ISSUE
Friday, May 22, 2026
Volume 17 . Issue 20
Auckland Council has referred a Manurewa Local Board member to the Serious Fraud Office after a social media video raised allegations that include corruption and financial intimidation.
Marshal Ahluwalia, who won a seat on Manurewa Local Board with the highest number of votes in the 2025 election, is under scrutiny after the video alleged misconduct linked to an earlier role as operations manager at a freight transport company in 2024.
The video suggested that Ahluwalia asked a contractor to make payments in exchange for being allocated more work and requested a donation towards his 2025 local government campaign.
A source close to Ahluwalia told RNZ the local board member had requested leave from the local government body until late June.
Ahluwalia had also stepped back from the Manurewa Action Team ticket, the source said.
Manurewa-Papakura councillor Daniel Newman told RNZ he had referred the matter to the chief executive of Auckland Council as soon as he became aware of the video circulating on social media.
"The matter was referred to the chief executive of Auckland Council by me because of the serious nature of the allegations," Newman said.
Lou-Ann Ballantyne, general manager of governance and engagement at Auckland Council, said the council had been made aware of the allegations against Ahluwalia.
"We have looked into this matter and have referred it to the appropriate agency for further consideration," Ballantyne said, later confirming the entity referenced was the Serious Fraud Office.
She said Ahluwalia had requested leave from the Manurewa Local Board, which was granted until 22 June.
The council said it would not be appropriate to comment further at this stage.
The Serious Fraud Office declined to confirm an investigation into the matter had been launched.
"Unless the fact of a complaint or investigation is in the public domain already, the SFO does not routinely confirm or deny whether it has received a complaint or is undertaking an investigation, to avoid prejudice to the maintenance of the law, including the prevention, investigation and detection of offences," a spokesperson for the agency said.
Police confirmed they had received a report relating to an allegation of fraud in October.
Police told RNZ they had made a number of enquiries and ultimately found insufficient evidence to prove the incident constituted a criminal offence.
Ahluwalia has been approached for comment.
Auckland Council has referred a Manurewa Local Board member to the Serious Fraud Office after a social media video raised allegations that include corruption and financial intimidation.
Marshal Ahluwalia, who won a seat on Manurewa Local Board with the highest number of votes in the 2025 election,...
Auckland Council has referred a Manurewa Local Board member to the Serious Fraud Office after a social media video raised allegations that include corruption and financial intimidation.
Marshal Ahluwalia, who won a seat on Manurewa Local Board with the highest number of votes in the 2025 election, is under scrutiny after the video alleged misconduct linked to an earlier role as operations manager at a freight transport company in 2024.
The video suggested that Ahluwalia asked a contractor to make payments in exchange for being allocated more work and requested a donation towards his 2025 local government campaign.
A source close to Ahluwalia told RNZ the local board member had requested leave from the local government body until late June.
Ahluwalia had also stepped back from the Manurewa Action Team ticket, the source said.
Manurewa-Papakura councillor Daniel Newman told RNZ he had referred the matter to the chief executive of Auckland Council as soon as he became aware of the video circulating on social media.
"The matter was referred to the chief executive of Auckland Council by me because of the serious nature of the allegations," Newman said.
Lou-Ann Ballantyne, general manager of governance and engagement at Auckland Council, said the council had been made aware of the allegations against Ahluwalia.
"We have looked into this matter and have referred it to the appropriate agency for further consideration," Ballantyne said, later confirming the entity referenced was the Serious Fraud Office.
She said Ahluwalia had requested leave from the Manurewa Local Board, which was granted until 22 June.
The council said it would not be appropriate to comment further at this stage.
The Serious Fraud Office declined to confirm an investigation into the matter had been launched.
"Unless the fact of a complaint or investigation is in the public domain already, the SFO does not routinely confirm or deny whether it has received a complaint or is undertaking an investigation, to avoid prejudice to the maintenance of the law, including the prevention, investigation and detection of offences," a spokesperson for the agency said.
Police confirmed they had received a report relating to an allegation of fraud in October.
Police told RNZ they had made a number of enquiries and ultimately found insufficient evidence to prove the incident constituted a criminal offence.
Ahluwalia has been approached for comment.
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