Hide went to wedding on work trip 

Source: NZPA

• WATCH the video (2:50)

A taxpayer funded trip by Local Government Minister Rodney Hide and his girlfriend was timed to coincide with her brother's wedding in London, ONE News has confirmed.

The revelation comes as Hide, the Act Party leader, was forced to apologise to the Prime Minister after being caught out saying Act did all the work in government and John Key did nothing.

Hide was at a domestic airport terminal on Thursday but it's an international trip that continues to haunt the former perk buster.

It's already known that Hide took his girlfriend, top squash player Louise Crome, on a 10-day international trip.

The reason he gave for the trip when interviewed last Friday was that it was a fact-finding mission about the new Auckland super city.

"I wanted to learn as much as I could about what we're doing in Auckland," he said.

But what he didn't say was that the trip was timed to coincide with the wedding of David Crome, the brother of Hide's girlfriend Louise Crome.

"I did attend a marriage, but the reason for the trip was always work and you'll see from the Cabinet report of the trip the work that I engaged in," says Hide.

David Crome's wedding was held just outside London and the pair took the weekend out to attend.

The couple travelled business class to London, Toronto in Canada then the city of Portland in the US, Los Angeles and then home.

The trip included accommodation at five star hotels and left taxpayers with a bill of about $50,000.

Asked last Friday if Louise Crome benefited the country in any way, Hide replied, "She benefited me".

And they both benefited in the form of a free trip to attend her brother's wedding.

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cornflower ; 2009-11-09 @ 10:50 NZDT  

The hypocrisy of Hide defies belief.

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lizblack ; 2009-11-09 @ 09:00 NZDT  

I agree with Adam that a law change is needed. MP's MUST practise what they preach. It's sad that Rodney Hyde has only changed his mind over misuse of funding because of public outcry. Taxes are not paid to pay for indulgences.

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dancingqueen ; 2009-11-09 @ 05:18 NZDT  

OK! while your arranging for Rodney's neck. Sack Chris Carter the little pansy, who was every bit as bad swanning around with his boyfriend, at the Tax Payers costs. He is hopeless case. I would like to see him gone by lunch time.

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santa0007 ; 2009-11-09 @ 04:05 NZDT  

Bring back Winston Peters, Many towns & cities could do with his expertise than these guys. Maori things for Maori people,simple really, the Govt has all the marbles, nothing wrong with playing with them.

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peteredw ; 2009-11-08 @ 20:50 NZDT  

Good on you, Rodney, for admitting you did wrong. We all do the thing at times and it takes 'guts' to admit our wrongdoing. I accept your apology and will continue to give ACT my Party Vote in elections.

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