Minister tots up $12,800 cellphone bill

Chris Carter

Cabinet minister Chris Carter loves to chat. So much so that his cellphone bill of $12,848 has topped even the globe-trotting Prime Minister's.

He out-yakked not only Helen Clark but also fellow ministers Annette King and David Benson-Pope, whose cellphone costs in the year to September were $6000 to $7000 each.

According to Internal Affairs, which gave the Herald the figures in response to a request under the Official Information Act, the lightest cellphone user was Marian Hobbs. She is no longer in the Cabinet.

But even her $1161 bill is well ahead of average cellphone users connected through Vodafone, who spend $633 a year, and Telecom, $412.

A spokesman for Mr Carter, whose portfolios are Ethnic Affairs, Conservation and Housing, said he was "mystified" by his bill, which was higher than in previous years.

"He tries to be a very accessible minister and he uses his cellphone as a tool to do that.

"He's given the number out to a vast number of people, particularly in ethnic communities around the country.

"People leave a message and he calls them back. Having said that, he's surprised by the figures. It does seem strange; he's looking into it."

Mr Carter's increased costs date from November 2004 when he started using a Vodafone Blackberry that can also access email.


Cellphone costs

Cabinet ministers' bills in the year to September:
* Highest: Chris Carter, $12,848.
* Second: Helen Clark, $12,103.
* Third: Annette King, $6996.
* Total: $98,833.