Most councillors keen to take up freebies

Tickets to sell-out rugby games, the play Oliver, the Comedy Convoy and the Magics netball preliminary final are among the freebies claimed by Hamilton City Council's politicians.

In February, the council started recording the use of complimentary tickets to events at council venues, and tightened rules in April requiring councillors to have a justifiable business purpose to use them.

Since February, 86 of 143 complimentary tickets used by the mayor and councillors were for personal use, according to information provided under the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act.

Councillor Angela O'Leary, who chairs the events sponsorship committee, took 24 to support events including the Food, Wine and Jazz Festival, Armageddon Expo and some Chiefs games.

"I go because they are available and they don't cost the ratepayers any money. It's important to be seen out in public and to use the council facilities to see what works and what doesn't."