Duncan Garner on the ministerial housing controversy

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Mon, 03 Aug 2009 12:00a.m.

3 News political editor Duncan Garner

3 News political editor Duncan Garner

It has been revealed that a number of ministers are renting out their own apartments while they live in other ones paid for by the taxpayer.

Housing Minister Phil Heatley owns an apartment in Wellington, but lives in another apartment with a rent of nearly $1,000 a week - paid by the taxpayer.

Trade Minister Tim Groser and Foreign Minister Murray McCully are also both examples of ministers doing the same thing.

Campbell Live spoke to 3 News political editor Duncan Garner about the issue.

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Comments

16 Aug 2009 08:17p.m.

Ergo wrote:

Idiots. You dont think this was going on for 9 years under Labour ??? I voted Labour last election but for gods sake, how stupid are people out there. At least Key is proposing to do something about it. Did Helen ?

04 Aug 2009 10:09a.m.

Mark wrote:

John Key and the drop kick Bill Engilish need to resign over this, good enough for them to ripp of the tax payer, they chose to do that job and the hours they work, if they dont like it LEAVE!!! go work for MacDonalds and get a tax payers grant for your Wages, your taking away help for poor kids at school so you pay your house off? what about our Super you put that on hold so you can pay your hose off at the tax payers Expence. GET A REAL JOB!!!!

04 Aug 2009 08:40a.m.

Nick Lovett wrote:

There is no way ANYONE earning the sort of saleries our ELECTED officals earn can justify the sort of rort that is going on, it may not be illegal,"in the broard sense" but it is certainly immoral they must be made to pay it back,they work for us and we simply do not approve of this or any other rort.
There must be more transparency around the allowences they get and if they cant be trusted to moniter it themselves then we should do it for them
PAY IT BACK NOW!!!

03 Aug 2009 10:46p.m.

Steve wrote:

John Key is being a bit too cute by playing the "life as a Parliamentarian is hard on families" card. Hang on...didn't they choose this career, no one forced them. They could quite easily get a job closer to home. Mind you, looking at the quality of them many would struggle to earn the median wage.
Duncans report revealed that many of them are owning multiple properties in Wellington and then getting us to essentially bankroll their personal property portfolios. Again in tonights report no mention of Bill English transferring the ownership of his Wellington house from his own name to his wife's? Was it so he could claim the extra cash from the taxpayer?


03 Aug 2009 09:44p.m.

brian wrote:

basically our MPS who are involved in gaining on asserts, by getting the governent and tax payers to pay their mortage bill are dishonest, and so are those who have also used this scheme in the past.Legally it may not be theif as a servant, but the principal is wrong, they are receiving income on a previous assert, then begging to the Government they have no place to live. It is dishonest, finally some people have to take on jobs, to foll the family ancestory, some take any job to receive income to support families, no MP is compelled to become a MP, they choose, yes they are elected, and our elected officials need to upright, honest aand reliable, sweekie clean, role models for a future generation. I am real disapointed B.

03 Aug 2009 08:22p.m.

Pamela Brooks wrote:

Wasnt there a high ranking army officer nearly demoted for the same housing rort while working at the United Nations. Sorry so vague. Guess we should all be politicians so that we can live as comfortably. They need to realise they are public servants paid out of taxes. They have their own private incomes such as farms and having the finance market delt for them.

03 Aug 2009 07:58p.m.

Nathan wrote:

If a joint family income is more than $1450 before tax weekly even if I have 5 children I will not be eligible for any taxpayer funded accomadation supplimant. Bill English is paid more than $5000 before tax per week. His perks incl. vehicle, holidays etc. Why should we pay him for his 1.2 million house as well. May be legal but is it moral. When NZ are going thro hardship and Bill himself is calling us to tighten our belts while he lives off the tax payer.Why should MPs receive any allowances and perks average NZ don't get. I am not challenging their pay though some of them may not even get minimum wage anywhere else but the perks. When I was small my dad used to say that all politicians come from the gutters. Now I belive it. They come from the gutters and leave their moral values in the gutters itself
Have you noticed when it comes to their salary and perks they close ranks. Non of them will challenge each other. They would unanimously agree that everything is fine. I am disgusted.