Register reveals Act MP's busy other life

Photo / NZ Herald

The Act Party's newest MP, Hilary Calvert, has an interest in 23 properties and 28 companies - but is keeping quiet about how much she is worth.

Ms Calvert's extensive list of assets was revealed yesterday in the annual register of pecuniary interests of MPs, which lists their holdings in property, companies, trusts and other entities.

Included in Ms Calvert's properties were 11 commercial buildings, student flats, a Queenstown backpacker lodge, and a church and farmland in Oturehua.

Ms Calvert also has an interest in five trusts, has a controlling share or is the director of 22 companies, and has an interest in a further six companies, including a farming company and an anaesthetic services business.

Ms Calvert caused a stir when she entered Parliament by admitting that a brothel operated in a property she owned in Dunedin, where she lives.

She said she had nothing to do with the business and had no problem with it, as it was a legal business.

Yesterday, she said her businesses had nothing to do with brothel services, though she would not reveal the nature of one of her businesses - White Clover Services.

"I don't have a beneficial interest in it. It's not something that I can get an income from ..." Ms Calvert said.

She said although she was sole shareholder of the company, it was the equivalent of owning something on behalf of a child because they were too young to own it themselves.

"It's nothing to do with me or my family.

"The only reason I'm saying I don't want to talk about it is because it's somebody else's family."

She was also silent on how much she was worth.

"I don't think people are worth money ... the important thing is whether people would have a different lifestyle if they weren't politicians, and in my case, my lifestyle would not change."

The register revealed that Acting Energy and Resources Minister Hekia Parata had shares in Contact Energy.

A spokesman said the minister began the process of selling them when she became a minister at the end of last year, and the shares had been sold in March.

The register also revealed the gifts accepted by MPs.

Prime Minister John Key was given, among other things, a decorated ostrich egg, tickets to the F1 Grand Prix in Singapore, an annual subscription to the Remuera Golf Club, tickets to the All Whites and the All Blacks, and a samurai sword from Ikubunkan School in Japan.

Other curiosities included National MP Chris Auchinvole's diverse interests, which included a moss products company and charitable work for a kiwi release trust and sport fishing for youth trust.

Green MP Gareth Hughes had the briefest entry - he listed only his KiwiSaver account.

Two MPs - Maori Party MP Rahui Katene and Independent MP Chris Carter - missed the deadline for their returns to be lodged.