Lunch is on the house (or ratepayer)

Councillor with low workload has had the most free meals. Photo / Herald on Sunday

One Auckland City councillor has enjoyed 285 free lunches in the council cafeteria worth up to $2137.50, new figures reveal.

Bill Christian eats at the cafeteria more than twice a week, according to council figures from January 2008 to the present.

On days when councillors have business at the council, they are entitled to a meal worth up to $7.50 at the cafeteria on the 17th floor of the Civic Building. This is enough for a small hot meal or soup with a crusty roll and a hot drink.

Lunch at the cafeteria is viewed as an efficient and cost-effective alternative to catering for councillors at meetings.

City Vision leader and workaholic Richard Northey is the next most frequent diner at the cafeteria among the 20 councillors. He has had 223 lunches worth up to $1672.50.

The council figures do not reveal the exact bill to ratepayers for councillors' lunches.

After Mr Northey comes Labour councillor Leila Boyle (198 lunches worth up to $1485) and Citizens & Ratepayers councillor Aaron Bhatnagar (182 lunches worth up to $1365).

Independent councillor Mark Donnelly has had just one free lunch since January 2008 and deputy mayor David Hay has had 14 at up to $105.

Mayor John Banks has not claimed a single free lunch, but mayoral expense figures show he regularly claims a weekly $20 fruit bowl, his weekly early morning catch-up with senior executives and councillors comes with a $235 breakfast, and finger food and morning tea are provided in his town hall office.

Mr Christian, an independent councillor for 18 years, could not be reached for comment. He has one of the lowest workloads on the council as a member of the arts, culture and recreation committee that has met 26 times since January 2008 and the city development committee that has met 27 times.

He also has council business as a member of the zoo board, which meets at Western Springs.

FREE LUNCHERS
Top Three
* Bill Christian 285
* Richard Northey 223
* Leila Boyle 198

Bottom Three
* Ken Baguley 32
* David Hay 14
* Mark Donnelly 1

Source: Auckland City Council