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Rodney Hide and Arnold Schwarzenegger - Source: NZPA / Reuters -
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ONE News has obtained the pitch that Rodney Hide made to the
Prime Minister to get him to approve a controversial overseas trip
with his girlfriend.
The bid includes meetings with Arnold Schwarzenegger and two
famous British politicians. But the meetings did not take
place.
Schwarzenegger is perhaps better known as a body building movie
star but he is also Governor of California and Hide believed he
could provide some tips on setting up Auckland's super city.
So the Act leader and Local Government Minister wanted to meet
Schwarzenegger on his overseas trip, accompanied by his squash star
girlfriend Louise Crome.
Papers released to ONE News under the Official Information Act show Hide's pitch for Prime Ministerial approval for the trip lists a meeting with Schwarzenegger as one of the top drawcards.
But the meeting never happened.
Hide says he has received letters back Schwarzenegger who says he is still keen to meet.
Hide's pitch to John Key also included a meeting with British politician Peter Mandelson and one with the famous former Mayor of London, Ken Livingston. But they never happened either.
Labour's deputy leader Annette King, says it is a "case of a big
noter who sold this trip because he was going to meet some big
names - Arnie Schwarzenegger, Lord Mandelson, Ken
Livingston".
"He didn't meet with them and we've ended up with a big bill," she says.
Hide says he tried to arrange several meetings.
"You put out a lot of feelers to meet as many people as you can in
the time you have," he says.
"Waste of time"
The fact finding mission on Auckland's super city was a waste of
time, according to North Shore Mayor Andrew Williams.
He claims Hide spent just 10 hours on Auckland's super city
arrangements and just 19 hours on official business during the
12-day trip.
"That's not true. What we had was something like 25 meetings across
seven days in four different cities," says Hide.
Hide has paid back more than $20,000 and apologised for using
public money to take his girlfriend on the trip.
He says he is also sorry he did not get to meet Schwarzenegger.
"I'm interested in learning a few tips for power lifting," he says.
What do you think of the latest revelations about Rodney Hide's trip? Was he big noting? Have you say on our messageboard below.
Add a Comment:
Post new commentmistarex said on 2009-12-10 @ 22:10 NZDT: Report abusive post
How did he manage to go / get approval without confirming the meetings. What a joke! Shades of Murray, manager of the Flight of the Conchords...only Rodney ain't close to being funny. It's deception plain and simple and our noble Prime Minister doesn't seem to care what his " political partners" do, let alone what a public referendum overwhelmingly votes for, as long as he is in Japan when the All Blacks play, how's that for coincidence too....yeah right. Will Micheal Laws try and bring this "gang" to justice. We have voted white collar thieves into power.
Straight Shooter said on 2009-12-10 @ 20:51 NZDT: Report abusive post
When is Rodney going to come out of his midlife crisis and his power trip and actually help people again? He was once known as a champion for the kiwi battler. Or was that a scripted one-off for his mate Hendo (Dave Henderson)?