Luxon defends Defence Force flights from Auckland to Hamilton costing more than $20,000
New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is facing criticism over the use of Defence Force helicopters for domestic travel, costing over $20,000. The government defends the flights as operational training exercises that do not incur extra taxpayer costs.
Why it matters
The incident raises questions about government transparency, the use of military assets for civilian transport, and political accountability regarding public spending.
The Prime Minister has defended taking two trips in Defence Force helicopters between Auckland and Hamilton, costing more than $20,000.
One of the choppers was used to pick up Christopher Luxon from Auckland to take him to a farmer’s rally at Mystery Creek in 2024, and another flew him from Tāmaki Makaurau to Hamilton for a visit to the Kmart distribution hub in April last year, Stuff reports.
The Prime Minister travelled to the Mystery Creek function, a Federated Farmers public meeting, in a helicopter from the Royal New Zealand Navy.
The crew flew from Auckland’s Whenuapai Airbase to the Mechanics Bay helipad in the central city before going to Hamilton, at a cost of $7650.
When travelling to the Kmart distribution centre, a chopper flew to Auckland from Ohakea Air Base near Palmerston North and then to Hamilton.
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