'Making a nuisance of himself': Man challenges mayor’s account of clash

Author: Barry Soper & Ethan Griffiths ,
Publish Date: Fri, 17 Jul 2026, 6:45pm

Auckland mayor Wayne Brown (inset) alleged a guest at the fundraiser for Auckland central candidate Candace Kinser "took a swing" at him.

The man at the centre of an altercation with Auckland mayor Wayne Brown at a National Party fundraiser claims Brown was “making a nuisance of himself” - and a glass was broken when he questioned him about his behaviour.

Brown is staying by his account of the event, including that the man “took a swing” a him. Brown didn’t respond to any of the man’s claims to Newstalk ZB on Friday.

Newstalk ZB and the Herald first revealed the alleged incident this morning, which took place at property developer Graham Wall’s Ponsonby office during a fundraising gathering for National’s Auckland Central candidate Candace Kinser.

The man on the other side of the incident, who wishes to remain anonymous, claims Brown “was making a nuisance of himself all night, saying things that made people cringe”.

He claims Brown “constantly” interrupted Kinser when she was speaking.

At the end of the speech, in a kitchen area, the man said he asked Brown: “What gives you the right to speak to people in the way you do?”

The man claims Brown then “lost it”.

“A glass was broken. People who were there dealt with it, and Brown left”.

The claims are different to Brown’s version of events.

When Brown was initially phoned for comment at 7:30pm on Thursday, he said: “Nothing happened, mate - nothing to talk about,” before hanging up.

But shortly before 10pm, Brown’s office provided a statement and said that an attendee, who Brown didn’t know, “took a swing” at him.

“The Mayor refutes any allegation that he initiated a physical altercation. This was someone being physically threatening and aggressive, who took a swing at him.”

Asked for a response to the man’s claims today, Brown’s office said he stood by his earlier statement.

The man says Brown’s recollection has been twisted 180 degrees.

Earlier today, the Herald reported comments from another attendee, who didn’t witness the incident.

“It was a bit of a spat between old blokes who have known each other for 50 years and had drunk a bit,” they said on the condition of anonymity.

Another attendee, Kinser’s campaign manager John Hanna, said he was at the event and in the kitchen at the time the man and Brown engaged.

“I did not see that,” he said. “I don’t remember anyone taking a swing.”

Hanna said he was among a group of people who were engaged in lively conversation in the kitchen.

“There were two old blokes chatting. There was a glass that broke but nothing to do with any aggression at all.”

Asked if it was knocked by someone gesticulating, Hanna said: “I talk with my hand as well.”

In his statement, Brown said he had noticed a rise in threatening behaviour, and linked it to lobby group the Auckland Ratepayers Alliance.

“The threatening sentiment that has been stirred up by lobbying groups like the Auckland Ratepayers Alliance is problematic and needs to stop.”

In response, Auckland Ratepayers Association spokesman Josh van Veen said the claim was “bizarre” and police should investigate.

“Violence has no place in democracy. Police should investigate the alleged assault. Political disagreements must be settled through debate, not intimidation, and everyone should be able to participate in public life without fear.”

Barry Soper ONZM is Newstalk ZB’s senior political correspondent. Barry was ZB’s political editor for many years after first joining the station and the press gallery in 1980. His best-selling book, One Last Question, Prime Minister, was published in 2026.

Ethan Griffiths is a political reporter with Newstalk ZB, based in the Parliamentary Press Gallery. He joined NZME as a print journalist in 2020, previously working as an Open Justice reporter in the Bay of Plenty and Wellington, and as a general reporter in Whanganui.