Auckland City Mayor John Banks says he was unaware expenses had been repaid to him when he claimed he had never sought a dollar from the council.
Radio New Zealand sought Mr Banks' mayoral office accounts after his assertion on Morning Report that he had made no claims.
Mr Banks says he was unaware the office repaid $438 by reducing the amount he owed for cellphone use.
He pays a flat 15% of his mobile phone bill for personal use and says any risk of underpayment is more than covered by other entitlements he doesn't claim.
Auckland City Council says one repayment was made by staff not following council policy and another was an administrative error.
Mr Banks also says he does not take home any of his mayoral salary of $160,000 because he opts to pay for his own media advisor.
