"I've loved this job. It is my intention to stay as the Mayor" - Len Brown

UPDATE: Len Brown says he wants to stay Mayor of Auckland.

On Campbell Live, Mayor Brown said he told his wife and daughters about his extra-marital affair last week.

He would not stand down.

"I've been re-elected as the mayor. A very, very strong majority of people; nearly half of people who voted said they wanted me as Mayor," he said.

"I've loved that job with a passion and I love this city and I want to stay in that job. So, yes, it is my intention to stay as the Mayor."

LATEST: Pundits say Brown likely to survive

Mayor Brown said he had brought "harm, shame and humiliation" on his wife and family.

He also confirmed the identity of the woman with whom he had the affair - Bevan Chuang (32), an unsuccessful local board candidate for the conservative C&R at the recent election, and until recently a member of Auckland Council's Ethnic Peoples Advisory Panel.

Asked if he would have been re-lected if the story had broken before the election - particularly given his support base in lower-income but often Christian conservative South Auckland, Mr Brown said, "It's hard to say." 

He said the affair took place "sporadically over two years."

Asked when it ended he said, "Mid year-ish, just before the start of the campaign."

Mayor Brown said there was not any inappropriate spending involved. He had not had a council credit card since 2010. No council resources or spending was involved in the affair. Being Mayor as a 24/7 job. "I work 13 to 17 hour days, so it's always  my time. But council resources specifically, no," he said.

"I clearly have a challenge within my family and it is there where I have failed dismally. It's now there that I need to do some extraordinary repair work and show my family that I'm worthy of their trust and their love," he said.

But he saw his personal problems as separate from his role as Mayor. 

"I accepted and [voters'] mandate on the merits of the job I did. I maintain that commitment, as difficult as it is," he said.

On whether the affair reflected badly on his judgement, Mr Brown said, "I've had the need to make some very big calls through the past three years as the first Mayor of a united Auckland. It's been hugely challenging. And I'm proud of what we achieved and by and large the judgement calls we made. So people will judge whether or not I've been affected."

Asked if there is any more to come out, he said, "We'll you've got a fairly damning allegation there and it can't get any worse than that."

Mayor Brown said he did not know where Ms Chuang was working now, and was not aware of whether she had done work for another Mayoral candidate but added, "I think you'll find there is an element of political endeavour about the timing of this announcement."

On the question of whether he would take time off, he said, "The city does not wait. My challenges should not constrain us on our need to move forward ... My apologies, but stand by me."

When told a snap NZ Herald online poll had about 60% in favour of him resigning, Mayor Brown said, "Look, I'm reassuring you of what my commitment is [to staying Mayor], and I am very clear in terms of that commitment, but I am also listening to the community."

Watch Bevan Chuang talking about Auckland's Night Market here, and her July 24 interview with Len Brown on the TV9 website here.

LATEST: Pundits say Brown likely to survive

EARLIER: Auckland Mayor Len Brown has confirmed a two-year extra-marital relationship with a woman, revealed today on Cameron Slater's Whaleoil blog.

It is not yet clear what process would be followed in the event Mayor Len Brown considers his affair warrants his resignation.

However s117 (1) of the Local Electoral Act 2001 says an election must be held if an extraordinary vacancy in a local authority occurs more than 12 months before the next election, which would be the case if Mayor Brown decided to quit.

RAW DATA: Statement from Mayor Len Brown

“I don’t intend to comment on the highly personalised allegations made on a blog site this afternoon.

“But I do confirm that I had a relationship with a woman that lasted around two years.

“I told my wife previously, and she and I are working through the issues privately. We are looking to protect our children as best we can.

“These are matters of an entirely personal nature and I ask that the media respect my family’s privacy.”

Brown confirmed the woman was not a council employee but served on a council advisory board and stood in this year’s election for a local board.