Minister in dark over 'gallivanting' beneficiaries

National MP Judith Collins yesterday questioned how many beneficiaries were sailing the world, after reports that a Lyttelton couple rescued from their yacht at a cost of nearly $1 million were being investigated by Work and Income.

Social Development Minister David Benson-Pope said he had no information on the case. But he promised to give Ms Collins "the outcome of the investigation".

Ms Collins used Parliament's question time to ask whether Work and Income was investigating yachties Bruce Cox and Heloise Kortekaas "solely because each was receiving a single person's benefit while they were living together".

"Does the minister agree that Work and Income should be asking why those two used any taxpayer funds to finance a yachting voyage?"

Mr Benson-Pope said Work and Income was committed to ensuring people used their correct entitlements, and to identifying and eliminating fraud.

Ms Collins: "Is it true that Work and Income has no idea, as this minister has just proven, whether someone has skipped off on a yacht for a round-the-world voyage, unless that person ends up being rescued, makes the front page of every newspaper in the country. . ?"

Mr Benson-Pope replied: "It is ... true that Work and Income does not have a camera in every bedroom."

Ms Collins then wanted to know "how many of the other almost 300,000 working-age New Zealanders currently receiving a benefit are holidaying on yachts, gallivanting around the world, or simply choosing not to work for lifestyle reasons".

Mr Benson-Pope could not say.

Ms Kortekaas and Mr Cox were rescued on October 11 after their 9.7m yacht lost its mast and became stranded 780km north of the Chatham Islands.

- NZPA