Celebrities, billionaire Graeme Hart and a who’s who of property developers each gave up to $50,000 to fund Wayne Brown’s mayoral re-election campaign.

Electoral returns made public today show Brown was flush with about $606,000 in campaign funds, while his only serious competitor, Whau councillor Kerrin Leoni, received just $16,076 in four donations over the $1500 declaration limit.

She relied heavily on donations of less than $1500 to raise $83,111.83 to run her campaign, while Brown spent $323,872, with nearly $280,00 left over from his wealthy donors.

Leoni, a low-profile first-term councillor, stood little chance against the high-profile Brown, who romped home for a second term by a margin of 100,000 votes.

Auckland mayoral candidate Kerrin Leoni couldn't compete with Wayne Brown for raising election funds. Photo / Sylvie Whinray

Among the donors who gave $5000 to Brown were former All Black and Waiheke resident Marc Ellis, and Black Knights Football, which refers to Auckland FC, of which former All Black Ali Williams and his wife Anna Mowbray are minority co-owners.

Williams attended Brown’s election-night party at the West End Tennis Club at Coxs Bay, a short walk from the $24 million coastal home he shares with Mowbray.

Through his Rank Group company, Hart, who is worth an estimated $12.1 billion, gave $50,000 to Brown’s campaign. Property investment firm Tramco Group, whose directors own big landholdings on the Auckland waterfront, also chipped in with $50,000.

Other donors included Precinct Properties ($10,000), engineering firm BECA ($5000), Park Hyatt Hotel ($18,400), Hancocks Wine ($8000), Golf Warehouse ($20,000), Bayleys Real Estate ($10,000) and Hopper Developments ($5000).

Wayne Brown at his celebration event with wife Toni at the West End Tennis Club after being re-elected as Auckland's mayor. Photo / Jason Dorday

Leoni, who was the Labour councillor for Whau but stood as an independent in the mayoral race, received donations from former Auckland Mayor and Labour leader Phil Goff ($1500), former Labour minister Judith Tizard ($5000) and longtime Labour operative Greg Presland ($7576).

She said Brown had the advantage of building relationships during his first term to raise donations, but she was proud of obtaining 20% of the vote by raising and spending $83,000.

The greater handicap during the election campaign was the lack of mainstream media coverage, with live television debates largely watched by older people, who formed the largest group of voters, she said.

The election resulted in the lowest super city turnout of under 30%.

Leoni, a mother of twins who has degrees in politics and economics, Māori development and social services, said she was having a break from the council to refocus and would decide on what to do next in the New Year.

Former Mayor and Labour leader Phil Goff donated $1500 to Kerrin Leoni's campaign. Photo / Michael Craig

Brown, who has said he will not seek a third term, declined to say what would happen to the nearly $280,000 left over from his campaign, saying he does not comment on other people’s donations, except to say they were a sign of the level of support for what candidates stood for.

Auckland Council electoral officer Dale Ofsoske said there were no rules governing how candidates used leftover campaign funds, though many choose to keep them for future campaigns.

Candidates could do what they liked with the money, he said.

Three years ago, Brown raised $310,000 in donations and had to dig into his own pocket to top up the $470,00 cost of his campaign.

Donations of $10,000 or more to Wayne Brown

Tramco Group - $50,000

Rank Group - $50,000

CP Group - Aphi Funds manager - $25,000

Peninsula Capital $25,000

Knight Investments Ltd - D Nakhle - $20,000

Hugh Green Ltd - $20,000

Stonewood Group - $20,000

Golf Warehouse - $20,000

Aedifice Development - $20,000

AHL Park Hyatt Hotel - $18,400

Clifftop Services - PC Cooper - $15,000

Mr MJ Todd - $15,000

Gilligan Rowe & Associates - $11,000

Liu Vincent - $10,000

Southside Group - Chris Jones - $10,000

Van Den Brink - $10,000

Williams Corporation - M. Horncastle - $10,000

Precinct Properties - $10,000

Oyster Capital - $10,000

Bayleys Real Estate - $10,000

N McKenna - $10,000

Donations of $1500 or more to Kerrin Leoni

Greg Presland - $7576

Judith Tizard - $5000

Te Ata Thompson - $2000

Phil Goff - $1500