An opinion poll for the preferred Mayor of the new Auckland super city shows Manukau Mayor Len Brown has a slight lead over Auckland City Mayor John Banks.
Results of the Herald-Digipoll survey published by The New Zealand Herald on Saturday give Mr Brown an approval rating of 29.6% and Mr Banks 28.7%.
The poll shows Mr Banks has improved his popularity rating after a similar survey in May showed him trailing Mr Brown by 11 points.
Four other candidates are reported to have polled poorly with North Shore Mayor Andrew Williams in third place on 3.9%.
The sample size of the survey was not revealed and the margin of error was 3.5%.
Voting closes on 9 October. The new Auckland Council comes into being on 1 November. It will comprise eight existing councils.
