The spending habits at the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment are again under fire after it was revealed that the department has blown $559,872 on its new website.
“This department seems more interested in spending money on itself rather than furthering New Zealand’s economy,” says Jordan Williams, Executive Director, Taxpayers’ Union.
“The very officials who should be reducing the burden of Government to let New Zealanders further their own lot are the ones spending up large with money pinched from taxpayers’ pockets.”
But despite the big spend, Williams claims the website appears to contain less information.
“Documentation about corporate welfare grants in the tourism sector used to be publicly available but no longer appear on the site,” Williams adds. “The public will see through the Ministry’s spin, this is a step backward.
“This is the same Ministry that had the judgement to spend $140,000 of taxpayer money on a reception screen and buy its staff hair straighteners. At what point will the Minister, Steven Joyce, say enough is enough and rein this department in?”