MPs' and Ministers' expenses for the final three months of the year have been released, detailing the breakdown of the more than $2.3 million bill for taxpayers.
MP expenses are released every three months by the Parliamentary Service and the Office of the Clerk. It details the accommodation and travel expenses for all MPs - both of which are regular expenses required for MPs to fulfil their duties, allowing them to be present in Wellington to attend Parliament as well as their home and constituent communities.
The report does not include ministerial travel and accommodation, which is administered by Ministerial Services and is reported separately by that body and was also released today, also covering the period from October 1 to December 31 2023.
MP expenses came to almost $1.7m and Ministerial expenses came to more than $670,000.
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Costs tend to be higher for MPs who live in more far flung places, adding to travel costs, and more senior MPs, especially a prime minister, deputy prime minister, and speaker.
Some MPs also had higher totals than they might otherwise due to expenses from the previous quarter being reported in the latest quarter.
The National Party - which has the largest caucus in the Parliament - spent the most on expenses in the period, totalling almost $731,000.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon was the biggest expense of the lot, at a cost of just more than $57,500 - but that included VIP transport of more than $39,000 - part of the requirements of being in the top job. The rest was made up of costs of almost $7500 for accommodation, air travel of $9500 and "surface" - ground travel, such as taxis of more than $1300.
The next highest expenses cost in National's caucus was Auckland-based Defence Minister Judith Collins, at a cost of more than $24,200, made up of more than $6000 for accommodation and just over $18,000 on travel, including more than $16,000 on surface travel.
Erica Stanford and Harete Hipango had higher totals than Collins but theirs included expenses brought forward from the previous quarter.
Labour, with the next biggest caucus, spent almost $462,000 in the quarter. Its biggest expense was Manurewa MP Arena Williams, who spent almost $23,000 on expenses, including $8380 on accommodation in Wellington, more than $10,000 on air travel and almost $4400 on surface travel.
The lowest spender was new Finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds, who is based near Wellington. She spent $521, most of which was $403 on flights.
Three MPs had no expenses to declare: outgoing or already-gone MPs Andrew Little, Nanaia Mahuta and Grant Robertson.
Leader Chris Hipkins - who is based in Upper Hutt - declared $1129, all of which was on flights.
The Speaker, Deputy Speaker and Leader of the Opposition are eligible for VIP transport services.
The Greens spent almost $177,000 and the ACT caucus almost $155,000.
For the Greens, third assistant speaker Teanau Tuiono declared almost $25,000 of expenses, including more than $7000 for flights and almost $10,000 for accommodation.
For ACT, Mark Cameron, who is based in rural Northland, declared almost $21,000 in expenses, the highest of any ACT MP. That included almost $10,000 on accommodation and a similar amount on travel, split almost evenly between flights and ground travel.
New Zealand First's eight MPs spent almost $68,000, while Te Pāti Māori's six MPs spent more than $80,000.
NZ First MP Jamie Arbuckle, from Marlborough, topped his party with more than $16,000 spent, while Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi - who lives in a remote part of his Waiariki electorate - spent $36,500, about $26,000 of which was on travel.
Independent MPs Meka Whaitiri and Elizabeth Kerekere declared almost $15,000 and more than $7200 respectively for the period.
According to Parliamentary Services, party whips monitor non-ministerial MP expenses, and if they notice a member is incurring excessive expenses, can ask MPs to limit further costs for the year.
All expenses reported exclude GST Fringe Benefit Tax, which applies to Parliamentary Service travel expenses.
The report does not include ministerial travel and accommodation, which is administered by Ministerial Services and is reported separately by that body and was also released today.
Ministerial expenses for the new Government began from November 27, when ministerial warrants were issued, and ceased from that date for the previous government.
Ministers in the coalition Government spent $266,118 from that date.
Ministers in the previous Government - which included Labour and Green MPs - spent $405,522 from October 1 to November 27.
Costs included those for Ministers, spouses and staff.
Those figures were also exclusive of GST and Fringe Benefit Tax.
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www.1news.co.nz...
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Wayne Brown backed by billionaires and developers in $611k campaign haul
Celebrities, billionaire Graeme Hart and a who’s who of property developers each gave up to $50,000 to fund Wayne Brown’s mayoral re-election campaign.
Electoral returns made public today show Brown was flush with about $606,000 in campaign funds, while his only serious competitor, Whau councillor Kerrin Leoni, received just $16,076 in four donations over the $1500 declaration limit.
She relied heavily on donations of less than $1500 to raise $83,111.83 to run her campaign, while Brown spent $323,872, with nearly $280,00 left over from his wealthy donors.
Leoni, a low-profile first-term councillor, stood little chance against the high-profile Brown, who romped home for a second term by a margin of 100,000 votes.
Among the donors who gave $5000 to Brown were former All Black and Waiheke resident Marc Ellis, and Black Knights Football, which refers to Auckland FC, of which former All Black Ali Williams and his wife Anna Mowbray are minority co-owners.
Williams attended Brown’s election-night party at the West End Tennis Club at Coxs Bay, a short walk from the $24 million coastal home he shares with Mowbray.
Through his Rank Group company, Hart, who is worth an estimated $12.1 billion, gave $50,000 to Brown’s campaign. Property investment firm Tramco Group, whose directors own big landholdings on the Auckland waterfront, also chipped in with $50,000.
Other donors included Precinct Properties ($10,000), engineering firm BECA ($5000), Park Hyatt Hotel ($18,400), Hancocks Wine ($8000), Golf Warehouse ($20,000), Bayleys Real Estate ($10,000) and Hopper Developments ($5000).
Leoni, who was the Labour councillor for Whau but stood as an independent in the mayoral race, received donations from former Auckland Mayor and Labour leader Phil Goff ($1500), former Labour minister Judith Tizard ($5000) and longtime Labour operative Greg Presland ($7576).
She said Brown had the advantage of building relationships during his first term to raise donations, but she was proud of obtaining 20% of the vote by raising and spending $83,000.
The greater handicap during the election campaign was the lack of mainstream media coverage, with live television debates largely watched by older people, who formed the largest group of voters, she said.
The election resulted in the lowest super city turnout of under 30%.
Leoni, a mother of twins who has degrees in politics and economics, Māori development and social services, said she was having a break from the council to refocus and would decide on what to do next in the New Year.
Brown, who has said he will not seek a third term, declined to say what would happen to the nearly $280,000 left over from his campaign, saying he does not comment on other people’s donations, except to say they were a sign of the level of support for what candidates stood for.
Auckland Council electoral officer Dale Ofsoske said there were no rules governing how candidates used leftover campaign funds, though many choose to keep them for future campaigns.
Candidates could do what they liked with the money, he said.
Three years ago, Brown raised $310,000 in donations and had to dig into his own pocket to top up the $470,00 cost of his campaign.
Donations of $10,000 or more to Wayne Brown
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Tramco Group - $50,000
Rank Group - $50,000
CP Group - Aphi Funds manager - $25,000
Peninsula Capital $25,000
Knight Investments Ltd - D Nakhle - $20,000
Hugh Green Ltd - $20,000
Stonewood Group - $20,000
Golf Warehouse - $20,000
Aedifice Development - $20,000
AHL Park Hyatt Hotel - $18,400
Clifftop Services - PC Cooper - $15,000
Mr MJ Todd - $15,000
Gilligan Rowe & Associates - $11,000
Liu Vincent - $10,000
Southside Group - Chris Jones - $10,000
Van Den Brink - $10,000
Williams Corporation - M. Horncastle - $10,000
Precinct Properties - $10,000
Oyster Capital - $10,000
Bayleys Real Estate - $10,000
N McKenna - $10,000
Donations of $1500 or more to Kerrin Leoni
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Greg Presland - $7576
Judith Tizard - $5000
Te Ata Thompson - $2000
Phil Goff - $1500
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Poll: Are our Kiwi summer holidays helping us recharge, or holding the economy back? ☀️🥝
There’s growing debate about whether New Zealand’s extended Christmas break (and the slowdown that comes with it) affects productivity.
Tracy Watkins has weighed in ... now it’s your turn. What’s your take? 🤔
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72.3% We work hard, we deserve a break!
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16.1% Hmm, maybe?
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11.6% Yes!
Some Choice News!
Many New Zealand gardens aren’t seeing as many monarch butterflies fluttering around their swan plants and flower beds these days — the hungry Asian paper wasp has been taking its toll.
Thanks to people like Alan Baldick, who’s made it his mission to protect the monarch, his neighbours still get to enjoy these beautiful butterflies in their own backyards.
Thinking about planting something to invite more butterflies, bees, and birds into your garden?
Thanks for your mahi, Alan! We hope this brings a smile!
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