A suitcase bought at an "exorbitant" price by Invercargill City Council for the sole purpose of bringing gifts home from Japan has not been used since.
Last week, the $750 item made headlines after appearing on a council report detailing "sensitive expenditure".
Described by council finance and assurance group manager Patricia Christie as a "hard-shell, Samsonite-style case", it was bought during a trip to sister city Kumagaya last July.
Councillor Ria Bond told Local Democracy it was an "exorbitant" price to pay for a suitcase considering there were people in the city struggling to put food on the table.
Invercargill City Council governance and legal manager Michael Morris confirmed the item had not seen much daylight since last winter.
"The suitcase purchased by Invercargill City Council in Japan last year is being stored at Te Hīnaki Civic Building, and has not been used since its return," Mr Morris said.
"However, it will be available for future use where required."
Ms Christie previously explained the suitcase was bought at a luggage shop located near the hotel where council delegates stayed in Tokyo.
It was bought in the presence of councillor Barry Stewart, approved by Mayor Nobby Clark, and used to bring home two items — a bamboo bowl given by the City of Kumagaya and a porcelain plate given by the Kumagaya Friendship Association.
Both were deemed too large to travel as carry-on luggage and required a high level of protection due to their delicate nature, Ms Christie said.
Since arriving in Invercargill, the bowl and plate have been stored in council archives.
The two items were likely to be displayed in the near future, Ms Christie said.
- LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
