Murray’s final expenses revealed

The final expenses of disgraced health boss Nigel Murray have been released.

Murray resigned abruptly from the Waikato DHB in October 2017, partway through an investigation into his expenses.

He was absent from his desk from July 2017, but continued to spend health dollars, the latest records show. Murray spent $1852.75 on taxis, his cellphone and iPad, despite another senior staffer effectively taking over his role during the period.

A State Services Commission (SSC) investigation, completed after Murray left the role, found he spent $120,608 on unjustified travel and accommodation during his three-year tenure.

The latest expense records, released on Monday by Waikato DHB, cover Murray’s spending from July 1, 2017, to October 2017.

It’s the first time in four years that Waikato DHB has met the deadline for filing the chief executive’s expenses with the SSC at the end of the financial year.

The records show Murray spent $1502 on costs associated with his mobile and iPad in his final three months with the health board.

He spent $350 on taxi chits throughout June 2017, which are said to be mainly to and from the airport.

No airfares are listed on his expenses. No gifts and benefits or hospitality expenses were recorded for Murray.

Murray’s expenses have come under intense scrutiny and were the subject of several investigations – some still to be completed.

The Serious Fraud Office is currently investigating him, while Deputy Auditor-General Greg Schollum is examining the health board’s procurement of IT services from United States-based company HealthTap. The Murray spending scandal triggered significant changes to how the Waikato DHB reports on staff travel and expenses.

Murray travelled on the taxpayer dollar without approval and enjoyed overseas jaunts when supposedly on sick leave, an Audit NZ report into his spending found.

The report concluded that former Waikato DHB chairman Bob Simcock’s oversight of Murray’s expenses lacked rigour.