Bassett gets book task

Dr Michael Bassett. Photo / APN

Historian and former Labour Cabinet minister Michael Bassett is expected to write a book chronicling the last 20 years of the Auckland City Council at a cost of $135,000 to ratepayers.

Right-wing Citizens & Ratepayers councillors have decided to fund the book from a pool of money saved by a pay freeze on councillors and community board members over the past two years.

The project is fiercely opposed by left-wing City Vision councillors, who believe it will glorify the majority C&R faction and is a "scandalous waste of public money".