Vic Crone officially declares Auckland mayoralty bid

See also: Mayoralty contender Crone talks commitment and competency

Vic Crone has resigned her role as Xero’s managing director, NZ and new markets, to focus on her tilt at the Auckland mayoralty, promising  she will bring fresh thinking and a focus on fiscal responsibility should she win next year’s election.

Officially announcing her candidacy at an event at Auckland learning centre Mindlab this afternoon, Ms Crone says she has been prompted to make her run by a desire for her children to “grow up in a city that thrives, prospers and embraces change.” 

She says that although Auckland “is facing huge imminent growth”, there is currently “no plan that addresses and embraces what's coming.”

“We must be a step ahead and we need to make some big decisions to get there,” Ms Crone says.

These involve addressing the issues of rates increases, council costs, transport and housing “head-on.”

There are no quick fixes for these, she warns, and any solutions must take into account future trends and developments.

Although she says she will run as an independent and would be happy to work with National and Labour if her bid is successful, she notes that she believes “strongly in the values of fiscal responsibility and share this view with others on the centre right.    

“I have had discussions with Auckland Future as it develops its thinking around our city, and expect to continue these discussions in the coming months.”

Ms Crone will not be announcing policy immediately.

Instead, in the next few months she will be seeking Aucklanders' views about what they see as the challenges facing the city, as well as beginning to present some of her own ideas.

“I want this process to be a dialogue,” she says. “I will be talking to people from across Auckland, in person and via online forums, from all walks of life to ensure I deeply understand the real issues Aucklanders face.  

“I believe strong leadership comes from listening and making informed decisions as well as having the foresight to drive fresh thinking. It is not about imposing my views on our city.”

As well as her mayoralty campaign, Ms Crone also announced the launch of a website to support it: http://vic4mayor.nz/

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