Anne gets political I'M GOING TO DO SOMETHING!

Auckland's Real Housewife is ready to get stuck in and clean up her city

- Rebekah Hebenton

Anne BatleyBurton has had many titles in her life: the Champagne Lady, the Cat Lady and even a Real Housewife. With the local elections on the horizon, she's looking to add a new moniker to her collection - politician.

Anne is running for a seat on the Waitematā Local Board in Auckland on the Communities & Residents (C&R) ticket. Though she never had political aspirations, she grew tired of sitting around talking about how bad things were and was inspired to take action.

"I've been asked a few times to put my hand up and run for the local board, but I'm always so busy," says Anne, chatting to the Weekly at her Auckland home. "But I feel like, particularly since Covid, everything has gone downhill so badly and everywhere you go, people are moaning about it.

"I thought, 'I'm going to do something - I'm going to put my hand up this time."" The business mogul is particularly passionate about tackling crime in the CBD and making the desexing and microchipping of cats free.

After decades in business, Anne is confident that her people skills will be one of her greatest assets if elected.

"My father always used to say I should be an ambassador's wife, and I would say, 'Why not the ambassador?"" she laughs.