A public law specialist says a payment to be made by Auckland mayor Len Brown towards the cost of an audit sets a precedent.
Following negotiations with senior councillors, Mr Brown will pay $40,000 towards the $250,000 cost of a review by auditors EY of his spending during a two-year extramarital affair.
Len Brown. Photo: RNZ
Mr Brown will also pay his own legal costs of $20,000.
Lawyer Mai Chen said the payment could set a new standard for political accountability.
"(Mr Brown) is a politician, he wants to be re-elected and he has to work with his fellow politicians who are also councillors on Auckland Council. He has to take a calculation on the basis of the latter.
"This is a political payment, not a legal payment but I am sure that he is hopeful that the benefit he gets out of it is that he will be able to actually get on and do what he has said."
Ms Chen said she thought the mayor would have paid more but the question is whether councillors think it's enough.
The audit found Mr Brown should have declared free and upgraded hotel rooms worth almost $40,000.
