Dark Times to be a NZ Tax Payer

Tuesday, 12 August 2008
A report was released that will allow former prime minsiters and governors general to access $10m in perks including unlimited flights and annual payments, details to follow.

This year alone an estimated cost of $920,000 in perks will be racked up including $520,000 in flights for just one year. The Internal Affairs predic that this will cost the New Zealand Tax Payer approximately $10 million during the recipients lifetimes. The scheme entitles them to unlimited domestic flights, a self drive car or chauffeur driven car where after they die, surviving spouses can claim on the same benefits.

There are 12 former prime ministers claiming for some of the benefits (Jenny Shipley, Jim Bolger, Mike Moore and Sir Geoffrey Palmer, Dame Silvia Cartwright, Sir Michael Hardie Boys, Dame Cath Tizard and Sir Paul Reeves and four Widows.

The entitlements have been around for sometime now set up in recognition of the service they privided whilst in office and as continuing obligations as public figures. The argument they put forward is "... your never not a public figure anymore. you are always a public figure once you've been prime minister and or governor-general. that carries with it certain responsibilities"
Even so this said, it doesn't take an income higher than that of our median income level to keep ones nose clean, only to help them maintain their lifestyles they accustomed themselves to whilst in office. If they were as high profile as say the United States President that would be something else, but we have niether the pockets, heads per capita or as many scandles to rival 1/1,000,000 the amount they can afford for their past presidents and spouses.