The Labour MP for Te Tai Hauāuru is defending his involvement in the annual overseas Speaker's Delegation tour, saying it benefits his Māori constituents.
Adrian Rurawhe, the MP for Te Tai Hauauru. Photo: RNZ / Laura Bootham
The delegates, selected from the four largest parties, were allowed to fly business class to Europe and take their partners with them.
The Speaker, David Carter, has said the aim of the trip, which took place over nearly three weeks, was to foster stronger bilateral relations between the New Zealand Parliament and European parliaments.
Adrian Rurawhe said while it was not a trade mission, the hui with other politicians had made him a better MP, because he had a stronger understanding of issues that affect the world economy and trade.
Mr Rurawhe said Aotearoa was not isolated in terms of those issues and the decisions made in Europe had a huge impact on his constituents in Te Tai Hauāuru, such as having an influence on employment for people in his rohe.
He said the tour was not a junket. As well as commemorating World War One its purpose was to visit and learn about other countries' democracies, and meetings with organisations such as UNESCO and the OECD proved very valuable, he said.
The MP said in hindsight he would have booked an economy rather than business class seat to Europe, after acknowledging public criticism of the trip.
"I didn't think about it beforehand and I appreciated being able to get some rest on the trip and coming straight back home into Parliament. But I have to acknowledge the concerns of the general public.
"If the judgement is that these delegations are not worth it ... - I would hope that they continue as I believe they are valuable - but if it's decided that they are not valuable then they would need to be looked at."
Mr Rurawhe said the focus should not be on the individual MPs, as the group on the trip was a cross party delegation.
