Peters' office paid for cigarette-burnt bed cover in Europe

Winston Peters. Photo / Bay of Plenty Times

When then-foreign minister Winston Peters travelled to Estonia with two staff members, they were charged almost $230 for a bed cover being burnt with a cigarette.

The incident occurred at the Reval Hotel Olumpia in Estonia's capital Tallinn. The 127.82 Euro ($227.40) fine was charged to Mr Peters' staff ministerial credit card and later reimbursed, accounts released under the Official Information Act today showed.

Mr Peters, a smoker, told NZPA that while he did have a ministerial credit card he had never used it, but the staff card could have been used to cover his expenses.

Two purchases were made in London's Harrods department store in December 2005 and another in the House of Leather in Kuala Lumpur, then later re-paid. The purchase of a travel clock, bar tabs and some hotel costs were also repaid.

In March 2006, Mr Peters' office received an email outlining the "unarguable" policy that credit cards not be used for personal expenditure - regardless of repayment.

However, in May the same year a note attached to the accounts showed he repaid the cost of eight glasses of Chivas Regal whisky.

Mini bar costs, a purchase from Oceanic Arts in Mangere and a number of hotel pay-per-view movies were also repaid.

In August 2006, two purchases - $400 spent at Paremata Pool and Spa in Wellington and $61.97 spent in Kuala Lumpur - were repaid. The purchases were blamed on "card used in error for personal use" and "used incorrect Visa card".

In May 2007 his office received a reminder email about not using ministerial accounts for personal use when $110 spent at the Mohua Motels in Takaka was repaid.

While on a trip to Europe and Indonesia in 2007 more than $1600 in personal costs was repaid. A note in the accounts again said it was not for personal use.

The staff accounts from Mr Peters' office also showed a number of hotel and dinner costs, as would be expected. There was also a bill for $75 in July 2006 for a limo taken in Malaysia.

Travelling was not all wining and dining though. Mr Peters' office spent $313 at Working Style men's wear store in Auckland in 2006 and $173 at Marks and Spencer in Singapore after luggage was lost - the cost was reimbursed with travel insurance. In July 2006 he purchased a replacement suitcase for $395 which received $50 worth of repairs in December the same year.

In July 2006 a worldwide electric plug adaptation plug was purchased for almost $50, a note attached said "sick of buying individual ones myself".

Mr Peters' office purchased a digital camera for $628 in December 2005 for him to take on his travels, and in April 2006 they purchased another one for $470.

Mr Peters said every reconciliation of his office accounts was done after each trip by his staff.

"My staff would have not have done anything outside the rules," he told NZPA.

He had "total reliance" on his staff and they did their job "meticulously".

"I'm not wearing these sorts of allegations, I'm telling you. I didn't have a credit card and didn't use the darn thing when I didn't have to."

Mr Peters said he "frequently" paid for functions and gifts for visiting dignitaries himself.

"I didn't have to but I did."

He told NZPA he had "nothing to worry about".

- NZPA