7 Sep 2014

No conflict with PR co - Councillor

11:36 am on 7 September 2014

A high-profile Auckland councillor says there is no conflict of interest from his partnership in a public relations company and a lobbyist featured in Nicky Hager's Dirty Politics book.

Cameron Brewer teamed up with the lobbyist Carrick Graham at the start of the year to form

Graham, Brewer, Simich and Associates.

Mr Graham has always declined to comment on references in Dirty Politics suggesting a separate company he runs had a relationship on behalf of clients with the blogger Cameron Slater.

Mr Brewer said he works only a few hours a week for the firm, and removed himself recently from discussion about Auckland's Special Housing Areas (SHAs), because some may have perceived a conflict with his business.

To help combat the city's housing crisis, Auckland Council is identifying SHAs across the city where fast-track development of affordable housing can take place.