Councillors Call on Manurewa Board Member to Resign Following SFO Referral

Auckland, New Zealand (Staff Reporte )

According to reports published by leading New Zealand media outlets including RNZ, The Post, NZ Herald, and Stuff, two Auckland councillors have called on Manurewa Local Board member Marshal Ahluwalia to consider resigning after allegations linked to him were referred to New Zealand’s Serious Fraud Office (SFO).

The controversy emerged after a video surfaced containing allegations related to Ahluwalia’s previous role with a freight and logistics company in 2024. The video allegedly suggests that a contractor was asked to make payments in exchange for additional work opportunities and to contribute towards Ahluwalia’s 2025 local government election campaign.

Marshal Ahluwalia, who secured one of the highest vote counts in the 2025 Manurewa Local Board elections, has since come under increasing public scrutiny.

In a joint statement, Manurewa-Papakura Ward councillors Daniel Newman and Matt Winiata said Ahluwalia should carefully consider whether he can continue to serve effectively as a board member while the matter remains the subject of public debate and investigation.

The councillors stated that the interests of the Manurewa community and Auckland Council must come before any individual member. They argued that stepping aside could help protect public confidence in local government institutions.

They further noted that if there was information in Ahluwalia’s past that could later become a source of public controversy, there had been opportunities to disclose it before the election campaign.

Media reports also indicate that the Manurewa Action Team has distanced itself from Ahluwalia and no longer considers him a member of its caucus, with the two ward councillors publicly withdrawing their support.

Earlier this year, Auckland Council confirmed that Ahluwalia had requested a leave of absence from the Manurewa Local Board, which has been approved until 22 June 2026.

Meanwhile, national media organisations continue efforts to obtain Ahluwalia’s response to the allegations. Nazrana Times New Zealand Staff Reporter Tarnjot Singh also attempted to contact Ahluwalia for comment; however, no response had been received at the time of publication. His position will be published once it becomes available.

(Note -This report is based on information published by RNZ, The Post, NZ Herald, Stuff, and other New Zealand media sources. The allegations remain under review, and no findings of wrongdoing have been announced.)