Managing Conflict of Interest

I have led my own company for many years – I have now resigned from that company and any associated company directorships to focus on running for Mayor. I have been very careful about ensuring there have been no conflicts of interest with my old companies (Maugers Contracting Ltd, Cass St Recycling Ltd, and Maugers Mining Ltd) and the Council while I have been a city councillor.  

When I first became a Councillor, I met with the Council’s legal team to ensure I fully understood the process of conflict of interest.

In February 2020, the Office of the Auditor General wrote to the Council’s legal team and said, “We’re pleased to hear that Councillor Mauger is proactively managing any potential conflicts that may arise between his family business, and his role as a newly-elected Christchurch City Councillor.”

In February 2020 the Christchurch City Council sought from the Office of the Auditor General: retrospective approval from the Auditor-General under the Local Authorities (Members’ Interests) Act 1968 (the Act) for Councillor Phillip Mauger to be concerned or interested in a contract between the Council and Grounds & Services Limited (GSL) (the head contract), under which payments will be made to Maugers Contracting Limited (MCL) with a value in excess of $25,000 for the 2019/20 financial year;

This was approved under section 3(3)(aa) of the Local Authorities (Members’ Interests) Act 1968.

Their finding - The Auditor-General retrospectively approved of Councillor Phillip Mauger being concerned or interested in a contract between Christchurch City Council and Grounds & Services Limited, under which payments totalling $700,000 (excluding GST) will be made to its subcontractor, Maugers Contracting Limited, in the 2019/20 financial year.