Just charge it to the rates bill

Seven council bosses have charged more than $10,000 to their ratepayer-funded credit cards in the past financial year - but the top spender won't say where the money went.

Invercargill City Council chief executive Richard King claimed privacy reasons for withholding statements for his $25,000 bill.

Figures released under the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act show King's bill was the highest among unelected chief executives in the 2008-2009 year, followed by bosses of Waitakere, Rangitikei, Manukau and Palmerston North councils.

Expenses charged back to ratepayers included rugby season tickets, memberships for Air New Zealand's Koru Club lounges, travel to conferences in Switzerland and San Francisco, restaurant meals and taxi fares.

King, who pleaded guilty in September to drink driving in his council-owned car, was on leave and couldn't be contacted.

Council finance director Dean Johnston, who was on a council-funded trip to Norway last week, said all the spending was authorised, and included conference expenses for the mayor, deputy mayor and senior councillors.

Other costs included petrol, food for lunch meetings, hosting visiting delegations and furniture for the council building.

Invercargill Mayor Tim Shadbolt, who was also in Norway, could not be contacted.

His card was the subject of scrutiny in April, when he was found to have made 242 personal transactions in 18 months.

The Mayor said he reimbursed all private spending, and had since handed the card back, the Southland Times reported.

King's refusal to supply statements has been referred to the Ombudsman.

Waitakere chief executive Vijaya Vaidyanath said some of her $17,558 bill was incurred on a visit to India as part of a Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade delegation.

The trip also involved visiting sister city Pune, promoting West Auckland's film industry, and establishing links between education institutes.

Manukau chief executive Leigh Auton travelled to Switzerland for a week-long high performance leadership course, charging some of the $24,000 cost to his credit card.

He also paid for the council's $1950 table at a Variety charity dinner, and $200 season tickets to watch the Counties Manukau Steelers in the Air New Zealand Cup as the council's contribution to the club.

Rangitikei chief executive Clare Hadley's $14,139 bill included travel and expenses for staff and elected members who don't hold credit cards.

A spokeswoman said an $80 payment to a beauty spa in Bulls was a gift for an employee from a neighbouring council who ran a team-building session.

Palmerston North chief executive Paddy Clifford said his bill included $4354 for the Mayor's flight to Hanoi to open an office attracting international students.

Clifford repaid $2500 of the costs incurred when he attended an international city manager's conference in San Francisco.

Auckland City Council chief executive David Rankin trimmed his spending from $15,000 two years ago to just over $3000, which covered travel, taxis and conferences.

But he was one of three CEOs to hold a Koru Club membership, along with Stephen Parry from Gore District Council, and Charles Hakkaart from Clutha District Council.

Wanganui District Council's former chief executive David Warburton paid for Big Day Out tickets on his credit card - but staff said the tickets were for two youth workers to attend as part of a council initiative.

Dunedin City Council chief executive Jim Harland, who spent $9173, was one of the most frequent fliers.

In 12 months he visited Auckland six times, Wellington four times, Christchurch twice, and also took in Melbourne, Sydney, Rotorua, Paihia, Nelson and Westport. A council spokeswoman said Harland was often invited to speak.

The Herald on Sunday requested credit card bills from the chief executives of New Zealand's 67 city and district councils.

All but seven replied and the rest said they had lost the application or needed more time to respond.