Busy travel programme for state-funded trippers

'Tis the season for politicians to travel, with the Prime Minister, Speaker of the House, three ministers and four MPs all heading overseas next week on state-funded trips.

The MPs are using the two-week parliamentary recess for the trips - one of the last opportunities before election-year campaigning begins.

On Monday, Prime Minister Helen Clark leaves on a two-week trip that will take her to Thailand, Poland, Turkey and Germany.

In Thailand, she will be accompanied by Trade Negotiations Minister Jim Sutton for the signing of the closer economic partnership deal.

In Poland, she will attend the opening of the New Zealand Embassy and visit the Auschwitz death camp, and in Turkey, with Dover Samuels, she will be at the 90th Gallipoli commemorations. She will also go to Germany to meet the Chancellor.

Speaker Margaret Wilson will lead a delegation of MPs - Nanaia Mahuta (Labour), Ron Mark (New Zealand First), Gerry Eckhoff (Act) and David Carter ( National) - on a trip to Canada, the US and Mexico.

The annual Speaker's trip, a fixture for 36 years, is designed to promote and highlight New Zealand.

In 2001, then Speaker Jonathan Hunt found himself at the centre of controversy over his trip to South America. Few details of the itinerary were released and the trip was labelled a waste of taxpayers' money.

This year the Speaker's Office has provided a detailed itinerary.

Education Minister Trevor Mallard is also away, visiting India, the Middle East, the US and Britain.