Kiwis pay $81k for Trump do
Taxpayers stumped up more than $80,000 for a Donald Trump inauguration party in Washington, hosted by New Zealand’s ambassador Tim Groser.
Among the 320 guests at the event on January 17 were influential Trump insiders, business leaders, military and government figures – and the odd Hollywood celebrity.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Mfat), which revealed the $US58,247.36 ($81,000) cost in reply to an Official information Act request, said the event was held because the embassy played a critical role in pursuing New Zealand’s interest with the US.
‘‘The New Zealand Embassy has hosted inauguration functions in previous years, without consideration of US domestic politics. Such events profile New Zealand’s excellent relationship with the United States and are a celebration of shared democratic values,’’ a spokeswoman said.
Mfat noted the US was this country’s third largest trading partner and a high-value market for our exporters.
‘‘The event was considered as a constituency building activity to position New Zealand’s interests effectively with the new US Administration and Congress.’’
Guests included senior US Presidential transition team representatives, Republican Congressional members and nominees for roles in the Trump line-up as well as influential business and media guests and ‘‘NZ Inc. business community contacts’’.
The party was funded from Mfat’s baseline budget and met standard approval criteria and processes, Mfat said.
A report in the Washingtonian, a monthly magazine based in the US capital, reported on the NZ Inauguration Gala as part of an article seeking ‘‘soft sensuality at the inaugural balls’’ – something promised by Trump’s lead inauguration planner Tom Barrack.
The report said the inauguration circuit started at the NZ Embassy. ’’Perhaps the island nation known best to Americans as the filming location for the Lord of the Rings movies could fulfil Barrack’s prediction. But Ambassador Tim Groser made no attempt to hide his elation about the evening’s guest list.’’
The White House’s incoming chief strategist Steve Bannon ‘‘was reportedly spotted’’ and actor Jon Voight – Trump’s most famous Hollywood supporter – turned up. Trump adviser and Kiwi Chris Liddell was also in attendance.
It reported Groser saying: ‘‘Getting access to Trump will be everybody’s ambition … We have got off to a flying start.’’ ‘‘Yet Groser was unabashed: he regaled the crowd with the story of how he first snagged Trump’s cellphone number (he knew a guy who knew a guy), and professed his own thrill about the end of ‘PC’ culture. The Trump campaign may have decried Hollywood, but Groser and the scores of guests in black tie were openly star-struck by the new folks in town.’’
It also noted former Trade Negotiations Minister Groser key role in the 12-nation Trans-pacific Partnership (TPP) trade deal, which Trump quit as one of his first actions, as well as his career ‘‘promoting other trade policies antithetical to Trumpism’’.
But it said ‘‘disagreements be damned’’. Access was the name of the game for everyone with a new regime in Washington.