Auckland City mayor Len Brown confirms 2-year affair with council board member

Tuesday 15th October 2013

Len Brown, who was re-elected mayor of New Zealand's largest city with an increased majority last weekend, has admitted to a two-year affair with a woman who served on a council advisory board.

Brown made the statement after the WhaleOil blogsite published intimate details of the affair, saying the mayor had relentlessly pursued the woman, almost half his age, through texts, emails, phone calls and at social and council events. He had eventually ended the affair abruptly.

"I don't intend to comment on the highly personalised allegations made on a blog site this afternoon," 57-year-old Brown said, according to a statement published on Scoop. "But I do confirm that I had a relationship with a woman that lasted around two years. "

Brown said he had told his wife about the affair "and she and I are working through the issues privately. We are looking to protect our children as best we can."

He said the affair was "an entirely personal" issue and asked for privacy for his family.

The woman served on a council advisory board and stood in this year's election for a local board, he said. His statement made no mention of his tenure as mayor of Auckland Council.

The mayor's press secretaries couldn't immediately be reached to answer questions or comment.

BusinessDesk.co.nz

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