MPs here, there and everywhere

Parliament is in the middle of a three-week recess, so where have all the MPs gone?

Overseas, it would seem, on taxpayer-funded trips.

At least nine ministers and about a dozen other MPs are out of the country this week.

Speaker of the House Margaret Wilson is leading the annual Speakers' tour, which this year travels to Brussels and Turkey.

Joining her on the trip, which includes visiting the European and Turkish parliaments and attending the Anzac Day commemorations at Chunuk Bair and Anzac Cove, are Labour MP Moana Mackey, United Future MP Judy Turner and National's Colin King and Paula Bennett.

Another group - Cabinet ministers Phil Goff and David Cunliffe and National's Murray McCully and Tim Groser - are heading to Washington to attend the NZ-US Business Council forum.

Former prime ministers Jim Bolger and Mike Moore are also part of the 37-strong delegation.

The forum is a non-government initiative organised by the New Zealand-United States Council and its Washington counterpart.

Mr Goff has said the trip would be a great opportunity for business, academia, politicians and officials to talk about key issues in the Asia-Pacific region and to build relationships with the overall aim of strengthening the relationship generally.

National leader Don Brash, who left on Sunday for a two-week visit to the US, Britain, China and Singapore, will also go to the forum, where he will give a speech.

Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters left on Saturday for a two-week visit to Europe that will take him to Vienna, Moscow, St Petersburg, Kiev, London and Dublin.

The trip will include six-monthly ministerial consultations with the European Union presidency, and bilateral discussions.

A number of other ministers are heading to conferences and forums in exotic locations - Mark Burton to Uganda, Nanaia Mahuta to Rarotonga, and Harry Duynhoven to Doha, Qatar.

Trade Negotiations Minister Jim Sutton will have a busy 10 days with trips to Tokyo, China, and Macau, where he will promote free trade.

Jim Anderton and Chris Carter are attending meetings in Australia.

The parliamentary rugby team, which includes about 10 MPs, are on a tour of England and France, which included a game at Twickenham.