By Todd Niall

Copyright newsroom

A company which Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown part-owned has been removed from the Companies Register in circumstances unknown to him, he says.

Asia Pacific Hotels Limited was removed from the register in August, after Brown’s close associate, mayoral advisor and fellow shareholder Chris Mathews failed to provide requested information.

The company was formed 18 months after Brown was elected as mayor, with him holding 34 percent, Mathews 33 percent, and Harminder Singh of Whangarei 33 percent.

Mathews described it in correspondence with the Companies Office, as having no assets and never traded, though he objected to its de-registration.

In April 2025, the Companies Office wrote to Mathews as the main contact, seeking identification verification of the three directors.

Mathews was warned that failure to do so, could result in the company being removed from the register, with a response deadline set as May 9.

Newsroom first reported in August that that deadline had been missed, but that an objection to removal had been lodged. Brown told Newsroom in August that he was unaware of that.

Newsroom asked the Companies Office for correspondence on the process, and was given two letters, its original April request to Mathews, and a reply.

Mathews’ reply, objecting to the removal of the company, was dated July 23, 10 weeks past the deadline, and in it he asked what information was wanted.

Brown told Newsroom 10 days subsequent to Mathews letter being lodged, that he was unaware of any objection.

“Asia Pacific Hotels Limited was established to pursue a specific business venture,” wrote Mathews, to the officials.

“While this particular venture did not ultimately eventuate, the company maintains its corporate structure for potential future opportunities,” he said.

Further in the letter of objection, he wrote that “W2E Limited” was fully committed to provide all required information.

A firm with that name does not appear on the companies register, and Brown said he was also unaware of it.

Mathews had argued:“We believe it would be unfair, just and equitable not proceed with de-registration [sic].”

He then asked what information was required, despite it being spelt out in the Companies Office initial letter.

The identification verification for Brown, Mathews and Singh was never provided, and the company was removed from the register on August 20.

Mathews is a long-standing friend and business associate of Brown’s and until July was paid $28,000 a month by ratepayers, to provide Brown with strategic advice.

The mayor’s office says his contract was ended, “to manage issues of any perception of a conflict of interest” with the mayor’s re-election campaign, with which Mathews is again involved.

Brown, through a spokesman, declined to answer specific questions, other than to re-state he was unaware of the objection process.

Mathews has not responded to Newsroom’s efforts to seek comment.

Mathews, his wife, and Brown, also jointly own Asia Pacific Platforms Ltd which they created in June 2022, four months before Brown’s election as Mayor of Auckland