News this week of Winston Peters' dinner dates with Trade Minister Todd McClay are unlikely to cause many ripples.
In November, McClay took the New Zealand First leader to London, Paris and Milan, paying $4000 from the public purse for Winston's hotels and feeding him foie gras and escargots (that's
snails) at top Paris restaurants - all on the taxpayer.
Mr Peters explained that the meetings were "seriously important". Brexit was uppermost in their minds, which might at least explain a trip to London, though one might think such matters of state could be discussed in little old New Zealand over a flat white and a potato top.
As I say, unlikely to be many ripples ... Firstly, as we all know, Winston Peters both eschews the baubles of office and cannot countenance the flagrant mis-use of our tax dollars; and it seems we have all become inured to ministers and MPs living it large at our expense ... it's just what they do, we shrug.
This week's political poll - while primarily checking how National was doing under Bill English - showed NZ First possibly holding the balance of power come September's election, giving Winston his favoured role of king-maker.
