$1795 to meet the PM

The Labour Party is selling tickets to a ‘‘business conference’’ featuring the prime minister and finance minister for more than $2000 apiece. An invite to the ‘‘Labour Party Business Conference’’ was emailed out by Labour Party president Claire Szabo to businesses in recent days, with tickets costing $1795 plus GST.

Those who attend the conference are promised ‘‘interactive’’ policy sessions with Jacinda Ardern, Grant Robertson, Environment Minister David Parker, Transport Minister Michael Wood, and Local Government minister Nanaia Mahuta, as well as ‘‘networking drinks’’ at the end of the day. These high-powered ministers are all listed as the Labour Party spokespeople for these roles, rather than as ministers. This keeps the invitation and the event within the rules set out in the Cabinet manual for such party fundraisers.

‘‘We wanted you to be the first to know that Labour is hosting a Business Conference in Auckland, on Friday 30 July,’’ the email reads. ‘‘We’ve confirmed attendance from the Labour Leader Jacinda Ardern, Labour finance spokesperson Grant Robertson, Labour environment spokesperson David Parker, Labour local government spokesperson Nanaia Mahuta, and Labour transport spokesperson Michael Wood. Each will be running sessions at the conference about Labour’s work in their area of expertise.’’

With GST added the tickets come out at $2064. There is no suggestion that Labour ministers are breaking any campaign or Cabinet rules with the meeting. The Cabinet Manual allows ministers to participate in fundraising activities for their parties. Green Party electoral law spokeswoman Golriz Ghahraman said for most members of the public such a price was unaffordable. ‘‘I’d want more transparency around this. We don’t always know who has access – who is paying these prices to sit down with various ministers and the Prime Minister.’’