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Home / New Zealand

Former Waikato DHB boss spent $350 in taxi fares in last month on the job

Nikki Preston
By Nikki Preston
NZ Herald·
23 Jul, 2018 04:50 AM3 mins to read

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Waikato DHB's former chief executive Nigel Murray racked up $350 in taxi fares in a single month. Photo / File

Waikato DHB's former chief executive Nigel Murray racked up $350 in taxi fares in a single month. Photo / File

Waikato DHB's former chief executive Nigel Murray racked up $350 in taxi fares in a single month last year.

Newly released expenses from the Waikato DHB show he also spent $1502 on mobile and iPad rental, data and calls between July and October last year while he was on leave so his spending could be investigated.

Murray spent $218,000 during his three years at the helm of Waikato District Health Board, $120,000 of which a State Services Commission inquiry found was either unjustified or unauthorised.

Today Waikato DHB disclosed its chief executive expenses on time for the first time in four years, showing the acting and interim CEOs who took over from Murray spent a combined $8895 since July last year.

Their expenses have been submitted to the State Services Commission.

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The expenses, published on the DHB's website, show interim chief executive Derek Wright has spent a total of $7754 on domestic travel and accommodation during his eight months in the role. A further $481 was spent on his mobile and tablet plans.

Neville Hablous, who was acting chief executive for three months following Murray's departure, claimed $557 for travel, which comprised a return airfare to Wellington for a meeting with other DHB CEOs. He also claimed $103 for his mobile phone.

Wright and Hablous' expenses are in stark contrast to Murray's.

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His 12 month expenses ending June 2017, already reported, show he claimed $57,353 during his last year as chief executive alone.

The expenses included $48,555 on international and domestic travel expenses including several visits to the US, Canada and Australia.

A further $924 was spent on hospitality and $7874 on other expenses.

The latest expenses, released today, reveal that in the 11 weeks Murray was on extended leave between July and October 2017 while the DHB investigated his entire spending, he claimed an extra $1502 on mobile and iPad rental, data and calls before resigning on October 5 over the spending controversy.

Discover more

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Serious Fraud Office to investigate health boss Nigel Murray's spending

21 Mar 09:00 PM
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Ex chief's leave gave access to DHB files

19 Mar 08:48 PM
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DHB chair took Nigel Murray to rugby, arranged realtor

29 Mar 04:00 PM

He also racked up $350 on taxis mainly to and from the airport in June last year, however these expenses were only reported in the latest round.

Waikato DHB was criticised by State Services Commissioner Peter Hughes earlier this year for allowing Murray to resign instead of suspending him after it discovered the extent of his spending.

And former board chairman Bob Simcock failed to tell the board the SSC recommended Murray be terminated if any untoward spending was found.

Instead, by allowing Murray to go on leave for 11 weeks during the investigation, the DHB enabled Murray to claim costs for his phone and iPad while he was paid more than $148,000.

The investigation itself cost $155,320.

The DHB previously said advice from a top employment lawyer was to allow Murray to resign.

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