Cameron Brewer

Cameron Eric Brewer (born 8 March 1973) is a New Zealand former politician who was an elected representative on Auckland Council for nine years – a two-term Auckland Councillor for Orākei Ward, and one term as an elected member of the Rodney Local Board as part of the Rodney First ticket – before retiring at the 2019 local body elections to focus on his business.

Brewer in 2010

Early years

Born in Hāwera on 8 March 1973, Brewer attended Wanganui Collegiate School (1986 to 1990) and Massey University (1991 to 1994) where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Double Major: History & Sociology.[1] During 1995 he was a vocal tertiary student leader after being elected Student President at the Western Institute of Technology where he studied Print Journalism and edited the student publication. In early 1996 he founded and edited Dunedin-based community newspaper Inside Otago before selling it in late 1998. He was then employed by Parliamentary Services in Wellington, as a Writer in the National Party's Research Unit and as a Press Secretary to the Leader of the Opposition. From 2002 to 2004 Brewer was Communications Adviser to the Mayor of Auckland City.

Between 2005 and 2010 he was the chief executive of the Newmarket Business Association.[2]

Political career
Auckland Council
Years Ward Affiliation
2010–2013 Orakei Independent
2013–2016 Orakei Independent
2016–2019 Rodney Local Board Rodney First

A former journalist, Brewer is a member of the New Zealand National Party and worked as press secretary to Jenny Shipley, John Banks and Rodney Hide.[3]

In the 2010 Auckland Council elections Brewer was elected from the Orakei ward while standing as an Independent, winning by over 7,000 votes – winning 18,235 votes or 55%.[1] He ran against Citizens & Ratepayers deputy leader Doug Armstrong. As a Councillor, Brewer was appointed Chairman of Auckland Council's inaugural Business Advisory Forum, Chairman of the Planning & Urban Design Panel, and Deputy Chair of the Economic Development Forum. His decision to contest the election as a right wing independent, was labelled as a betrayal by C&R members while the result was considered a humiliation for C&R in its "traditional heartland".[2][4][5]

In 2011 he decided not to contest the safe-National Party seat of Tāmaki, following the resignation of Allan Peachey, and also ruled out standing for the ACT Party.[6][7] In the past he has been considered as a potential candidate for the Mayor of Auckland in 2013.[8][9]

He was re-elected unopposed to Council in 2013. He did not contest the seat in 2016, instead stood for a seat on the Rodney Local Board.[10]

In October 2016 Brewer was elected on the Rodney First ticket which gained a majority of five members on the nine-person Rodney Local Board. He stood in the Kumeu subdivision, gaining 4,018 votes – polling the second highest of all the candidates standing for the Rodney Local Board. Brewer was Chairman of the Rodney Local Board's Transport, Infrastructure & Environment Committee from 2016 to 2019.

Brewer has been a member of the National Party since 1996 and since 2015 has resided in the Helensville electorate. Following the announcement of John Key's pending resignation as a member of parliament, it was speculated that he was considering standing in the electorate, but he ruled it out in early January 2017 citing family, business and local board commitments.[11]

References
  1. Local Elections 2010 results Archived 12 February 2013 at the Wayback Machine elections2010.co.nz
  2. Brewer's stance dubbed 'betrayal' New Zealand Herald, 15 July 2010
  3. Cameron Brewer To Stand In Orakei Ward voxy.co.nz, 15 July 2010
  4. Left, right and centre – it's a council for all New Zealand Herald, 11 October 2010
  5. Challenger splits centre-right in Tory heartland New Zealand Herald, 23 August 2010
  6. Act plans for 'aggressive stance' with National New Zealand Herald, 5 May 2011
  7. National's plum candidacy is ripe for picking New Zealand Herald, 14 October 2011
  8. High-profile councillor cagey about bid for top job New Zealand Herald, 4 July 2011
  9. Len Brown destined to rule the roost in 'Bro-Town' The National Business Review, 13 December 2012
  10. New Zealand Herald (4 August 2016). "Auckland councillors bowing out". M.nzherald.co.nz. Retrieved 16 October 2016.
  11. Orsman, Bernard (8 December 2016). "Cameron Brewer considering Helensville seat". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 8 December 2016.
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