Former deputy prime minister Paula Bennett is again reportedly eyeing up the Auckland mayoralty after rumours she would before the last local election - but who else could put their name forward to lead the country's largest city?
Wayne Brown
Incumbent Wayne Brown had a turbulent first year on the job, with his response to Auckland's unprecedented flooding widely panned, and a tricky job tackling the council's significant budget shortfall.
However, the businessman has softened criticism after taking a compromise approach to his first budget, and having been strongly supportive of measures like congestion charging.
Auckland's mayor has given an exclusive interview to Q+A's Jack Tame following the release of a review on how his council handled the city's flooding. (Source: 1News)
The mayor's more pragmatic approach has been cautiously welcomed by some on the centre-left.
"Has Wayne Brown gone woke?" Metro Magazine suggested in a somewhat tongue-in-cheek cover towards the end of last year.
Speaking to the Herald, Brown hinted at running again, saying he would be "carrying on as if I will."
"I didn’t announce last time until eight months before and I wasn’t even living full time in Auckland - now with my profile I don’t need to announce until a month before."
The mayor now faces pulling together another heavily constrained budget and negotiating with the new coalition government. Brown has been critical of the scrapping of Auckland's regional fuel tax, saying it will strip hundreds of millions from council coffers.
In the past year, Brown has spoken of a "city deal" and has repeatedly wanted an "integrated transport plan" for his city - both would need to be negotiated with the Government.
Richard Hills
North Shore councillor Richard Hills was widely tipped to run on a Labour-aligned ticket two years ago, but held off as colleague - the late Efeso Collins - put his name forward.
At the time, he said: "I have recently been lucky enough to become a dad, something for a long time I never thought would be possible for us.
"I’m only three months into this important role as a parent and as a result, I won’t be putting my name forward as a candidate in the mayoral election.
"I had considered this role in the event mayor Phil Goff retires from politics and am thankful for the support and approaches I received, but the timing just isn’t right for my family and I."
The centre-left councillor has had a strong record winning elections in areas that are almost always coloured blue on Parliamentary electorate maps, alongside colleague Chris Darby.
In his ward, Hills represents the lower half of the North Shore - including Devonport, Takapuna, Northcote, Birkenhead and Beach Haven.
1News has approached Hills for comment about his intentions.
Desley Simpson
Deputy mayor and right-leaning councillor Desley Simpson has long been tipped as a mayoral contender but stayed out of the race at the last cycle.
Simpson most recently gained prominence for fronting media during last year's cyclone and flood recovery, often in the place of Brown.
She has not ruled out throwing her hat into the ring next time around.
"There are a lot of people asking me to step up. You never say never but I certainly haven’t made a decision," she told the Herald.
The Ōrākei councillor has long stood as a candidate under the Communities and Residents ticket, the National Party-aligned local body group.
Simpson, who is married to ex-party president Peter Goodfellow, has been a stabilising force for both Wayne Brown and also Phil Goff before him, who appointed her chairperson of the council's powerful finance committee in his second term.
Paula Bennett
Meanwhile, speculation has grown in recent months that former National Party deputy leader Paula Bennett will run to become the city's mayor.
It's not the first time Bennett's name has been rumoured, however, the former minister, under PM John Key, had previously denied she even wanted the job.
She has softened her tone in the past year.
In an interview with AM in June, Bennett said: "I can't say that I won't be going for it."
While her public comments have remained circumspect in recent days, an opinion column criticising Wayne Brown and anonymous sources, reported in the Herald, has kicked off a new round of speculation that she may be angling for a run.
Of Bennett's column, Brown reportedly responded: "Local government shouldn’t be a dumping ground for failed politicians who need an income. It is too important for that."
Does it matter right now?
No, not really.
Mayoral elections - even in New Zealand's largest city - are largely an open race until months out from nominations closing.
Wayne Brown's own candidacy two years ago was unexpected.
Politicians rumoured to run in the year prior included now-police minister Mark Mitchell, former National MP Nikki Kaye, and again Paula Bennett. None of the speculation would pan out.
Dynamics in the mayoral race are also hard to predict, given the idea itself of a single elected mayor governing a single Auckland city has only existed for voters since 2010.
The five local elections since have not featured an incumbent losing, only retiring, while Brown was the first non-Labour-aligned candidate to win the mayoralty in 2022.
Next year's election remains wide open for any left-field challengers.
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