Cup ambassadors rack up travel bill of $62,000

John Kirwan. Photo / Steven McNicholl

Rugby World Cup ambassadors have racked up more than $60,000 in expenses in their quest to promote New Zealand to the rest of the globe.

The ambassadors (Andrew Mehrtens, David Kirk, Sean Fitzpatrick, Jonah Lomu and John Kirwan) are working for the NZ 2011 office for no fee and have spent the money on travel, taxis and accommodation.

The details were given to the Herald on Sunday by Andy Haden who received the information from World Cup Minister Murray McCully's office.

Haden resigned from his role as an ambassador in July after pressure over his comments about a "darkies" quota at the Crusaders franchise and for comments about the Robin Brooke sex scandal.

The expenses show $55,685 has been claimed for travel, taxis ($950) and accommodation ($5811) a total of $62,446.

Haden's costs for travel, accommodation and taxis came to $3633.

None of the ambassadors had claimed for food, alcohol or hospitality, McCully said.

"The ambassadors have attended functions and meetings around the world including Milan, Paris, London, Melbourne and Tokyo in recent months promoting New Zealand trade and tourism, and have done so without a fee," said McCully. The ambassadors were approached by McCully and former All Blacks coach John Hart a year ago.

"Each were approached because of their particular networks and profile they have in their particular markets in the United Kingdom, Europe, Japan and Australia."