instead of the previous 14 committees. [ [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/author/story.cfm?a_id=67&objectid=10470090 Committee numbers among first targets of new-look council - 16 Oct 2007 - Bernard Orsman ] ]

Banks has also indicated that he wanted to reduce spending on Eden Park upgrades, refusing to put ratepayer money into a new rugby stadium. He has also indicated a reduction in spending on Mt Eden summit upgrades, and has indicated a desire to reduce capital expenditure in order to reduce rates rises. His council has reduced the planned rates rise from 10.3% to 5.1%.

Banks has also sent a signal that he wanted to reduce contentious water price rises as well, holding water price increases to 5.1% instead of the 10% plus water price rises planned under the previous Dick Hubbard led council.

Regional Governance

Banks has supported pushing for a unitary authority as a part of Auckland City's submission to the Royal Commission examining the Auckland Region's governance. He has considered running as mayor of a Greater Auckland, but noted that he hasn't decided yet, though he feels he would be suited for the post." [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10536851 What happened to bully Banks?] " - "The New Zealand Herald", Saturday 11 October 2008]

Private life

Banks is married to his wife Amanda and has three children.

Biographies

At present, there are two biographies of his life available. Paul Goldsmith's work is largely celebratory, while Noel Harrison provides a more critical perspective about its subject.

*Paul Goldsmith: "John Banks: A Biography": Auckland: Penguin: 2001: (Updated. Originally published 1997): ISBN 0-14-301819-1
*Noel Harrison: "Banks: Behind the Mask": Wellington: Estate of Lyndsay Rae Gammon: 2002: ISBN 0-476-00990-1

References

External links

* [http://www.johnbanks.co.nz Campaign website for 2007 Auckland City mayoral bid]