John Banks interview

A fairly amusing interview by Michelle Hewitson with the transmogrified (that term always makes me think of Calvin and Hobbes) John Banks. An extract:

To tell you the truth, I have been waiting for him to stuff up before going to see him in his second incarnation as mayor. He would not be offended by this: “You’re always remembered for your mistakes, not your achievements.”

But he seems to have been running along rather smoothly. He says he learned from his “three years in the wilderness” that his leadership style had to change and, amazingly, he seems to have managed it. I did ask around a bit and heard “obliging, transparent, inclusive”. He says, “It is still important to disagree but it is not necessary to be disagreeable”. Which suggests that he does now agree that he was disagreeable. “Of course.”

The interview also touches on how well he is working with ARC Chairman Mike Lee, despite their different political outlooks.