Business Class seating in the new Singapore Airlines cabins (777-300ER and A380). Supplied.
Business Class seating in the new Singapore Airlines cabins (777-300ER and A380). Supplied.
Auckland Mayor Phil Goff wants council bosses to end business class travel and fly premium economy on long flights.
The revised rule comes as a Herald survey of overseas travel by the chief executives and leadership teams of Auckland Council and the six council-controlled organisations (CCOs) shows they are taking fewer offshore trips after Goff began a crackdown last year.
The survey found council and CCO bosses racked up $524,487 on overseas trips to Asia, the United States, Canada, Europe and Australia in the first 11 months of Goff's leadership from November 2016 to mid-September last year.
Goff is still concerned with the level of spending and told the Herald that staff across the entire council will fly economy for flights of less than eight hours and premium economy for any over eight hours.
"Business class will be available if the relevant chief executive determines that the staff member must work immediately on arrival and there is no reasonable alternative," he said.
This is similar to the current rule allowing executives to fly business class, but Goff's message to fly premium economy will make chief executives think twice before signing off expensive travel bills.
Goff has also instructed chief executives to cut international travel by 30 per cent this financial year.
"We are developing new policy on sensitive expenditure including gifts, hospitality and travel, and this will go before the governing body on March 22," he said.
Auckland Mayor Phil Goff is putting the hard word on council chief executive Stephen Town(right) to cut travel costs New Zealand Herald Photograph
Regional Facilities Auckland (RFA), whose business units bring concerts, exhibitions and conferences from overseas, topped the survey with 29 trips totalling $191,283. It was followed by Auckland Transport with 19 trips costing $168,526.
Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development (Ateed), criticised by Goff last year over soaring travel costs of $926,606 has trimmed spending by senior executives.
In 2016, Ateed chief executive Brett O'Riley made seven overseas trips costing $62,134. In the 10 months before he left Ateed, O'Riley made two overseas trips costing $14,009.
New Ateed chief executive Nick Hill said greater rigour and accountability had been introduced to overseas travel, including a 10 per cent reduction target.
The new management team was also focused on strategies and priorities that had contributed to cutting overseas travel.
It was still crucial for Ateed to represent Auckland globally from time to time to attract visitors, investment and jobs to Auckland, said Hill, saying video conferencing was used wherever possible.
At Auckland Council, chief executive Stephen Town continued his frugal practice of keeping expenses to a minimum by not undertaking any overseas travel. His office spent $71,326 on overseas travel for former group chief financial officer Sue Tindal and chief operating officer Dean Kimpton, who flew business class beyond Australia.
Panuku Development Auckland executives made five trips costing $43,913, Watercare Services' eight trips cost $25,275 and Auckland Council Investments Ltd, which manages the council's shares in Auckland Airport and Ports of Auckland, made no trips.
Regional Facilities Auckland brings overseas concerts like Paul McCartney to Auckland.
RFA chief executive Chris Brooks said it worked with international promoters and galleries throughout the world to attract concerts and exhibitions, which meant people like Auckland Live director Robbie Macrae had to travel overseas.
Macrae's work took him to Glasgow, London, New York, Guangzhou, Australia and to the Edinburgh Festival for various negotiations with international promoters and agents.
Brooks went on a 12-day trip to Perth, Singapore, London and Nice in March/April last year costing $19,165 when three nights at the Sanderson Hotel in London's Soho, including expenses, cost $3158.
Brooks said the trip was to generate business. He could not name any business that had been generated, saying "these things take two to three years".
RFA said international travel was necessary to attract $68 million of commercial revenue, saying the big shows come from Broadway and London and international investors have to be convinced Auckland is a viable market.
"To compete in tough international markets we need to adopt accepted industry practices, which normally involve regular attendances at trade shows plus face-to-face negotiations and informal hosting opportunities."
Sue Tindal, group chief financial officer Number of trips - 3 Flights - $26,464 (two business class, one economy) Accommodation - $7212 Expenses - $1929
Dean Kimpton, chief operating officer Number of trips - 2 Flights - $18,864 (two business class) Accommodation - $3943 Expenses - $340
Patricia Reade, director people and transformation Number of trips - 5 Flights - $3834 (five economy class) Accommodation - $3599 Expenses - $1458
Phil Wilson, director governance Number of trips - 1 Flights - $912 Accommodation - $620 Expenses - $189
Karl Ferguson, director communications and engagement Number of trips - 2 Flights - $1092 (two economy class) Accommodation - $736 Expenses - $134
Total Number of trips - 11 Flights - $51,166 Accommodation - $16,110 Expenses - $4050 Grand Total - $71,326
Chris Brooks, chief executive Number of trips - 6 Flights - $18,542 (one business class, four economy, one covered by supplier) Accommodation - $4765 Expenses - $3637
Mohamed Mansour, director Auckland Conventions Number of trips - 4 Flights - $25,552 (three business class, one economy) Accommodation - $10,514 Expenses - $4756
Paul Nisbet, director Auckland Stadiums Number of trips - 4 Flights - $11,985 (one business class, three economy) Accommodation - $7445 Expenses - $2454
Robbie Macrae, director Auckland Live Number of trips - 8 Flights - $39,698 (five business class, three economy) Accommodation - $15,398 Expenses - $6272
Simon Tran, chief finance officer Number of trips - 2 Flights - $13,645 (one business class, one economy) Accommodation - $4957 Expenses - $1906
Jonathan Wilcken, director Auckland Zoo Number of trips - 1 Flights - $3257 (one economy) Accommodation - $1002 Expenses - $617
Rhana Devenport, director Auckland Art Gallery Number of trips - 4 Flights - $11,185 (one business class, three economy covered by Devenport, Auckland Art Gallery Foundation, Art Gallery of South Australia) Accommodation - $366 Expenses - $3330
Total Number of trips - 29 Flights - $123,864 Accommodation - $44,447 Expenses - $22,972 Grand Total - $191,283
Stephen Webster, general manager infrastructure delivery Number of trips - 1 Flights - $11,098 (one business class) Accommodation - $2898 Expenses - $544
Rebecca Chenery, business transformation manager Number of trips - 1 Flights - $694 (one economy class) Accommodation - $249 Expenses - $0
Total Number of trips - 8 Flights - $17,813 Accommodation - $6488* Expenses - $974 Total - $25,275 *Includes taxis/transport costs
Auckland Transport
David Warburton, chief executive Number of trips - 5 Flights - $25,523 (two business class, three economy) Accommodation - $9238 Expenses - $1022
Richard Morris, chief financial officer Number of trips - 1 Flights - $5391 (one business class) Accommodation - $329 Expenses - $2202
Roger Jones, chief technology officer Number of trips - 5 Flights - $49,558 (five business class) Accommodation - $13,093 Expenses - $10,067
Mark Lambert, chief transport services officer Number of trips - 2 Flights - $12,857 (one business class, one economy) Accommodation - $3198 Expenses - $833
Simon Harvey, chief people officer Number of trips - 1 Flights - $12,968 Accommodation - $0 Expenses - $0
Total Number of trips - 19 Flights - $116,930 Accommodation - $33,986 Expenses - $17,610 Grand Total - $168,526
Ateed
Brett O'Riley, chief executive Number of trips - 2 Flights - $11,057 (one premium economy, one n/a) Accommodation - $2952 Expenses - n/a
NIck Hill, new chief executive Number of trips - 1 Flights - $3502 (business class one-way, premium economy one-way) Accommodation - $653
Dean Butchers, general manager business attraction & investment Number of trips - 2 Flights - $5889 (one premium economy, one airline credit) Accommodation - $3546 Expenses - $1324
Patrick McVeigh, general manager business, innovation and skills Number of trips - 2 Flights - $6959 (one premium economy, one economy) Accommodation - $4588 Expenses - $130
