Auckland mayor Len Brown is heading into the first day of his second term saying he wants to move on from the sex scandal that overtook his re-election.
Mr Brown was sworn in at a gala ceremony on Tuesday night, but his victory has been marred by revelations of an extra-marital affair.
Auckland mayor Len Brown. Photo: RNZ
Mr Brown says most councillors recognise the affair is a private matter for him, and he will be committing more time to his family during this term.
"Much of what I've been through reflects the fact that I need a better work-life balance and I'll be genuinely looking for that. I've had to admit that I'm a workaholic. So all of those things mean that for my family I need to find time."
The mayor made no reference in his inauguration speech to the controversy over the past fortnight since admitting that he had had a two-year affair with a member of a council advisory panel
Instead, he pointed to the challenge for the council this term of how to make big investments in transport without overloading Aucklanders with cost or debt, and indicated he was looking beyond the city boundaries.
"It's my aim to lead a debate across New Zealand about the way we fund local government. If it's possible to do that in ways other than rates lets explore them and debate them."
Noisy heckling continued through most of Mr Brown's speech, from a handful of people protesting about state housing changes in low-income Glen Innes.
Twenty councillors were also sworn in. Mr Brown has spread key political roles giving some committee chairs to senior centre-right members.
He told Radio New Zealand's Morning Report programme on Wednesday it was important to leave politics at the door when it came to allocation of roles for councillors.
He said the apppointments were made based on general competence, capability, seniority and enthusiasm for the job.
Mr Brown meets with the newly-installed Auckland Council for the first time on Wednesday.
