Taxes pay ministry staff's Koru Club fees
PAUL EASTON
Relevant offers
News
Taxpayers are paying thousands for government bureaucrats' Koru Club membership.
Hundreds of Justice, Corrections, Inland Revenue, Education and Social Development staff have memberships giving them access to an Air New Zealand waiting lounge, free food and drinks, and priority check-in and baggage handling.
This is revealed in responses to Official Information Act requests from The Dominion Post.
Justice Ministry acting deputy secretary corporate services Heather Baggott said it was paying for Koru Club membership for 53 staff as at June 30, 2011.
The ministry had negotiated a reduced price, she said.
The executive team, general managers and staff who took more than 20 return flights a year were given membership.
Corrections Department finance manager Rachel Calvert said 52 of its 8500 staff had memberships, at a cost of $19,575.
That was down from the previous year's total of 122 staff, she said.
Staff who took more than 26 return flights a year were considered for Koru Club membership.
Memberships were reviewed annually to check they were still needed, she said.
"We are constantly reviewing the need to travel to see how we can minimise costs. For example we are making more use of audio visual links, which minimise the need for travel to attend meetings."
Inland Revenue reported 56 staff held a Koru Club membership during the 2010-11 financial year.
Of those 19 were paid by the department, and 37 were complimentary.
Inland Revenue spent $8455 on the 19 memberships, at $445 each.
Koru Lounge membership was considered if a staff member travelled a lot, and needed to work in transit.
Education Ministry chief financial officer Tina Cornelius said 107 staff held a Koru Club membership as at November 17 2011.
The number had dropped from a high of 146 in the 2007/08 financial year.
The ministry spent $13,921 on Koru Club membership in the 2010/11 financial year.
The Social Development Ministry paid for 76 Koru Club memberships in 2010/11, compared with 70 the previous year.
"While 2010/11 figures are a slight increase from 2009/10 this is a result of an increased requirement for a number of staff to travel frequently to Christchurch to support the ministry's earthquake recovery work," it reported to Parliament's social services select committee last year.
Membership was restricted to employees required to travel for business purposes on a frequent basis, a spokeswoman said.
"In addition all applications must be approved at deputy chief executive level.
"Members are expected to use the available facilities to continue their working day while waiting for flights."
Labour's state services spokesman Chris Hipkins said it was not unreasonable for public servants who travelled frequently to have Koru Club membership.
However, Mr Hipkins, who has Koru Club membership as an MP, said public servants needed to ensure the travel was essential.
"There are other options, and video conferencing is one of them."
He was concerned cuts to regional offices would increase the amount of air travel required from Wellington.
"This is something we will be watching closely," he said.
- © Fairfax NZ News
Sponsored links
Newest First
Oldest First
The one thing that grips me about this article is the sense of entitlement that pours out of it. Ordinarily, we get up, go to work, and we're responsible for getting our own lunch. Just because we fly to another town, or are away from our normal place of work, suddenly we have an ENTITLEMENT to have our employer buy our meals? I don't get it. Sure, if you are away for a period of days, then I can see the argument. Susanne #9 seems to be one of those very much in the "We are entitled" camp. I'm not, even with a six figure salary. Pay your own way, freeloaders.
To get Koru club membership for free you need around 15 WN/AK return trips a year or equivalent. Which means Corrections are a bit off here..anyone making 26 return flights wouldn't be paying anyway.
As for the various comments on airpoints - if you bother reading the airpoints contract you will see that airpoints are the property of the traveler and cannot be assigned to your spouse, employer or anyone else. Its annoying but its also the law. I'm credited with airpoints every time I fly. Although I don't want them I haven't been able to stop being given them, so I just ignore them.
Pathetic attempt by Dom Post to 'create' news. Saucy #32 sums it up nicely.
I dont get it? whats the problem with an employer paying for meals and somewhere to work from when their employees are sent away on business?
@Nick #36 Thank you Nick for telling us how well you are doing and the level of your pay increase. It is always good to hear that the rich are getting richer.
I know someone who travels a lot for their governtment job, they have the koru club membership and travel paid for too and from the airport. they arent on the mega salary, they work very hard while waiting at the airport they are still working. They sometimes miss out on important events with family etc. they dont travel for fun! they dont get the air points for themselves. there maybe some who milk it for what they can but that it not to say it is accross the board.
The media are just trolling as its easier then writing real stories that make a real differance!
What is with everyone beating down on those who are doing well, I will admit some don't deserve it however I bet there is alot that do and work a huge amount. Personally I've had a 18% payrise over the last year, due to making tactful decisions with my career and I have absolutely worked my ass off for it.....6 day,70+ hour weeks. Im by no means earning the 100,000's of thousands at the moment however I am aiming to be earning that sometime in the next 10 years. End of the day, if someone is really good or the employer is saying they are doing well then they have a valid argument for pay increase.
Disgusting and obscene. This should be banned immediately. Nothing short of fraud and all we taxpayers are paying rhe bill. Try video conference's, better for your health
I used to have it and it used to be worthwhile, but in the last few years the catering has gone way down hill.
I used to look forward to early evening flights because I knew I could get a fair hot meal in Koru - likewise breakfast flights, there was always bacon, eggs and so on. Also good for loading up with food before long international flights!
These days there is none of that, just cold rolls and so on. Yet the free booze is in abundance. I would rather see less booze and better food to be honest.
Human safety priority over heritage
Council seeks massive cost cuts
Carterton balloon was not airworthy
Morgue water arts show axed after iwi opposition
Bret's McKenzie's biggest fans
Car crashes into parking meter
Transmission Gully could make traffic worse
Warning for gales in Wellington
Kapiti tenpin bowler scores perfect game
Carterton tragedy: Safety chief would refuse balloon ride
Major courts overhaul proposed
Foreign Affairs Ministry confirms 305 jobs to go
Mob cancels star's performance
Kiwis not up with online security
Helena Bonham Carter 'honoured'
New hope for kiwifruit growers
Gender non-conformity linked to abuse
Nelsen cleared to lead NZ against Jamaica
Robinson starts for Chiefs against old team
Man's childhood comic collection fetches $4.2m
What do you think of the planned price increase for rubbish bags?
Scott, #41-"To get Koru club membership for free you need around 15 WN/AK return trips a year or equivalent. Which means Corrections are a bit off here..anyone making 26 return flights wouldn't be paying anyway."
Wrong. Gold status (the minimum level needed to be able to enter the lounge every time you fly with Air NZ) requires 900 status points, and 810 to requalify. A return AKL-WLG trip earns 24 points, so you're actually looking at about 33 return trips.