Hooton on Las Vegas
Matthew Hooton blogs some useful info on the Peters trip to Las Vegas:
The Foreign Minister has confirmed that he made the “sidetrip” when he was in Berlin entroute to Singapore, so some “sidetrip” it must have been.
You can fly from Berlin to Singapore, via Frankfurt, on Lufthansa and Singapore Airlines for the discounted Business Class fare of around NZ$7730.50. (I don’t know why on earth the HoS would assume, as it did, that Peters would fly economy – he was meant to be working on this trip, remember.) It is quite an efficient way of getting from Berlin to Singapore, taking a total of around 14 hours.
In contrast, getting even from Berlin to Las Vegas is considerably more arduous, taking at least 16 hours, and requiring at least two stops. Getting from Las Vegas to Singapore can also be difficult, taking almost 24 hours on United Airlines. Book Business Class Berlin/Las Vegas/Singapore on United Airlines and it will set you back around $15,500.
To be square with the taxpayer, it seems the Foreign Minister would have had to pay about $8,000 for the tickets alone (and god knows what sort of condition he would have arrived in, in Singapore, after flying halfway around the world and stopping over in Las Vegas for a fight, but he is known for his resilience.)
That is a very expensive diversion indeed.
The average ticket price for the fight was said to be over US$1,300. So the total cost of the Foreign Minister’s “sidetrip”, paid by him personally, would have been over NZ$10,000.
I hope he enjoyed himself for that amount. He must be a big boxing fan.
A huge fan.
We must take the Foreign Minister at his word that he personally paid this ten grand. It would put the whole matter to rest to see the receipts. And also the dates on them.
Yep that is all that is needed. Just as all Brian Henry needs to do is produce a phone log showing his multiple calls to Owen Glenn.
And it would be also interesting to know if the Prime Minister approved the sidetrip and knew how it was to be financed. From my memory working for the Trade Minister in the 1990s, prime ministers have to approve all ministerial travel, including sidetrips. This remains part of the Cabinet Office Manual:
“2.113 Subject to parliamentary or portfolio requirements, and with the prior approval of the Prime Minister, Ministers may occasionally extend overseas visits outside the formal itinerary for personal reasons, provided no additional costs are incurred by the government as a result.
“2.114 Ministers may make personal visits overseas if they obtain the Prime Minister’s prior approval, which will be subject to obtaining leave to be absent from the House. Ministers must also obtain the agreement of another Minister or Ministers to act during such periods of absence. (See paragraphs 2.39 – 2.42.) The Cabinet Office should be advised of any such arrangements.”
Well maybe Helen can clear this all up for us. She would have approved it. As Matthew says this may all be a load of nonsense. So best to expose it for the nonsense it is as soon as possible.
September 14th, 2008 at 12:43 pm
in the continuum of scandals I think this rates near the bottom of the scale. Lets concentrate on the big ones and not dilute the message by diverting attention away from them.
September 14th, 2008 at 1:06 pm
I disagree. If the Foreign Minister has been accepting gifts without declaring them, them it totally fits into a pattern.
September 14th, 2008 at 3:13 pm
Ross it always starts with the small things.
September 14th, 2008 at 3:23 pm
Just a quick question David, do you ever fact check check Hootsman’s bits before you post them?
“getting even from Berlin to Las Vegas is considerably more arduous, taking at least 16 hours, and requiring at least two stops”
After 20 seconds on Expedia I found out you can do it in one stop.
No only would you not take Hootsman’s advice on politics, I’d avoid allowing him to be your travel agent either!
September 14th, 2008 at 3:31 pm
Sonic finds a minor detail wrong which is irrelevant to the main thrist of the story. Good to see though his attempts at red herrings continue. Does he have an opinion on whether Ministers who get $10,000 free trips should declare them?
September 14th, 2008 at 3:33 pm
A minor detail!
Is that the new National party term for glaring factual error David?
Still lets all agree on financial openess David, lets see National open the books and list all of the people who donated through secret trusts in the last 5 years.
Ok with that?
[DPF: A third attempt to divert the topic. First of all whether the flight has stopovers is not what the issue is. It is about Ministers having to get permission for and declare overses trips and gifts.
The issue is whether Ministers who *personally* benefit have complied with the law and Cabinet Manual in relations to personal gifts and travel.
And note Sonic expressed no opinion on this, despite being asked to]
September 14th, 2008 at 3:42 pm
David, you complain about me pointing out a “minor factual error” yet in the post below you triumphantly write
Matt also says half the people were in the previous 1996 to 1999 Cabinet. Actually only seven out of the 15 were”
So to be clear. Matt Macarden calls 7 out of 15 “half” what an idiot! Hootsman makes up a flight plan and this is a “minor detail”
Must be great being you David, once set of rules for your side, a totally different set for anyone else.
As for the issue, I’ll wait for the facts rather than rely on Matthew’s gibbering (if thats ok with you)
September 14th, 2008 at 3:47 pm
McCarten’s maths was a minor detail. But it was not my only point. My main point was he overlooked several newer MPs who would be Ministers. So I addressed the substance of his article.
On the other hand you have avoided the substance every time now. So once again do you think Ministers should declare any gifts worth over $500 they get?
September 14th, 2008 at 3:51 pm
McCarten’s maths was a minor detail”
But you mentioned it, then got all upset that I pointed in the factual flaws in Hootsman’s piece.
I’m all for openness as you know David, for example what was Key doing meeting John Ashcroft last week, I’ve not heard anyone in the National party explain that.
[DPF: First of all 10 demerits for going massively off topic. Secondly you ignored what I said. I agreed McCarten's maths was minor but I also addressed major issues in his column. While your comment on stopovers was minor with no substance elsewhere on more major points. In other words you are trolling]
September 14th, 2008 at 4:37 pm
John Key’s hair is brown. The nazis wore brownshirts. ‘david why aren’t you commenting on National’s link to naziism!?’ sheesh
September 14th, 2008 at 5:29 pm
10 demerits for going massively off topic.”
Weird that you let your foul mouthed fellow right-wingers off with whatever they wish to say yet me pointing out that a major part of Hootsman’s piece is factually incorrect gets me a demerit?
Pointing out facts in a piece is now not on topic, my how one lives and learns.
Your fake good humour cracking under the strain already David?
September 14th, 2008 at 5:39 pm
Sonic, have you ever been to Las Vegas?
ITS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE U.S, ITS NOT ON THE WAY TO ANYWHERE EXCEPT ITSELF.
WINSTON WAS ON A JOLLY! ON TAXPAYER MONEY.
Back to your copy of Socialists Weekly or what-ev-ah you people read.
September 14th, 2008 at 8:49 pm
Expat, yes I have been to Las Vegas, and it is certainly not “in the middle of the US”
Love the random caps though, classy stuff.
September 14th, 2008 at 8:57 pm
As its a several hours drive from SF I’d say its in the middle but if you’d like to split hairs to divert attention fomr your crap argument fine
September 14th, 2008 at 8:58 pm
Sonic
In the words of your dear corrupt leader
Didums
September 14th, 2008 at 9:03 pm
I love the way you guys think pointing out a factual error is “splitting hairs.”
“It’s a several hours drive from SF I’d say its in the middle”
Yes thats right Expat, driving across the USa only takes 8 hours.
It was you who raised the “have you ever been to the USA” nonsense, just a pity that you did it while forgetting you never had.
Seriously, you guys have went way downhill since I last bothered to check out the comments on here. Have you all been on the stupid pills while I’ve been gone?
September 14th, 2008 at 9:05 pm
Sonic is totally correct that Vegas is not really in the middle of the US. Sonic is also correct that 7/15 is pretty much “half.” Since Sonic has now cleared up all the important details maybe there will be a chance of answering one minor question….
DPF: On the other hand you have avoided the substance every time now. So once again do you think Ministers should declare any gifts worth over $500 they get?
September 14th, 2008 at 9:10 pm
Looking up I’ve already answered that question, do try and keep up there’s a good chap.
Oh and whille we are on the subject of openness, do you think the National Party should declare every gift it has received over $500 in the last parliament?
Didn’t you find it interesting how jumpy David got when I mentioned John Key’s secret meeting with UK Conservative party money man Ashcroft.
That bears looking into a little bit more methinks.
September 14th, 2008 at 9:19 pm
Well the question was should a minister declare a gift over $500. Your reply was to ask if the National Party should declare gifts. Thats not answering the question. A personal gift to a person is entirely different than a donation to a party.
DPF was probaby annoyed that you kept avoiding answering a direct question by trying to make this tread about party donations and not give a direct answer to a question.
September 14th, 2008 at 10:41 pm
Winnie was probably supposed to meet Hulun for a clandestine ceremony at the elvis presley chapel of lurve.
pat pat – yes thats right sonic, you know where i’ve been…in your special little world.
The fact is though, winnie is corrupt, hulun is corrupt, labybore have sold the workers down the river for the sake of the executives ego and the mps pecuniary gain.
bye bye hulun, mikhael and komrades!
I will go back to new zealand to celebrate when this occurs.