New Zealand’s members of Parliament are required to open their books and reveal their “pecuniary and other specified personal interests”, and this year’s list covers the delicious, desirable, and downright bizarre.
Under Parliament’s rules, MPs must declare gifts and hospitality worth more than $500 from the same source over a calendar year. They’re not required to disclose the exact value of each gift.
The register also includes company directorships, properties, trusts, retirement schemes, investments, debts and sponsored travel.
Many of the gifts are diplomatic or ceremonial, particularly for ministers travelling overseas, while others are corporate goodies, such as sports and concert tickets.
Among the more unusual declarations was a “Mongolian horse (kept in Mongolia)” gifted to Foreign Minister Winston Peters by the Mongolian Government, alongside a signed Sir Edmund Hillary $5 note from the Himalayan Trust, and a bottle of whisky from the Indian Government.
Trade Minister Todd McClay received an impressive collection of diplomatic gifts from overseas governments, including wooden, silver and brass elephants, ornamental scrolls, an antelope statue, ceremonial incense burners, artisan scarves and a very specific allocation of "Arabian dates (x10)" .
Labour MP Ayesha Verrall was gifted two nights’ accommodation at a luxury Maldives resort by the country’s former president, who she noted is also her cousin. Rooms at the resort typically range from around $995 to more than $2500 a night.
National MP Judith Collins declared a complimentary Qantas Chairman’s Lounge membership, and a helicopter flight. She was also gifted a 24-carat gold pen holder valued at $660 from the Prime Minister of Singapore.
Along with sports tickets, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon received tickets to the Dua Lipa concert and a dinner set from the Prime Minister of Vietnam.
Hunting and Fishing Minister James Meager declared a hunting knife gifted by the Deerstalkers Association, noting he later returned it and purchased it himself.
Labour’s Carmel Sepuloni was gifted a Samoan fine mat and a box of corned beef from the Avondale Union Church, while ACT leader David Seymour declared concert and sports tickets from the Eden Park Trust Board, as well as a "beach towel".
Sports hospitality featured heavily throughout the register. Twelve National MPs and one Labour MP all accepted tickets to All Blacks matches, while others received entry to cricket, basketball and tennis events.
National MPs Simeon Brown and Carlos Cheung also declared tickets to the Hot Wheels Monster Trucks event.
The Registrar of the list noted that publishing it every year is vital for democracy, as it provides the transparency needed for the public to trust how MPs make decisions.
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