Key's Letterman Show appearance cost $10k

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Mon, 01 Aug 2011 4:23p.m.

Prime Minister John Key’s appearance and jokes on the David Letterman Show in 2009 may have caused some cringes among the New Zealand taxpayer, but it also cost them money.

Newstalk ZB has found Mr Key, who also holds the Minister of Tourism portfolio, and Tourism New Zealand hired a public relations company to try and convince Letterman to put him on the show.

The Beehive denies any payments were made to get him on the show.

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Comments

03 Aug 2011 12:30p.m.

hey wrote:

I didn't authorise you to do this with my money Mr Key!! I'm taking my 0.005NZD and not paying it in my next tax round... one would deem it mis-appropriation of funds.

02 Aug 2011 11:37p.m.

Chris wrote:

I guess it was money well spent if you subscribe to the theory that "any publicity is good publicity". But I suspect that most Americans who saw the show probably thought "Who's this dork? His forced delivery and queasy smile makes me uncomfortable".

02 Aug 2011 08:02a.m.

Clarke wrote:

Its always nice to be able to pay people to be your friends I guess. I mean look at him, who would really want to be his friend for free.

02 Aug 2011 12:08a.m.

Paul wrote:

@Paul, like most people think, that was peanuts for the amount of advertising our country got. I agree Key is a bit of a mr smily but he seems to draw the country together and we are not in too bad a shape after what the world has been through. Also what other choice do we have for Prime minsiter ?? No one I can think of.

01 Aug 2011 10:58p.m.

Kim wrote:

To everyone saying this was a good investment..did you actually watch the footage? It was embarrassing to the max.

01 Aug 2011 09:55p.m.

katrina wrote:

It was a bit goofy but it should be taken in the light hearted way it was intended. Key has a great sense of hunour and it reflected on the show. It is great to make out New Zealanders in a lighthearted happy way. The world finds that refreshing after all the doom and gloom all the time

01 Aug 2011 08:31p.m.

Wasted Space. wrote:

Key is wasted space and just want to seek attention at the Taxpayers expense. He only goes there to get brownie points. Maybe if others would check this link out they would find Key and what he is up to. http://aotearoaawiderperspective.files.wordpress.com/2008/12/would-you-have-voted-john-key5.pdf Also what happened at Pike Mine and decide then if you think Key is squeaky clean which you will see he is not Check this link and take a good read. www.bilderberg.org/Murder_at_Pike_River_Mine.doc

01 Aug 2011 07:53p.m.

jabba wrote:

money well spent

01 Aug 2011 07:48p.m.

Jer wrote:

@ Paul, He WAS on for free. The cost involved was to pay the public relations team that arranged it. $10,000 for potential millions in tourism dollars is not only a fair investment, it is a logical one. Use your brains people and stop nitpicking every single thing the National Party does. Newsflash, they're not wrong ALL THE TIME. Don't be like Phil Goff, a bumbling joke.

01 Aug 2011 07:45p.m.

Sal wrote:

For heaven's sake Nzers <b> wake up</b>. This man Key is a total embarrassment. He's all schmalz and no substance. Get rid of him!