22 Jul 2011

Greens write to SSC about Treasury gifts

8:30 pm on 22 July 2011

The Green Party has written to the State Services Commissioner asking him to investigate whether the gifts received by Treasury officials breach gift guidelines.

Radio New Zealand reported on Thursday that officials - mostly staff from the Debt Management Office - accepted hundreds of gifts in the last year including free lunches and dinners.

They were also hosted to rugby games, and attended golf, theatre and wine-tasting events - most of them courtesy of banks.

Greens co-leader Russel Norman has now received information on the previous two years, which show similar gifts.

State sector guidelines on gifts say public servants must decline gifts or benefits that place them under any obligation or perceived influence.