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Auckland Mayor's Ally Profits Amidst Budget Turnaround Debate

4/22/2025

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Summary

Story summary

Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown's ally, Chris Mathews, has made a remarkable leap from unpaid volunteer to a contractor raking in over $300,000 a year for strategic counsel. Their intertwined business ventures, established before and during Brown's tenure, have sparked debate. Yet, Brown defends his leadership, asserting he has turned around a staggering $360 million budget deficit since taking office.

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Story summary

Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown's ally, Chris Mathews, has made a remarkable leap from unpaid volunteer to a contractor raking in over $300,000 a year for strategic counsel. Their intertwined business ventures, established before and during Brown's tenure, have sparked debate. Yet, Brown defends his leadership, asserting he has turned around a staggering $360 million budget deficit since taking office.