Phil Twyford

Wellington Feb 14 NZPA - Labour MP Phil Twyford is upset that a company associated with former National Party president Michelle Boag is recruiting executives for the new Auckland super city council.

Mr Twyford claimed there was a conflict as she was running Auckland Mayor John Banks' campaign to become mayor on the new council.

He feared Ms Boag would politicise the council executives.

Both Ms Boag and Mr Banks played down her role in the mayoral campaign and Ms Boag said she had nothing to do with the bid for the contract from recruitment company Momentum, of which she is an executive.

An Auckland Transition Agency spokesman said Momentum put in the best proposal "in terms of quality, process and lowest cost structure". The 50 roles include about 20 management positions in unelected council-controlled organisations.