Manukau mayor Len Brown defends spending

BY JONATHAN MARSHALL

Last updated 20:53 15/06/2010

Hamish Coleman-Ross

A passionate and sometimes emotional Len Brown has addressed fellow Manukau city councillors over accusations of inappropriate use of his council credit card.

HAMISH COLEMAN-ROSS

UNDER FIRE: An emotional mayor Len Brown promises Manukau he'll face up to scrutiny of his council credit card spending at a recent meeting.

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Embattled Manukau mayor Len Brown gave an emotional defence to his controversial credit card spending to a council meeting tonight.

Calling the meeting a "Kangaroo court" he said he would bring in the auditor general to check and clear his expenditure with the council issued credit card.

He has faced intense scrutiny over his council Visa, which he used to buy several personal items such as a Christmas ham and stereo system.

At the Policy and Activities Committee meeting the council's finance director Dave Foster was grilled for around two hours about why Brown had been allowed to use his card against official policy for so long.

Brown broke down in tears as he said the last few days, since news broke of him breaking credit card policy, had been some of the worst in his career.

"It is my integrity in question and therefore I want to apologise," Brown said.

"If I have a weakness it is the fact I spend too much time being out there and not enough time in my office doing my administration.

"I could have done better and if I get the chance I will."

He said he would be asking the Auditor General to investigate his expenses as had been done with National minister Phil Heatley. However the Auditor General said yesterday afternoon that no comment would be made.

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