Gifts thin on ground for Taranaki MPs

Land and property interests are the common factor linking Taranaki MPs in the annual disclosure of pecuniary interests, but gifts were thin for some.

The register, which covers all of New Zealand’s Members of Parliament, includes details such as assets, debts or gifts received in the past year.

While Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern was gifted tickets to Elton John, U2 and to an All Blacks test, and her deputy, Winston Peters, got a box of cigars from the Cuban Ambassador to New Zealand, two of the four MPs who represent Taranaki constituents missed out on freebies altogether.

Neither Taranaki-King Country representative Barbara Kuriger or Harete Hipango, whose Whanganui electorate covers Opunake to Midhirst and south to Waitotara, recorded any gifts as part of their annual declarations.

Te Tai Haua¯uru MP Adrian Rurawhe declared he got tickets to Te Matatini to see the cream of New Zealand’s kapa haka crop compete.

But it was New Plymouth MP Jonathan Young who scored the most gifts of the group, including two, threeday Womad passes, complimentary registration to three conferences, and tickets to an All Blacks test.

Part of Kuriger’s declarations include being a trustee of the LS & BJ Kuriger Family Trusts Partnership, which owned two family homes, in New Plymouth and Te Awamutu, and an apartment in Wellington. She also has interests in two dairy farms, and a grazing block in Opunake.

Rurawhe also declared interests in Ma¯ ori land blocks, including 26 sections in the Aotea district.

Young declared a family home in New Plymouth, and properties in Paihia, Auckland and Wellington.