Maori Affairs Ministry boss Leith Comer has paid back $1806
of taxpayer money that he spent on his wife's travel costs
last year.
The Te Puni Kokiri chief executive came under fire this week
for flying his wife to several events, including Opera in the
Pa, Style Pasifika and the Maori Sports Awards.
In a statement yesterday, his office said the money would be
paid back, and Mr Comer confirmed this morning that he had
written a cheque.
"Rather than having endless debate and get distracted, I
thought the best way was to refund my wife's costs of those
functions,'' he said.
Mr Comer defended the spending, saying it was sometimes
appropriate for his wife to accompany him when he hosted
events.
"My role is to engage with Maori communities and I get out
and about in that role often. People might perceive this as
glad-bagging around but actually it's work I'm out there
doing,'' he told media today.
"I do think it's important though, that on some events,
myself and my wife is there but we'll have to look at how we
meet that obligation without running into the difficulties
that we're facing at the moment.''
He said he had not been under pressure from the Government to
pay the money back.
The issue of taxpayer money funding a towbar for the chief
executive's car has also been raised, and Mr Comer said it
was departmental decision, not his own.
"I don't have any reason to have a towbar on my car but I
understand that it's good practice to have towbars on
departmental cars,'' he said.
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