"[7] He was also reported as promising to stop ratepayer funding for the organisation, calling it a "tourism promotions company" and - at other times - a "travel agency"[8] while questioning why the council was "subsidising" it.
[9] Upon assuming office as mayor, however, he was quoted as saying that he was "pleasantly surprised" with the organisation after attending a governing body briefing presented by the CCOs.
[8] During the campaign an article on the news website - Stuff - was critical of Brown's position on Auckland Unlimited and his depiction of it as a "travel agency," pointing out that the organisation runs major Auckland assets such as "the zoo, theatres, stadiums, galleries and other facilities and self-funds 44% of its operation.
The organisation presented its quarterly report to the CCO Direction and Oversight committee of the council's governing body; the presentation reportedly made mention of the fact that the Art Gallery missed its target of 13,000 visitors between July and September, and only had 9516.
This reportedly led to the mayor making various "disparaging" remarks about the Art Gallery, including "How do we get to have 122 people looking after a few paintings in a building that nobody goes to?"