Fifty MPs received World Cup gifts

Rugby World Cup tickets were the most commonly listed gift in this years' register of MPs' financial interests. File photo / Richard Robinson.

Fifty MPs have disclosed free Rugby World Cup tickets and hospitality as gifts in the latest disclosure of financial interests.

Overall, 16 members of Parliament got free Rugby World Cup tickets from the casino company Sky City last year, according to the new Register of Pecuniary Interests.

Rugby World Cup tickets were the most commonly listed gift in this years' register of MPs' financial interests, in which MPs must include gifts with a value of more than $500.

The Government's negotiations with Sky City over an international convention centre have been a focus of the Labour attacks this year.

However, the register showed that half of all MPs to enjoy the free hospitality of the casino company at Rugby World Cup games were Labour MPs - including the then leadership team of Phil Goff and Annette King, and the current leadership team of David Shearer and Grant Robertson.

Others included the party's sports spokesman Trevor Mallard, Clayton Cosgrove and Kris Faafoi.

The only National Party minister who disclosed a free ticket from Sky City was Chris Tremain who had a ticket to a semi-final. Other National MPs who had them were Tau Henare, Sam Lotu-Iiga, Todd McClay, Louise Upston, Tim Macindoe and Lindsay Tisch.

Maori Party co-leader Pita Sharples was in the Sky City box for the opening ceremony.

Overall, 50 MPs enjoyed free tickets to at least one game during the tournament - the most common donors of the tickets and hospitality included Sky TV, Fonterra, Telecom and Vector.

National's Hekia Parata - who was the Minister of Energy and Resources at the time - had free tickets to pool games from NZ Petroleum and Minerals, NZ Oil and Gas and went to a quarter final courtesy of the oil and gas company OMV.

Maurice Williamson, the Minister of Building and Construction, was a guest of Fletcher Construction for the final and Mainzeal for a semi-final.

Some MPs went to up to five RWC games - including Mr Mallard and Mr Goff. Other than
Sky City, Mr Mallard's tickets were courtesy of the NZ Rugby Union, the International Rugby Board, and the Rugby World Cup organisers.

Vodafone also paid for flights, accommodation and tickets for National's Sam Lotu-Iiga to fly over to Australia for the NRL final featuring the NZ Warriors.

Prime Minister John Key's entry included a framed and signed All Blacks Rugby World Cup jersey, an All Blacks' Tri-Nations jersey, and a match ball from the NZ Versus France pool game from the IRB.

Mr Key also declared a replica Lord of the Rings sword made by Weta Workshop which was a gift from US President Barack Obama, and wine and a Wallabies Rugby jersey from Australia's Prime Minister Julia Gillard.

John Banks' gift of a gift basket from Kim Dotcom while on holiday in Hong Kong last December is not in the main register, but has now been listed as an 'additional' entry on the website.

It was not disclosed until recently because Mr Banks said he did not realise its value. Only entries made before 31 January are in the actual register.