National MP defends European tour and blasts media for taking 'free hits'

Chester Burrows. Photo / Supplied

An MP on a taxpayer-funded trip to Europe admits he is pinching himself, but says long days of events and meetings will help grow New Zealand's economy.

Chester Borrows, National's Deputy Speaker, also hit out at media scrutiny of the trip, saying such "free hits" sell column inches but show a lack of appreciation of MPs' work.

The Act Party has slammed the $138,000 tour of Europe, led by Speaker David Carter, as a junket that will not deliver any real benefits.

However, Mr Borrows, who will attend events in Paris today, said people who are "very fiscally dry" undervalue good working relations.

"Do you only visit in crisis and never keep in touch with friends?" he wrote from France.

"The welcome we received was incredibly warm but such relations grow GDP in ways such as supporting and encouraging tourism. France sends 31,000 tourists to NZ each year with an average stay of 44 days."

Some days on the trip would start at 5.30am and end at 5.30pm, with discussions on topics including educational opportunities, rugby exchanges, MMP in New Zealand compared to Germany, and children's policies.

Mr Borrows agreed it was hard for the public to gauge such benefits, but that was linked to media reporting that started from a negative position.

"I make no bones about pinching myself walking around Arass [Hotel] tonight and knowing that but for my work I wouldn't be here.

"I felt the same 18 months ago when I delivered a paper to the Restorative Justice Council in London, but nobody noticed. Or when I made an intervention at the Commonwealth Law Ministers meeting in Botswana last May. Guess what, nobody reported that either.

"I am increasingly of the view that the [parliament press] gallery has a year planner with dates circled such as the release of MPs' and ministerial expenditure, pecuniary interests and budgets dates, Christmas holiday locations and the rollover of the contract for Crown cars ... then just take free hits with rhetoric they know will sell column inches.

"So who is actually ripping off Joe Public?"

Also on the trip is first-term Labour MP Adrian Rurawhe, Green Party foreign affairs spokesman Kennedy Graham, first-term New Zealand First MP Fletcher Tabuteau and two parliamentary staff.

Mr Borrows was the only MP to respond to a Herald email asking for comment.

All the MPs except Mr Rurawhe have taken their partners on the trip. MPs can downgrade from business class airfares and use the savings to help pay for their partners' travel.

Any extra cost associated with partners accompanying them must be met by the politicians. Mr Borrows said he had downgraded from business class to put money towards his wife's ticket, and paid the balance.