MEDIA RELEASE

Chatham Islands treaty settlement travel costs skyrocket

13 JUNE 2017

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Taxpayers’ Union is questioning the efficiency of the Office of Treaty Settlements' travel arrangements, after just nine officials racked up a $57k travel bill to the Chatham Islands alone, in only 18 months.

Executive Director of the Taxpayers' Union, Jordan Williams, said “Serious questions need to be asked about why the Office have not elected to use other means to remain connected with those involved in the negotiations on the Chatham Islands. Have they thought of video conferencing, emailing, or even picking up the phone? One official’s return flight from the Chathams alone cost the taxpayer over $2,600 – that is enough to get you around Europe and back.”

The figures, which were obtained by the Taxpayers’ Union under the Official Information Act, are made up of $44,214 on flights, $10,911 on hotels, and $2,025 on rental cars and fees.

“The Office have blamed the quality of internet on the Chathams as restricting other means of communication, but the Islands' local council advised us that the internet works perfectly fine.”

“What’s more, officials have been negotiating with local iwi since August 2015, but they don’t even have an agreement in principle to show for it. When asked how long the negotiations are expected to last, the Office were unable to pinpoint an end date. These travel costs could go on for years and years to come.”

“A Google search of the lavish farm-stay accommodation officials elected to put themselves up in indicate that there has been no expense spared on these island getaways.”

A breakdown of the figures provided by the Office of Treaty Settlements and their OIA response can be viewed here: taxpayers.org.nz/chatham_islands_treaty_travel.

ENDS

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