Paintings, property and toilets: MPs reveal their assets

Police Minister Judith Collins is a 'neat lady,' according to artist Blake Twigden. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Police Minister Judith Collins was given a painting of a native woodpigeon by wildlife artist Blake Twigden for being a "neat lady".

New Bay of Plenty MPs Simon Bridges and Todd McLay can hit a golf ball for free at their local course after being gifted free membership of the Mt Maunganui and Rotorua clubs respectively.

And Act MP David Garrett is director of a waste-management company in Tonga that hires out portable toilets and cleans septic tanks. He keeps other assets in the "Big Banana" trust.

The declarations were all contained in the annual register of pecuniary interests of MPs released yesterday.

Registrar Dame Margaret Bazley noted the "if in doubt, declare it" approach taken by MPs after last year's controversy when Winston Peters failed to declare a $100,000 gift from billionaire Owen Glenn.

MPs must declare gifts of more than $500 and their assets and debts in the year to January 2009.

Twigden, who lives in Whitford, near Auckland, said he gave Ms Collins the painting before the election because she was a "neat lady" and in recognition of the effort she put in.

His book The Fifty Rarest Birds of the World is in the Buckingham Palace library and the Prince of Wales owns a set of his prints of Australian parrots.

Prime Minister John Key, whose estimated wealth is $50 million, has declared the Aldgate Trust - a "blind trust" which holds his investments that was set up just before he was sworn in as Prime Minister.

Mr Key has listed six properties: the Parnell family home, his Huapai electorate office, holiday homes in Omaha and Hawaii and apartments in London and Wellington.

Millionaire Transport Minister Steven Joyce also has his assets in a blind trust, the Carrington Investment Trust.

Mr Joyce was paid for his work as National's strategist until he entered Parliament on election day.

Many MPs use trusts to cover their assets, but not Sir Roger Douglas, who showed off his diverse portfolio with shareholding in 38 different companies ranging from Pumpkin Patch to Infratil.

Former Prime Minister Helen Clark declared a gold diamond brooch given to her by Hyundai in Korea. She also received a tea set by pewter-maker Sealangor from the Samling Group, an industrial conglomerate backed by one of Malaysia's richest families, that owns the Hikurangi forest on the East Coast.

She listed five properties: her and Peter Davis' Mt Eden home, a Wellington townhouse, a Christchurch apartment, a Rodney investment property and a house in Britain.

Agriculture Minister David Carter declared interests in eight companies in the sector, including meat and wool exporters and a fertiliser company.

Education Minister Ann Tolley declared the helicopter ride she took to get a "helicopter view" of Auckland University of Technology.

Simon Bridges also took a helicopter tour of Tauranga and the western Bay of Plenty "to view growth strategies as local MP" funded by the local councils. Steven Joyce was given a similar trip, just to view "growth strategies".

National's Mt Albert candidate, Melissa Lee, is director of three non-trading martial arts federations. Maungakiekie MP Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga lists his dual role as an Auckland City councillor.

Labour MP Charles Chauvel got bumped up to business class by Qantas on a trip to Australia. Mr Chauvel and his partner had some of the costs of another trip to Sydney - where he owns an apartment - contributed to by Air New Zealand.

Green MP Kennedy Graham has an apartment in Bruges, Belgium. Todd McClay has one in Brussels. Trade Minister Tim Groser owns a "hotel room" in the Auckland CBD.

Mr McClay, Georgina te Heuheu and Louise Upston all enjoyed tickets and hospitality at Taupo's A1GP motor racing event.

National's Chris Tremain has minor shareholdings in two racing syndicates.

* MPs' gifts

Painting: Police Minister Judith Collins.

Gold and diamond brooch, tea set: Prime Minister Helen Clark.

Golf club memberships: National MPs Simon Bridges and Todd McClay.

Helicopter rides: Education Minister Anne Tolley, Transport Minister Steven Joyce and Mr Bridges.

* www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/MPP/MPs/FinInterests/