MEDIA RELEASE

Pacific Island Ministry CEO Hides in Office for Award Ceremony

31 JULY 2014
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Following this morning’s coverage of the extravagant expenditure by Pauline Winter, the CEO of the Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs, Porky the Taxpayers’ Union mascot visited the Ministry’s Wellington Office to present the Union’s first “Troughing Award”.

Jordan Williams, Executive Director of the Taxpayers’ Union says:

"For Ms Winter's gallant efforts to rip off New Zealand taxpayers with publicly funded weekend trips to the exotic capital of the South Pacific known as Auckland, Porky and I visited the Ministry’s offices to present her with the first of our 'Troughing Awards’."

“Ms Winters was in the office but refused to front-up or speak to media."

"Despite Ms Winter's expenses being more than $30,000 she chose to hide in her office and send a spin doctor to accept the award on her behalf."

“Ms Winter's refusal to justify her expense bill is the epitome of arrogance. She should front up, justify her extravagance on the taxpayer purse, or resign.”

The allegations include Ms Winters personally appointing staff to unadvertised positions, flights and rental cars in Auckland most weekends, and even rental cars in Wellington (where Ms Winter is based).

ENDS

© Scoop Media