Maori Affairs Ministry boss pays back $1800 for wife's travel

Ministry of Maori Development chief executive Leith Comer. File photo / NZ Herald

Maori Affairs Ministry boss Leith Comer has paid back $1806 of taxpayer money that he spent on his wife's travel costs last year.

The Te Puni Kokiri chief executive came under fire this week for flying his wife to several events, including Opera in the Pa, Style Pasifika and the Maori Sports Awards.

In a statement yesterday, his office said the money would be paid back, and Mr Comer confirmed this morning that he had written a cheque.

"Rather than having endless debate and get distracted, I thought the best way was to refund my wife's costs of those functions," he said.

Mr Comer defended the spending, saying it was sometimes appropriate for his wife to accompany him when he hosted events.

"My role is to engage with Maori communities and I get out and about in that role often. People might perceive this as glad-bagging around but actually it's work I'm out there doing," he told media today.

"I do think it's important though, that on some events, myself and my wife is there but we'll have to look at how we meet that obligation without running into the difficulties that we're facing at the moment."

He said he had not been under pressure from the Government to pay the money back.

The issue of taxpayer money funding a towbar for the chief executive's car has also been raised, and Mr Comer said it was departmental decision not his own.

"I don't have any reason to have a towbar on my car but I understand that it's good practice to have towbars on departmental cars," he said.