Council big wigs talk it up

Waitakere boss Vijaya Vaidyanath had the highest mobile phone bill of council chief executives - $4993 for the 2008-2009 year.

Next were Kaipara District chief executive Jack McKerchar ($3163), Auckland City's David Rankin ($3141, including a new phone), Far North District's Dave Edmunds ($2258), and Michael Ross from Waitake District ($2086).

All said personal calls were repaid, and a large portion of the bills related to data charges from accessing emails through their phone.

Vaidyanath said her bill reflected the high cost of keeping in touch while overseas on official trips, and during a personal trip to India for a family bereavement. Under normal circumstances charges would be lower.

Rankin said he often used his phone to access emails between meetings because it was the most efficient use of his time.

A Kapiara District spokeswoman said staff had a large area to cover and were often out of the office.