North Shore Mayor's days of wine and roses | Auckland News | Local News in Auckland

Auckland mayoral hopeful Andrew Williams has an impressive list of transactions from his mayoral credit card. Edward Rooney exclusively reports.

Zip-zapping on North Shore Mayor Andrew Williams' credit card has reached crescendo levels over the three years of his first term.

The Aucklander sought details under the Official Information Act of the mayor and his councillors' expense claims since they were elected at the end of 2007.

Councillors have claimed for little more than mileage costs over the past three years. But the dossier reveals the mayor's taste for golf, hotel minibars in New Zealand, Seoul and China, carnival costumes, Koru Club visits, flowers, super-kingsize beds, fine food and wine has kept the card busy.

In September last year, the Westpac MasterCard was swiped at venues from Auckland to Milton in the south, then back to Wellington and Auckland to the total tune of $1780.74.

February and May this year were also busy months for the card with bills for $1592.45 and $1480.40 respectively. The February tally includes flowers for councillor Joy Brett on January 28 and an Australia Day dinner at Kermadec Brasserie on the same day for $196.

Mr Williams has flourished the card for flowers on a couple of special occasions. One was for a $75 bouquet from All Seasons Flowers for departing Bruce Mason Centre chief executive Gillian Houser in November 2008. In May this year, a centenarian's birthday celebrations were decorated with a $24.99 bouquet from Mairangi Bay Foodtown.

A booking form from the Bolton Hotel in Wellington shows Mr Williams' room was booked for one guest with a request for "non-smoking, super-king if possible". The September 8 overnight stay last year cost $300.

The most recent expense charged to the mayor's Mastercard is June 27 this year at a New Zealand Body Arts dinner in McHugh's restaurant at Cheltenham. An explanatory note explains the event had a cash bar and Mr Williams spent $64 on two bottles of wine for the table which included as guests former National Party Cabinet Minister, local MP and mayor George Gair and his wife, Fay.

Back in October 2008, the card was charged $300 in the name of Home & Family Counselling but it does not appear to be for professional services. The receipt itemises the amount paid for "first of the summer wine" and is signed by a funding co-ordinator.

The invoices also show Mr Williams' notorious expense on March 26 this year, when the card was zapped for $632.30 for a "mayoral golf tournament charity luncheon". Mr Williams has admitted to further drinking at the nearby GPK Restaurant before walking back to his office to drive home, allegedly stopping on the way to urinate on a tree.

At the time, Mr Williams was reported as being a regular at the GPK Restaurant, but his card receipts reveal his patronage spread much wider.

In February this year, the card chalked up amounts at the Blankenberge Belgium Cafe in Takapuna, the Y Not Bar & Cafe in Princes Wharf, Mecca in Takapuna, Mint Takapuna Cafe & Restaurant, Aubergine Restaurant and the aforementioned Bolton Hotel in Wellington.

Mr Williams will remain a member of Koru Club for some time beyond November's elections as he purchased a one-year membership on April 28 this year. He is standing for the Auckland-wide Mayoralty in October's elections.