The Green Party is unhappy that senior government ministers and their staff continue to accept generous corporate hospitality from Westpac Bank at a time when the Government’s master banking contract, held by Westpac, is under review.
Green Party co-leader Russel Norman says the Government needs to reconsider the way they regularly accept gifts from large corporates.
“These gifts aren’t neutral,” Dr Norman says, “they buy access to decision makers in an unfair way”.
A series of Green Party written questions revealed nine ministers have accepted corporate hospitality from Westpac Bank in the last year.
Gifts included box seats at the Rugby Sevens, dinner at the White House restaurant, and tickets to rock concerts.
Thirteen ministers had staff who had accepted similar hospitality from Westpac.
Dr Norman says that as the Government is “actively considering retendering part, if not all, of the banking master contract” currently held by Westpac, accepting personal gifts creates a potential conflict of interest.
“The fact that so many ministers had staff who also accepted Westpac’s largesse is disquieting, given the central role of ministerial staff in influencing the decisions of their busy Ministers.”
He also says it’s bad for the public perception of Government ministers.
“Most New Zealanders can’t afford this kind of access, and hence it corrodes the public’s belief that we are all equal in the eyes of the Government.”
3 News