Wellington mayor Kerry Prendergast is denying that a prominent businessman has had any special treatment on his large overdue commercial rates bill.
Property developer Terry Serepisos, owner of the Phoenix football team and star of the New Zealand version of television's The Apprentice, owes a reported $2 million in rates to the Wellington City Council.
The council says it has been working to get the overdue money paid for months, which has raised questions about preferential treatment for Mr Serepisos.
But Ms Prendergast says there is never favourable treatment for any particular ratepayer.
Every ratepayer is penalised an extra 10% on their rates bill if they are late and another 10% every six months rates remain unpaid, she says.
The mayor says the reason the council is not discussing Mr Serepisos' bill in detail is because the Local Government Act specifically prohibits it from doing so.
Listen to Morning Report interview with Kerry Prendergast