Govt defends paying for commissioner's commute

Children's Commissioner John Angus. Photo / Martin Sykes

Taxpayers footing the bill for Children's Commissioner John Angus to commute between his Central Otago home and Wellington, though he earns $180,000, is reasonable, Social Development Minister Paula Bennett says.

Labour leader Phil Goff said taxpayers should not have to foot the bill and there were many people qualified to be children's commissioner.

"Normally if someone decides they want to live out of the place where they normally work they meet that cost," he told the Dominion-Post which revealed the spending.

When Mr Angus took on the job on a temporary basis in June 2009 it was agreed his travel would be paid for. A permanent replacement has not yet been found. After the first six months he paid his own accommodation.

In the second half of last year Mr Angus spent $4583.31 commuting to and from his Lowburn home - 65km from Queenstown - including flights to Queenstown and Wanaka, and taxis from Wellington Airport.

Prime Minister John Key said the situation was temporary.

"Every contract is slightly different, I mean it came about by the nature of the fact that it was temporary and we wanted to extend that contract. It's not permanent, we are looking for someone else."

Ms Bennett said that Mr Angus negotiated the travel and he took a trip only about once a month.

"I think that's quite reasonable," she said.

"He lives predominantly in Wellington and he has done that especially for this job, but yeah I think it's quite reasonable that he gets to go home and that is still his home."

Mr Key said perspective was needed: "It's one trip a month. John Angus has actually done a good job, but we've got a couple of potentially good candidates in the wings."

Ms Bennett said nominations were being worked through and there was no set date for when a candidate would be chosen by.

- NZPA