Eight Te Papa board members and staff flew to Christchurch for a turtle’s funeral!
The Taxpayers' Union has unearthed a great story of taxpayer money being wasted. This is the story of Michelangelo the turtle. The summary:
- Turtle found dead in banks peninsula
- Local marae says they don't want it so arranged for Te papa to take it for scientific research
- Ngai Tahu then decides they do want it, even though local marae said they didn't
- Turtle spends 21 months in freezer while return negotiated!! No research is done on it
- Te Papa staff build a coffin for it
- Turtle transported back down to christchurch at cost of $2,000
- Eight Te Papa board members, executives and staff fly to Christchurch for the funeral (powhiri) costing $5,000
- Turtle transported by helicopter (yes helicopter) to its burial site for $1,600
- Total costs of at least $11,500
The sheer extravagance of sending eight board members and staff from Te Papa to return a turtle is galling. And then to hire a helicopter to fly it to an island.