-
Watch Video
-
Related
Labour MP Chris Carter has admitted he travelled excessively when he was a minister and took his partner with him more often than he should have.
The demoted MP fronted up to the media today, apologising for his spending after earlier refusing to front up when it was revealed he charged pay per view movies and flowers for his partner Peter Kaiser to his ministerial credit card.
Carter lost his foreign affairs portfolio and was bumped down the Labour Party pecking order last week.
He was also put on stress leave, following a torrid time trying to handle the situation and avoid media, by leader Phil Goff, who felt he hadn't shown enough contrition.
Goff sent Carter home and would not say whether or not he would remain at number 13 within the party, or keep the conservation portfolio he picked up after losing foreign affairs.
Carter maintains his apology today is genuine and not forced.
"I've had time to reflect on that. I will be absolutely honest - at first I didn't think I had done anything wrong...and I concede there is an issue of excessive travel."
The MP is also conceding he should not have claimed gay bashing was behind the interest in his spending.
"The gay issue and the accusations around that have been part of not handling it well," he said.
He said he intends remaining with Labour and will stand for his Te Atatu seat again at next year's election.
Carter also said he considered resigning but decided to stay on in parliament, and give a no-holds barred apology for his spending while a minister.
"I am here to make an absolutely sincere apology, I regret that my travel was excessive and I regret the number of times that I took my partner and for that I apologise to the taxpayers of New Zealand and my colleagues in the Labour Party, who had to deal with this issue."
Earlier, Goff also said while he accepted a brief written apology from Carter last week over the spending issue was genuine, he still needed to be convinced Carter's defiant attitude had changed.
"I'm not sure that he understands yet why a genuine apology is needed and that taxpayers in New Zealand have the right to expect their money to be spent frugally and with reserve."
Carter said his apology was "absolutely genuine" and not forced on him by Goff.
"He's given me a stern message about absolutely good behaviour, as he expects from all his MPs, and I've listened to that message," he said.
Do you agree with Carter when he says his apology today is genuine? Let us know on the messageboard below:
Add a Comment:
Post new comment