Auckland mayor Phil Goff says it's a sad reality that making good decisions can end up costing ratepayers a small fortune in legal bills.
The council's development company Panuku, is embroiled in legal proceedings against the council in the Environment Court over a residential development on Dominion Road.
And two council departments are facing off in court about whether to build a sea wall in Orewa.
The total legal bill so far for the two cases is almost $1.9 million. Mr Goff says there's been no way to avoid it.
