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Elton John tickets, investments - MPs' financial interests revealed

Author
Jason Walls, NZ Herald,
Publish Date
Tue, 18 May 2021, 3:19PM
A number of MPs were gifted tickets to see Elton John in concert last year. (Photo / Paul Taylor)
A number of MPs were gifted tickets to see Elton John in concert last year. (Photo / Paul Taylor)

Elton John tickets, investments - MPs' financial interests revealed

Author
Jason Walls, NZ Herald,
Publish Date
Tue, 18 May 2021, 3:19PM

A number of MPs, including Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, were gifted tickets to see Elton John in concert last year, according to MPs' pecuniary interests.

But the yearly list of MPs financial interests, just released, is somewhat shorter than it has been in the past due to Covid-19.

The list is usually chock-full of colourful gifts MPs have been given from travelling dignitaries or other VIPs.

That, however, is not the case this year.

But this list does give a glimpse into some of the wealth held by some new MPs.

Botany MP Chris Luxon, for example, owns seven properties across New Zealand – six in Auckland (two residential and four investment properties) and one residential property in Wellington.

As well as providing an update of the major assets owned by MPs – such as houses, businesses and retirement savings – it also shows the gifts they receive.

MPs need to declare a gift if it has an estimated market value of more than $500.

Usually, Ardern's list of gifts is extensive but this year there were only six items on the list.

She got a Christmas gift hamper from the ambassador of Cuba and a number of loaned clothing items from Juliette Hogan and Zoe & Morgan.

She also got a free ticket to see Elton John in concert last year, paid for by CRS music.

And she's not alone: Andrew Bayly, Paul Goldsmith and Melissa Lee all got their tickets to the show paid for as well.

National leader Judith Collins – who the list shows is a part-owner of CDL Hotels – was given a coat and jacket from Trelise Cooper and a skincare package from Antipodes.

She is one of a number of MPs who were gifted a similar package from Antipodes.

The list shows that National MP Chris Bishop is a part-owner of the Wellington-based Parrot Dog craft beer company.

But his list of business interest pales in comparison to National MP Stuart Smith who has interests in 27 companies and businesses.

It's an extensive portfolio, including Fisher & Paykel Healthcare, Restaurant Brands, Amazon, Alibaba and Berkshire Hathaway.

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