I have carefully checked, and re-checked, the large quantity of documents given to me yesterday covering the years 2003 to 2008, when I served in various ministerial roles including Conservation, Local Government, Building and Housing, Building Issues, Ethnic Affairs, Housing and Education.
I have identified the following items which may have been outside existing spending rules. These costs were incurred either by me, or my staff – but I take full responsibility for all of them.
• 18 June 2003
Staff-member watching movie in hotel, Berlin. No record of reimbursement by staff-member.
EUR 11.50 = NZD 23.15 (as at 18 June 2003 conversion rate)
• 25 February 2004
Flowers for a colleague on ministerial resignation, from office staff and MP. No record of reimbursement.
NZD 58.00
• 8 March 2004
Flowers for partner’s birthday, sent by SPS. Notation says staff contributed, but there are no receipts.
NZD 80.00
• 31 December 2006
Movie in hotel, Washington, USA
USD 17.97 = NZD 25.49 (as at 31 December 2006 conversion rate)
• 9 April 2008
Staff-member at hotel spa, China. No record of reimbursement by staff-member.
RMB (China) 360.00 = 64.52 (as at 31 December 2006 conversion rate)
A cheque for NZD 251.16 will be sent today to the Department of Internal Affairs (Ministerial Services) to cover this full amount.
My ministerial office was a very busy place. My staff were competent, hard working and committed to public service. Small mistakes were perhaps inevitable, but never excusable.
