The Taxpayers' Union says Auckland Council and it's economic arm are "taking ratepayers for a ride" by creating a new role in London for one of its former executives.

London

Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development (ATEED) has created a special contract in London for Grant Jenkins who has moved his family to England, the New Zealand Herald reports. The whole exercise is reportedly costing ratepayers more than $230,000.

Head of ATEED Brett O'Riley said it's a 12-month pilot project in London to attract skilled workers to Auckland and the council body contracted Mr Jenkins to Tourism New Zealand. Mr Jenkins had indicated the family were moving back to England and resigned last year.

A former councillor told the Herald Mr Jenkin's English-born wife was homesick and it was a case of "job for the boys".

The Taxpayers' Union has been asking the Auckland Council questions regarding "the unusual nature of Mr Jenkin's appointment," says the union's executive director, Jordan Williams.

"We were approached by a whistleblower inside New Zealand Trade and Enterprise a few weeks ago and understand that NZTE expressed concern with the appointment," he says.

"The United Kingdom is not a priority market for ATEED. It looks very clear that they've set out to create a cushy job in London, rather than fulfil a need for ratepayers."

Mr O'Riley told the Herald ATEED took account of how the London job might look to Auckland ratepayers, who are facing hefty rates increases and cuts to core services in a new 10-year budget.

"We are driven by what are the demands of the business community and employers here and how do we grow the economy. At the moment our shortage of skilled workers is our biggest challenge," he said.

A spokeswoman for Mayor Len Brown last night said he was unaware of Mr Jenkins' job in London and had asked ATEED to brief him.

But Auckland Councillor Cameron Brewer says it's just not plausible that Mr Brown is now claiming he didn't know about Mr Jenkins living in London "and on the council payroll at huge expense after a position had been created for him when his family decided to move to the United Kingdom".

"The Mayor meets with his CCO CEOs regularly to avoid any surprises. What's more this chap in question has been well known and close to the Mayoral Office over the years given his time as a leader within ATEED and as a former chief council spin-doctor," Mr Brewer says.

"And so of course the Mayor would've been fully well aware of this arrangement and appointment based in New Zealand House no less but sadly he was quite happy to tacitly approve it. Now claiming he didn't know a thing just doesn't wash," says Mr Brewer.