It would be fair to say Tauranga local Greg Brownless has never been shy to put his hand up to help others.

The businessman/funeral director/ international relief worker/former city councillor is looking to add another string to his bow – Tauranga City Mayor.

Mayoral candidate Greg Brownless has thrown his hat into the ring. Photo: Greg Taipari.

An enthusiastic thespian who strangely admits jokingly he doesn't like the lime light told SunLive he lets his actions do all the talking.

And his actions scream putting others before himself. In 2004, he headed to Indonesia after the Boxing Day earthquake and tsunami to help 'repatriate” those who had died in the disaster with their loved ones.

'I ended up being there for six weeks on two different stints. We were sending the deceased back home.

'In Thailand, there were about 3000 or so foreigners killed. So that was a huge job. That was a bit of a profound experience. It made me reassess my priorities.”

A successful businessman, when Greg returned from his relief work and virtually gifted Greg Brownless Funeral Services now Legacy Funeral Services to the city.

'I thought ‘I'd like to do something for my own community and that's when I got the idea to gifting the business to the community. So I did that and the profits from thereafter have gone back to community groups.”

Greg guesses the gifting of his business has helped out more than 400 different community groups with more than $2 million shared to those groups.

A former five term, Tauranga city councillor and deputy mayor, Greg has recently returned from Australia to Tauranga, to take up his next big challenge, to run for Mayor.

He says six years away from local body politics had recharged his battery and raised his enthusiasm to now bring his business savvy to serve the city he calls home.

'Tauranga has always been home but I've been away so much. This year I decided I've had enough of being away from home.

'I've thought about the possibility of being Mayor, when I was on council, I never thought about running for Mayor. But now I'm nice and refreshed and I thought this would be a challenge and I like a challenge.”

Greg says his attributes are having a heart for the community and he has a good business sense.

One thing he is quick to point out is he is running as an independent.

'The one thing I'm strong about is that I am independent. I'm not being endorsed, I don't want to be endorsed by anyone. Because there is a perception at the moment that there is a group, that want a rugby stadium and a new museum and a new Bay Court and a library.

'Just think of Dunedin ā la rugby stadium. Think of what's happened there to their rate payers. They have been absolutely bearing the brunt of that.”

Including Greg, there are eight candidates who have confirmed they are running for Mayor. The others are Kelvin Clout, Murray Guy, Max Mason, Doug Owns, Noel Peterson, Graeme Purches and John Robson. Current Mayor Stuart Crosby is not seeking re-election.