The Hutt City Council was provided with much needed relief after the Auditor-General stated that Hutt City Council’s stance was justified on property developer Terry Serepisos’ issue. However, it has come to light that a small payment of annual rates prior to 2009 to 2010 is still overdue.

In the allegations that have been levelled against Serepisos, it had been alleged by Richard Burrell, Building Solutions, a Lower Hutt Developer that the Hutt City Council had not been able to collect money owed by Serepisos to the City Council over the last four years.

Mr. Burrell has also been reported to state that in a discussion with Mr. David Ogden, Mayor of Wellington City during a lunch meeting, Mr. Ogden had told Burrell that Serepisos was indebted by NZ$950,000 to the city council and had also asked Mr. Burrell for campaign donations for the forthcoming Mayoral elections.

Further, Mr. Burrell added that Mr. Ogden had also quizzed Burrell whether Mr. Ogden should accept 25,000 NZ Dollars by Serepisos in the form of campaign donations.

Mr. Ogden, who has been in the thick of the controversy, exclaimed political sabotage on Burrell’s part for the revelations that have been stated by Burrell.