Len Brown's use of billboard fine

Auckland Mayor Len Brown. Photo / Greg Bowker

The Audit Office has found it was not inappropriate for a charitable trust to allow Auckland Mayor Len Brown free use of its billboard to promote his mayoral campaign.

In December, Local Government Minister Rodney Hide called for an investigation into the Countries Manukau Pacific Trust's contribution to Mr Brown's campaign after concerns trust staff were tied up with it.

In a letter to the trust, Assistant Auditor-General Nicola White said the trust did not show "a significant lapse of judgment or lack of probity" and it had properly managed its conflict of interest.

The Auditor-General was also satisfied that there was no inappropriate use of ratepayer funds.