In accordance with our corporate policies to guide behaviour at work, gifts may only be accepted where there is a justifiable business purpose. Staff are required to declare all gifts.
Rēhita koha kaimahi Staff gift register
Auckland Council staff must declare all gifts (including hospitality) received from external parties, except for low‑value token items that are openly distributed by suppliers or clients. Low-value items may include inexpensive pens or water bottles given out as promotional items at training events or conferences.
What the staff gift register lists
The staff gift register only shows accepted gifts valued at $50 or more. We review and publish this information regularly.
The register lists the recipient’s name only for senior managers (department level managers or above). Other employees are referred to by position title.
Some gifts are provided to groups rather than individuals. Where appropriate, these gifts are consolidated and we show the total value and number of people who received them. In these cases, we list the department or team rather than individual position titles, except for senior managers.
We clearly indicate if a gift is offered to Auckland Council as an organisation, rather than to specific staff members.
What the staff gift register does not list
This gift register does not cover or list:
- gifts under $50
- gifts received by staff of council-controlled organisations. Watercare, Tātaki Auckland Unlimited and Auckland Transport maintain their own registers
- gifts received by elected members (councillors and local board members) which are declared and managed separately. You can Search elected members' register of interests
- travel, attendance or accommodation costs paid by central government, including events or meetings
- awards from recognised annual trade, industry, design or professional services functions and award ceremonies.
Low value gifts (gifts under $50)
Low value gifts include light refreshments and business courtesy items, for example branded pens and water bottles. Declaration of these items is not generally required under Our Charter.
This gift register does not cover or list:
- travel, attendance or accommodation costs, to or from events or meetings, paid for, or paid on behalf of, central government.
- awards presented at recognized annual trade, industry, design or professional services functions and award ceremonies.
Auckland Council gift register
| Date registered | Recipient | Title | Gift description | Offered by | Value estimate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
3/07/2025 |
| Head of Community Engagement | Lunch hosted by supplier. | GHD | $50 |
8/07/2025 |
| Associate General Counsel - Commercial | Attendance at the Institute of Finance Professionals NZ awards Auckland. Hosted by Simpson Grierson who were nominated for an award for a major council project. | Simpson Grierson | $120 |
8/07/2025 |
| Associate General Counsel - Commercial | Invitation to attend Law association breakfast with the attorney general, paid for by a supplier. | Simpson Grierson | $60 |
8/07/2025 |
| Manager Project Services | Attendance at the Civil Contractors New Zealand (CCNZ) awards evening in Tauranga representing Auckland Council. Hosted by council contractor McConnell Dowell, shortlisted for awards for council projects. | McConnell Dowell | $240 |
8/07/2025 | David Rankin and two other managers | Chief Executive Eke Panuku / CCO Transition Director, two other managers | Networking drinks event hosted by supplier for two staff. | Willis Bond | $90 |
9/07/2025 |
| Two staff from Auckland Urban Design Office | Attendance at industry networking event hosted by supplier for two staff. | Pricewaterhouse Coopers | $50 |
9/07/2025 | David Rankin | Chief Executive, Eke Panuku / CCO Transition Director | Lunch hosted by supplier. | GHD | $70 |
9/07/2025 | David Rankin | Chief Executive, Eke Panuku / CCO Transition Director | Lunch paid for by supplier as a farewell for Mr Rankin leaving the council group. | Colliers New Zealand | $70 |
15/07/2025 | Max Hardy | Director Group Strategy and Chief Executive Office | Two tickets to the opening night of Romeo and Juliet. | Auckland Theatre Company | $170 |
17/07/2025 |
| Associate Curator Music | Two tickets to chamber concert featuring young aspiring musicians. | Auckland Philharmonic Orchestra | $70 |
17/07/2025 |
| Librarian Community Engagement | PakNSave gift card and chocolates received as a thank you from a library customer. Shared with library staff. | Library customer | $50 |
21/07/2025 |
| Principal Local Business Advisor | Attendance at the Arts Laureates Awards at the Aotea Centre, gifted by supplier. | RCP (supplier) | $120 |
21/07/2025 |
| Principal Local Business Advisor | Gifts associated with travel from Korea Foundation trip to Seoul Korea. | Korea Foundation | $200 |
23/07/2025 |
| Four managers from Auckland Urban Development Office. | Construction and property industry drinks event hosted by supplier for four staff. | Chapman Tripp | $140 |
23/07/2025 |
| Head of Development, Resilience and Infrastructure | Attendance at Keystone Trust annual charity fundraiser event, paid for by supplier. | RCP (supplier) | $75 |
24/07/2025 |
| Three staff from Legal Services Department | Food and drinks for three staff, paid for by supplier to celebrate the end of a project. | Simpson Grierson | $90 |
30/07/2025 |
| Principal Advisor - Governance Strategy | Invitation to attend Interpreting Financial Information training day, hosted by Chartered Governance Institute. | Chartered Governance Institute | $1100 |
8/08/2025 |
| Manager and one other staff member from Legal Services department | Lunch paid for by supplier for two staff. | McDonald Vague | $100 |
12/08/2025 | Megan Tyler | Director Policy, Planning and Governance | Return airfare Auckland-Wellington to attend a workshop, paid for by the Ministry for the Environment. | Ministry for the Environment | $778 |
18/08/2025 |
| Senior Healthy Waters Specialist | Gift voucher as thank you for guest lecture at AUT. | Auckland University of Technology | $100 |
25/08/2025 |
| Manager and three other staff from Legal Services Department. | Lunch for four staff paid for by supplier. | DLA Piper | $360 |
26/08/2025 |
| Head of Project Planning and Consents | Executive luncheon hosted by Urban Development Institute of New Zealand. | Urban Development Institute New Zealand | $50 |
28/08/2025 |
| Programme Manager Diversity, Equity and Inclusion | Conference attendance as a guest speaker for the Taituarā Local Government Professionals Aotearoa. | Taituarā Local Government Professionals Aotearoa | $2,045 |
3/09/2025 |
| Chief Information Security Officer | Attendance, industry lunch discussion event. | Clutch Events | $120 |
9/09/2025 |
| Principal Project Lead | Conference Dinner at Resource Management Law Association conference, Blenheim, paid for by supplier. | DLA Piper | $120 |
9/09/2025 |
| Principal Project Lead, Resource Consents | Dinner paid for by supplier. | DLA Piper | $100 |
11/09/2025 |
| Te Ama Waka Tairanga Whenua / Co-Governance Operations & Capital Works Manager | Gift voucher received as koha for a presentation at the Water Aotearoa 'Mana o te Wai' learning series. | Water New Zealand | $200 |
11/09/2025 | Patrick Dougherty and two other managers. | General Manager Auckland Urban Development Office and two other managers. | Invitation to industry networking breakfast event, for three staff. | Medium Rare Content Agency | $90 |
15/09/2025 |
| Associate General Counsel - Commercial | Invitation as guest of Simpson Grierson to NZ Law Society Bar Dinner celebrating the appointment of new High Court and District Court judges. This included Dani Gardiner, former General Counsel at Auckland Council, appointed as High Court Justice. | Simpson Grierson | $150 |
15/09/2025 |
| Principal Legal Counsel – Regulatory | Resource Management Law Association conference attendance including flights, accommodation in Blenheim, paid for by an external legal services supplier. | Rice Speir | $3084 |
15/09/2025 |
| Special Counsel - Regulatory | Resource Management Law Association conference attendance including flights, accommodation in Blenheim, paid for by an external legal services supplier. | DLA Piper | $2919 |
16/09/2025 |
| Development Manager | Invitation to annual client networking event hosted by supplier. | Rider Levett Bucknall | $50 |
17/09/2025 |
| Manager and five staff from Legal Services Department. | Resource Management Law Association conference brunch for six staff, paid for by an external legal services supplier. | Rice Speir | $210 |
17/09/2025 |
| Manager and four staff from Legal Services Department | Dinner paid for by supplier x5 staff. | Brookfields | $500 |
17/09/2025 |
| Manager and four staff from Legal Services Department | Dinner paid for by supplier x5 staff. | DLA Piper | $500 |
18/09/2025 |
| Three staff from Group Recovery Department | Chocolates as token of appreciation for three staff from a customer involved in storm-affected property buy-out process. | Customer | $72 |
19/09/2025 |
| Special Counsel - Regulatory | Resource Management Law Association conference attendance including flights, accommodation in Blenheim, paid for by an external legal services supplier. | Brookfields | $3,256 |
29/09/2025 | Helen Wild and one other staff member. | General Counsel and one other staff member from Legal Services Department | Attendance at Law Society Bar Dinner for two staff, paid for by supplier. | Simpson Grierson | $300 |
30/09/2025 |
| Chief Information Security Officer | Networking lunch discussion hosted by Google. | $50 | |
1/10/2025 |
| Manager and two other staff from Legal Services Department | Working lunch for three staff, paid for by a supplier. | Minter Elison Rudd Watts | $90 |
5/10/2025 |
| Two managers from the Auckland Urban Development Office | Tickets to Urban Development Institute of NZ dinner/speaking event for two staff. | Beca | $300 |
7/10/2025 |
| Election Programme Manager | Return flights to Wellington and attendance as a guest speaker at the Taituarā Local Government Professionals Aotearoa post-election event. | Taituarā Local Government Professionals Aotearoa | $1100 |
7/10/2025 | Patrick Dougherty and two other managers. | General Manager Auckland Urban Development Office and two other managers | Industry presentation and lunch hosted by supplier for three staff. | Harrison Grierson | $225 |
10/10/2025 |
| Manager and three other staff from the Auckland Urban Development Office | Hosting four staff at media launch breakfast for ASB Theatre. | Auckland Theatre Company | $120 |
10/10/2025 |
| Senior Healthy Waters Specialist | Attendance at the Civil Contractors New Zealand (CCNZ) annual awards evening representing Auckland Council. Hosted by council contractor Kerry Drainage, short-listed for award involving a council project. | Kerry Drainage Limited | $100 |
13/10/2025 |
| Manager and three other staff from Auckland Urban Development Office | Gift bags from ASB Theatre for four council staff. | Auckland Theatre Company | $320 |
14/10/2025 |
| Manager and one other staff member from Social Innovation Unit | Attendance Pacific Business Trust Excellence Awards and Gala Dinner for two staff. | Pacific Business Trust | $345 |
15/10/2025 |
| Head of Growth and Regeneration Delivery | Invitation to industry networking gala event, paid for by supplier. | AECOM | $200 |
15/10/2025 |
| Membership Services Manager | Invitation to attend NZ International Business Awards. | Agrisea | $395 |
17/10/2025 |
| Sustainable Outcomes Principal | Invitation from supplier to attend Chapter Zero NZ Institute of Directors breakfast event. | Mott Macdonald | $105 |
20/10/2025 |
| Manager Community Hub | Gift basket with an assortment of snacks. Thank you gift from the Henderson-Massey Local Board to staff at the Te Atatū Community Hub for their help during 2025 local body election period. Gift was received after the election. | Henderson-Massey Local Board | $50 |
20/10/2025 |
| Priority Location Director - City Centre Lead Agency | Invitation to industry networking gala event, paid for by supplier. | AECOM | $240 |
29/10/2025 |
| Manager Workplace Travel and Sustainability | Complimentary ticket to Sustainability Leaders' Summit, Auckland, paid for by supplier. | Custom Fleet Limited | $649 |
31/10/2025 |
| Two staff from the Parks and Community Facilities department | Complimentary tickets to Sustainability Leaders' Summit for two staff, paid for by supplier. | Connect Media | $1,298 |
31/10/2025 | Rachel Kelleher | Director Community | Lunch hosted by Next Foundation, Tahi New Zealand and the Villars Institute. Gifted notebook, pen, jar of honey as promotional items. | Next Foundation | $100 |
3/11/2025 |
| Manager and four staff from Healthy Waters and Flood Resilience Department, one staff member from Legal Services Department | Project celebratory drinks paid for by supplier. | The Property Group | $270 |
3/11/2025 |
| Manukura Amotai | Invitation to attend EY Entrepreneur of the Year Awards, hosted by EY Tahi at their table. Supplier diversity networking opportunity. | Ernst & Young | $199 |
3/11/2025 |
| Two Activation Advisors from Sports & Recreation Unit. | End of year function hosted by social enterprise partner for two staff. | Kura Cares | $200 |
13/11/2025 |
| Principal Transport Advisor | Flights for attending 'Urban Mobility for Healthy and Liveable Cities' event in Wellington as a guest speaker, paid for by Victoria University. | Victoria University Wellington | $600 |
13/11/2025 |
| Special Counsel - Litigation & Dispute Resolution | Lunch paid for by a supplier. | Rice Speir | $150 |
14/11/2025 |
| Two staff from Environmental Evaluation and Monitoring Unit | Tote bags given as token of as appreciation for guest lecture by two staff. | Mountains to the sea conservation trust | $84 |
17/11/2025 |
| Manager Blue Green Networks Delivery | Invitation to attend Faulton Hogan Charity Golf Day event. | Fulton Hogan | $50 |
18/11/2025 |
| Two team leaders and one staff member from Financial Transactions Unit | Working lunch for three staff paid for by supplier. | ASB | $255 |
20/11/2025 |
| Senior Project Manager | Invitation to People of Property Awards. | Pragmatix Limited | $260 |
20/11/2025 |
| Special Counsel - Regulatory | Lunch paid for by an external legal services supplier. | DLA Piper | $100 |
20/11/2025 | Nick Turoa | Tumuaki Huanga Māori | Attendance and hospitality for concert at Eden Park. | Eden Park Trust | $400 |
21/11/2025 |
| Manager and 11 other staff from Legal Services Department, 1 staff member from Group Recovery Department | End of year networking drinks and dinner for 13 staff, paid for by an external legal services supplier. | Simpson Grierson | $1,040 |
24/11/2025 | Parul Sood | Deputy Director Resilience and Infrastructure | Buffet dinner event at the Coca-Cola Christmas in the Park, maintaining relationship with product and packaging manufacturers to deliver on waste minimisation. | Coca Cola EP New Zealand | $50 |
25/11/2025 |
| BID Senior Advisor | Two free tickets to The Graduate Choir (Christmas carols event) from local business association. | Business Whangaparāoa | $50 |
4/12/2025 |
| Five staff from Legal Services Department | End of year function, mini-golf, drinks and food for five staff, paid for by supplier. | Rice Speir | $250 |
4/12/2025 |
| Seven staff from Legal Services Department | End of year function, mini-golf, drinks and food for seven staff, paid for by supplier. | Rice Speir | $350 |
5/12/2025 |
| Principal Advisor Operations and Business | Invitation to supplier's end of year function. | Datacom | $100 |
8/12/2025 |
| Manager and five staff from Legal Services Department | Lunch and drinks for six staff, paid for by supplier. | DLA Piper | $600 |
10/12/2025 |
| Financial Transactions Support Advisor | General admission ticket for ASB Classic Tennis paid for by a supplier. | ASB | $100 |
10/12/2025 |
| Navigator, Recovery | Bottle of wine, biscuits and punnet of fresh strawberries from a customer involved in storm-affected property buy-out process. | Customer | $60 |
10/12/2025 |
| Navigator, Recovery | Flowers sent as thanks from a storm impacted homeowner. | Storm impacted homeowner | $80 |
10/12/2025 |
| Senior Healthy Waters Specialist | Gift cheese platter from supplier. | Decking, Paving & Landscaping Solutions Limited | $50 |
11/12/2025 |
| Two managers and three other staff from International Relations and Governance and Engagement teams | Small gift of coffee and token promotional items from Busan delegation. | Gift from Busan City, South Korean delegation | $175 |
15/12/2025 |
| Manager and eight staff from Auckland Libraries | Gift hamper for library staff as a thank you for allowing nursing students to use library facilities for training. | Manukau Institute of Technology | $65 |
15/12/2025 | Barry Potter | Director Resilience and Infrastructure | Wine from supplier as end of year gift. | Cooper & Company | $60 |
15/12/2025 | Meredith Webb and seven other staff. | General Counsel and seven other staff from Legal Services Department | End of year function, mini-golf, drinks and food for seven staff, paid for by supplier. | Rice Speir | $640 |
15/12/2025 | Meredith Webb, two other managers and 15 other staff. | General Counsel, two other managers and 15 other staff from Legal Services Department | End of year function for 18 staff hosted by supplier. | Simpson Grierson | $900 |
15/12/2025 | Meredith Webb, two other managers and seven other staff. | General Counsel, two other managers and seven other staff from Legal Services Department. | End of year networking drinks hosted by an external legal services supplier for 10 staff. | Meredith Connell | $400 |
16/12/2025 |
| Senior Overhead Services Specialist | Bottle of wine, and giftbox of snacks and chocolates from a supplier. | Treescape | $80 |
16/12/2025 |
| Team Leader Researcher Services Onsite | End of year gift of a candle from a supplier. | Mcgreals Interior Design | $59 |
17/12/2025 |
| Manager and one other staff member from Parks and Community Facilities Department | Gift box of snacks and token promotional items from supplier. | Leafland Limited | $50 |
18/12/2025 |
| Manager and four other staff from Auckland Libraries | End of year gift from a supplier of a bottle of wine each for five staff. | Osia Enterprises | $75 |
18/12/2025 |
| Manager and four staff from Corporate Property Unit | End of year gift of a food hamper from supplier, shared with wider team. | Installworx | $150 |
18/12/2025 |
| Manager Project Assessment Central | Box of cherries from supplier, shared with wider team. | Comply New Zealand | $50 |
19/12/2025 |
| Manager Programme Coordination | Drinks at a team lunch paid for by a contractor who is working with the team as a contingent resource. | Stellar Projects | $66 |
19/12/2025 |
| Team Leader Built Heritage Implementation | Wine from supplier as end of year gift. | Cooper & Company | $50 |
23/12/2025 |
| Head of Play, Sport & Recreation | Thank you gift for staff member for being part of the Tu Manawa assessment panel. | Aktive Auckland Sport & Recreation | $150 |