City fathers clash over travel

The global jaunt by two Auckland City councillors is turning into a political stoush at home between Mayor Dick Hubbard and his deputy, Dr Bruce Hucker, over the burgeoning cost of overseas travel at ratepayers' expense.

Mr Hubbard has taken potshots at Dr Hucker and two of his closest City Vision allies, Vern Walsh and Penny Sefuiva, saying the month-long trip was too long and he was not consulted.

The Mayor has called for strict new controls on overseas travel, such as business class airfares, and suggested the council review the number of sister city relationships by possibly dumping Los Angeles.

Dr Hucker hit back by saying business class travel was here to stay. The partnership committee, controlled by his City Vision-Labour block, had no intention of dropping Los Angeles and was looking to add Hamburg to the list of five sister cities.

Mr Walsh and Penny Sefuiva broke the council record for overseas travel held by the previous council when they ran up $44,000 of an $85,000 bill travelling business class round the world looking at art galleries, museums and sporting facilities with two officers in April and May.

Between them, Mr Hubbard and councillors have spent more than $105,000 of ratepayers' money on 22 overseas trips in the first 18 months of this term.

The last council spent $92,000 in the first two-and-a-bit years.

Revelations about the cost of Mr Walsh and Penny Sefuiva's "study tour" has led to dozens of emails to the Herald website and news desk. The vast majority have called the trip a waste of money and expressed outrage at the council's policy of councillors approving their own business class travel.

It has also emerged that the two officers on the trip, recreation and community services manager Cameron Parr and community planning manager Mark Vinall, travelled in economy or premium economy while Mr Walsh and Penny Sefuiva sat up front in business class with luxuries such as French champagne.

Last night, Dr Hucker said travelling business class on trips beyond Australia allowed councillors to arrive refreshed and start work immediately, rather than suffering the effects of jetlag. He was unaware that Mr Parr and Mr Vinall flew economy or premium economy.

Auckland and Waitakere are the only two large cities in the Auckland region that allow councillors or the Mayor to fly business class beyond Australia.

The leaders and councillors from North Shore, Manukau and the Auckland Regional Council travel economy class on all flights.

Auckland Regional Council chairman Mike Lee went further: "There is no valid reason for me to go overseas."

Mr Hubbard said he did not believe he had damaged his relationship with two of his most powerful colleagues, Dr Hucker and Mr Walsh, who chairs the finance committee, with his comments and calls for greater controls and accountability on overseas travel.

"As Mayor of Auckland I have to say how I see things. I am accountable to the people of Auckland and if they ask questions in any particular area they are entitled to my views on overall stewardship.

"I accept and understand overseas travel will always be a sensitive issue."

Dr Hucker said Mr Hubbard had the right to exercise his views and propose a policy change but ultimately it would have to go through council.

Business class or economy

Auckland City Council: Business class for flights longer than 7 hours.
Manukau City Council: Economy class for all flights.
North Shore City Council: Economy class for all flights.
Waitakere City Council: Business class for flights longer than 6 hours.
Auckland Regional Council: Economy class for all flights.

Sister Cities

Brisbane, Australia (since 1988)
Busan, Korea (1996)
Fukuoka, Japan (1986)
Guangzhou, China (1989)
Los Angeles, United States (1976)