Public paid for leaky homes staff partying says MP

Taxpayer money designated to help the owners of leaky homes was spent on staff parties that had cowboys and Indians, Sound of Music, Pacific Islands and aeroplane themes, National MP Nick Smith says.

Dr Smith landed multiple blows on Building Issues Minister Chris Carter with allegations staff of the former Weathertight Homes Resolution Service were flown around the country for the parties.


Dr Smith said: "It is beyond belief that Government bureaucrats have been partying up big-time while thousands of homeowners watch their homes rot".

Mr Carter, clearly caught out, said he knew nothing of the parties but the service's entertainment culture had "just come to an end".

He released a statement later saying the claims would be investigated and dealt with. One party had been a Christmas party and the Sound of Music party cost about $2000.

"The WHRS clearly has some explaining to do. If the situation with all four parties is as alleged, it is completely unacceptable."

He denied Dr Smith's claim that anyone was flown down from Auckland specifically for the Sound of Music party although some Auckland staff were in Wellington for another reason.

Former service head Lisa Ferguson said there was an intention to mislead what the functions were actually about.

"I reject the way in which they have been constructed. We kept within the departmental guidelines in terms of what the allocation was per head. This is portrayed that people are flying around for parties and that totally misrepresents the culture in the organisation and the hardworking people that are there."

The cowboys and Indians function was the service's Christmas party and the June 30 function was to welcome the service's move to the Department of Building and Housing.

Dr Smith revealed recently Dr Ferguson had been replaced as head of the service by Nigel Bickle after a "messy employment dispute".

The service was transferred from the Department of Internal Affairs to the Department of Building and Housing on July 1.

But Dr Ferguson said she was still employed until the end of the week by Internal Affairs and she rejected attempts to portray her departure as a resignation or a performance issue.

NZ First leader Winston Peters also tackled Broadcasting Minister Steve Maharey on a $52,000 party for TVNZ advertisers.

And National's Bill English embarrassed Education Minister Trevor Mallard by pointing out a Maori "radio singalong" course he said was no more was in fact still being offered on the Eastern Institute of Technology's website as at noon yesterday.

On the TVNZ party, Mr Peters said the $52,000 mid-winter shindig was further evidence the broadcaster had done nothing to curb its "culture of extravagance".

Mr Maharey told the House the function was held every year to thank advertising agencies and major advertisers, who provided 90 per cent of TVNZ's overall revenue.

On the radio singalong course, Mr Mallard told the House he had received an assurance from EIT's chief executive there would be no more enrolments after Friday.

Party time

* The Weathertight Homes Resolution Service treated staff to theme parties, National MP Nick Smith says.

* There was "Sound of Music" on June 30, "Pacific Islands" two weeks before, "cowboys and Indians" last December and "aeroplane" earlier last year.

* The service flew its Auckland staff to Wellington for the June 30 party, paying for all food, alcohol, airfares and accommodation.