Wellington City Council officials knew about the Town Hall budget blowout six months before councillors did.

This week, the council voted to increase funding to earthquake strengthen the Hall, which could reach up to $329 million.

But the council’s project team realised the costs were fast increasing at the start of the year, told the Council chief executive in June and told Tory Whanau in September, and councillors found out until this month when they asked for a cash injection.

Wellington City Councillor Tim Brown joined Jack Tame.

LISTEN ABOVE

• Worries that the Wellington Town Hall budget could increase rates
• Wellington councillors "trapped" by new Town Hall budget