Auckland Council Investigates Mayoral Aide's Company Liquidation and $560,000 Debt to Inland Revenue
Auckland Council Investigates Mayoral Aide's Company Liquidation and $560,000 Debt to Inland Revenue
Auckland Council chief executive Phil Wilson has launched an investigation into the liquidation of a property company owned by Jazz Singh, the chief of staff to Mayor Wayne Brown. The company, Traxx Investments Ltd, is reportedly $560,000 in debt to the Inland Revenue Department (IRD), and has no assets to cover the outstanding balance.
According to the first report from liquidators Steven Khov and Kieran Jones, the company entered liquidation on June 4, with the sole creditor being the IRD. The liquidation process was initiated by Singh himself, who is now on leave while the council investigates the situation.
Wilson confirmed that the mayor had asked him to look into the matter over the weekend, emphasizing that while mayoral staff are not directly employed by the council, they are still subject to scrutiny. He said, “The pretext is that even for people employed in the mayor’s office, they are council employees.”
Wilson also stated that neither he nor the mayor were aware of the existence of the company until recently. Singh had reportedly declared the company’s existence in his council declaration, but not the liquidation itself. The council is now seeking to understand whether any property developments linked to Singh were approved by the council.
Singh, who has previously held roles in the council’s procurement and risk management departments, was appointed as Brown’s chief of staff in June 2024. He was described by the mayor at the time as someone who would “bring a sharp focus on delivery and holding council spending and procurement practices to account.”
When asked about the liquidation, Singh declined to comment, stating, “I don’t plan on talking to you about that.” The Herald is seeking further comment from both Singh and Mayor Brown.
As the investigation unfolds, concerns are mounting about the potential conflicts of interest and the need for greater transparency in the operations of mayoral staff. The situation has raised questions about the oversight of individuals in high-profile positions within local government.
With the council now looking into the matter, the public will be watching closely to see what findings emerge and whether any further action is required.
