Gary Brown for Albany Ward Councillor
GARY BROWN FOR ALBANY WARD COUNCILLOR
Elect Gary Brown – A True Local Hero for Albany Ward in 2025!
There are community champions—and then there’s Gary Brown, a name synonymous with heart, hustle, and hometown pride on the Hibiscus Coast.
As we head into the 2025 elections for Albany Ward, Gary Brown stands out not just as a candidate, but as a living, breathing embodiment of community spirit. With decades of service, boundless energy, and a deep-rooted love for the Coast, Gary’s commitment to the people, places, and potential of our region is unmatched.
A Legacy of Local Love
From organising high-impact fundraisers that have brought in tens of thousands of dollars for local charities, to sparking joy at community events with his trademark charisma and can-do spirit, Gary has dedicated his life to lifting up others—and doing it with a smile.
He’s no stranger to a jersey either! A proud Silverdale Rugby Club member since 1970, and a North Harbour rugby referee for 25 years, Gary’s sporting roots run deep.
And did we mention he’s a New Zealand beach flag champion (1981 & 1983), representing the Orewa Surf Lifesaving Club? Talk about dedication, discipline, and Coastie pride!
Heart of the Arts. Soul of the Community.
Whether it’s on stage, in the stands, or behind the scenes, Gary’s always present. An accomplished entertainer and supporter of the Hibiscus Coast Youth Centre, he’s inspired generations through theatre and youth programs alike. His passion for community development saw him on the original building committee for the Hibiscus Coast Leisure Centre—a space that has become a cornerstone for local families.
Future-Focused: Transport, Environment & #FerryPower
Gary is ready to tackle the big issues. He was a strong advocate for the Penlink development, he’s all-in on creating smarter transport solutions—by land and sea. He’s pushing for practical, sustainable options like a ferry service to ease congestion and reconnect us to the wider region. #FerryPower isn’t just a hashtag, it’s a movement—and Gary is steering it forward.
For Our Families. For Our Future.
Married to Tracey, a Funeral Director with Hibiscus Funeral Services, Gary is a proud dad to five incredible children, who have attended local schools. His motivation is simple: he wants to preserve and protect the Coast for the next generation—ensuring the beaches, parks, and community spirit he grew up with remain vibrant and accessible for years to come.
In 2025, vote for experience, passion, and progress. Vote for someone who’s not just part of the community—he’s the heart of it.
✅ Vote Gary Brown for Albany Ward – the Coast’s voice for a brighter future
More about me
Gary Brown was previously Chairman for 4.5 years and is now currently Deputy Chairman of the Hibiscus & Bays Local Board.
He’s a community person, serving the Hibiscus Coast in volunteering, event/fundraising activities that has raised tens of thousands of dollars for many charities.
Gary is involved in the following
- Has been an active North Harbour Rugby referee for 30 years.
- Member of the Silverdale Rugby Club since 1970 & a centurion for the Silverdale premier team.
- Former New Zealand beach flag champion in 1981 & 1983
Married to Tracey, a Funeral Director with Hibiscus Funeral Service, they have five children together, with 2 at school and 3 working.
Gary has been a full-time entertainer since 1992 and has travel extensively nationally and internationally performing to thousands of people.
He has been involved with local theatre and a supporter of the Hibiscus Coast Youth Centre and previously owned 2 restaurants and bars - The Three Lamps Tavern and the Boulevard of Dreams.
Gary was on the original building committee for the Hibiscus Coast Leisure Centre and is the founder of the NZ Walk of Fame on the Orewa Boulevard.
Gary cares greatly for the local community.
LATEST MEDIA RELEASE Sunday Star Times August 2025
“Yes we can.” Former US President Barack Obama's powerful slogan encapsulated a desire to achieve more and make things happen.
This sentiment is incredibly relevant to Auckland, which has diverse challenges and many opportunities in its future. So we need a Council that makes good decisions through careful consideration of the path ahead. Listening to all points of view, scrutinising information and making good sensible decisions. Every dollar spent by Council must represent real value for money. To achieve that, we need a team of Councillors willing to work together to advance our wonderful City.
Our Council needs to move beyond the political theatre and focus on what matters: delivering for our communities, fixing our infrastructure, and managing our finances responsibly. The job of a councillor isn't to block, grandstand and delay. A good councillor builds consensus, to bring people together, and to find a path to "yes."
As a candidate on the "Fix Auckland" ticket in Albany, we believe our city needs a direction defined by constructive collaboration, not endless political friction that leads to delays and inevitably - increased costs. Albany is a major part of our city and deserves a strong voice around the Council table. We need representation that focuses on improving local services and dealing with the massive impact of the rapid growth in our area. While keeping rates affordable. We will be strong advocates for our Ward, working to get the other 19 votes around the Council table to say ‘Yes” when we bring forward solutions.
Our Mayor Wayne Brown wants to focus on “Fixing Auckland”, that can mean taking some tough decisions. We joined his ticket because we share his commitment to finding solutions for Auckland, not just highlighting problems. The Mayor’s role is to lead, and a councillor's role is to work with that leadership to achieve the best outcomes for their ward and our city. This doesn't mean we will always agree, but it does mean we will always seek a way forward. In our experience in local government, the most successful initiatives are born from shared sense of direction.
As Councillors we won’t just vote "no" out of habit, we will work to shape a proposal into something that everyone can support. We won’t be afraid to disagree, but we are committed to finding a way to say "yes" to progress and positive change. And do so with an open mind. Our ticket is built on this principle.
By working together, we can achieve faster progress, more effective solutions, and Fix Auckland for everyone. And yes, we can!
The Five Step Process
Listening
I have a genuine desire to listen, appreciate others’ perspectives and reach consensus on the best course of action.
Collaboration
Auckland Council needs to strengthen relationships with iwi, private sector experts, Council-Controlled Organisations, Local Boards, central government, education professionals and the public to prioritise key initiatives.
Financially Prudent
We can’t put off infrastructure projects that will only become more expensive over time. So, we need to look at creative ways of raising capital and keeping costs down.
Be Creative
Don’t do vanilla. Don’t be bland. Be bold.
Let’s get back to the ‘can-do’ Kiwi attitude, embrace innovation and utilise technology.
The film industry has embraced Auckland. What other big business can we draw to our beautiful city and set ourselves up for the future?
Excellent Execution
We need to cut through bureaucratic red tape and resource consent constraints or some of you may say…all the BS!!
We have to remove barriers to success, providing the private sector, local Kiwi and all Aucklanders with the confidence we can continue growing in a fair and progressive way.
And while we’re on implementational best practice, let’s listen to our 21 Local Boards and let them get on with it. I currently chair the Hibiscus & Bays Local Board and know first hand our gifted board members are fully capable of defining priorities for rejuvenating their particular areas.
Updates
