REVEALED: Auckland Transport paid social media influencers more than $147,000 in 12 months

The Auckland Ratepayers' Alliance has slammed Auckland Transport for paying social media influencers $147,765 between May 2024 and May 2025. All campaigns were centred on dissuading Aucklanders from using their own cars as a transport option.

“Auckland Transport really does everything but actually getting our roads moving—it’s ridiculous. They don’t need a marketing and comms department, they need to pull their heads in.” said Sam Warren, an Auckland Ratepayers’ Alliance spokesman.

“You’re a transport provider; provide transport. That’s it.”

“While Auckland Transport will not confirm how much each influencer was paid, we can average the total between the 10 of them. That’s nearly $15,000 per influencer, paid for by Auckland ratepayers.”

“This obsession with engineering the public’s behaviour is as silly as it is expensive. They answer is to focus on the basics well, provide excellent service and let Aucklanders choose what’s best for them.”

“Mayor Wayne Brown this week began his much anticipated CCO reform, starting with the dissolution of Eke Panuku and Tātaki Auckland Unlimited. Next in line is Auckland Transport, who is as guilty as the others for wasting ratepayer money on ideological twaddle that Aucklanders don’t need or want.”