Two Manukau City councillors at the forefront of attacks on Mayor Len Brown's credit card spending have been revealed to be sticklers for claiming expenses.
One claimed reimbursement for an expense of less than $2.
Papers released under the Official Information Act to The Aucklander show city councillor Dick Quax - an Olympic and Commonwealth Games medallist - claimed $1.54 for travelling to a meeting 2km from his house.
He is also recorded as claiming $11.20 for driving to a speed-reading course.
Mr Quax is yet to pay $1500 for a two-day resource management course which he failed to attend in 2008.
But he told the Herald he had requested an invoice and was intending to repay the council.
Fellow councillor Jami-Lee Ross claimed $14 for driving to an Anzac Day ceremony in 2008.
Records show that from November 2007 to May 31 this year, Mr Quax and Mr Ross's general expenses rated in the top three among the 16 councillors.
Mr Quax's general expenses claim was highest, at $5037.21, and Mr Ross's was third highest, at $4090.78.
When mileage claims are included, Mr Quax is second at $10,834.96, after councillor David Collings, who claimed $11,033.43. Mr Ross claimed $8537.43.
Mr Quax's seven small-print pages of claims range from $1.54 to $1197.67.
Mr Ross's claims also run to seven pages.
The two are also among the highest-paid councillors, but there is no suggestion their claims were improper or outside council rules.
Both councillors have been highly critical of Mayor Brown's credit card spending, which included use of his council card to buy personal items.
And both are standing in the right-wing Citizens and Ratepayers ticket at the first Auckland Council elections in October.
Their group is campaigning against Mr Brown, who has a lead in opinion polls over Auckland City Mayor John Banks in the race to be Super City mayor.
Mr Quax was last night unrepentant about the relative triviality of his claims, saying all his expenses were legitimate.
"I'm entitled [to make the claim for $1.54] under our expenses. It just happens that I live near where that meeting takes place," he said.
"If I drive my car 1km, that's 70 cents - that's what I'm entitled to claim," Mr Quax said.
Asked if he thought the amount was tiny to put in a claim, he said: "Everything adds up. And it's justified."
Mr Ross said last night that he was entitled to the expenses, even if they were small.
Later, Mr Brown refused to discuss the two councillors' expenses claims.
"Dick and Jami have been very critical of me, but I'm not going to respond because I'm more interestedin discussing the big issues facing Auckland."
Revealed - Manukau councillor's $1.54 expenses claim
Len Brown. Photo / Sarah Ivey
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