John Banks (New Zealand politician)
John Archibald Banks CNZM QSO JP (born 2 December 1946) is a New Zealand former politician. He was a member of Parliament for the National Party from 1981 to 1999, and for ACT New Zealand from 2011 to 2014. He was a Cabinet Minister from 1990 to 1996 and 2011 to 2013. He left Parliament after being convicted of filing a false electoral return – a verdict which was later overturned.[1][2][3][4]
John Banks
In between his tenures in Parliament, he served as Mayor of Auckland City for two terms, from 2001 to 2004 and from 2007 to 2010.[5] When seven former smaller councils were combined into one to run the Auckland 'supercity' in 2010, Banks unsuccessfully ran for mayor again.[6] The electoral return that he filed after that campaign, detailing donations received and campaign expenses, was the subject of Banks' conviction and eventual acquittal.[3][7] After new evidence came to light, it was decided in May 2015 that there would be no retrial.
Before politics[edit]
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 in 1977.[12] In 1980 he was elected a member of the Auckland Regional Authority for Birkenhead.
Mayor of Auckland City[edit]
First term 2001–2004[edit]
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 transport projects such as the Eastern Transport Corridor. Banks' personal style, coupled with his mayoral agenda, polarised many Aucklanders. In 2001 he was caught speeding on a jet ski close to the beach, not long after criticising boy racers.[23]
He also said Asian immigrants had filthy habits such as spitting on footpaths.[24]
Honours and awards[edit]
In 1990, Banks was awarded the New Zealand 1990 Commemoration Medal.[85] He was appointed a Companion of the Queen's Service Order for public services in the 2000 New Year Honours,[86] and a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to local-body affairs, in the 2011 Queen's Birthday Honours.[87]