42143 (2025). Lemauga Lydia Sosene to the Minister of Revenue

42143 (2025). Lemauga Lydia Sosene to the Minister of Revenue: How many international flights in total, if any, counting each leg of a journey as an individual flight, has each department or entity that the Minister is responsible for paid for in the period from November 27th 2023 to August 1st 2025; and what was the total cost broken down by month, destination, cabin class and the purpose of the flight?

Hon Simon Watts: I refer the Member to the information on international travel expenses incurred by Inland Revenue in 2023/24 is available in Inland Revenue’s response to Question 98 of the 2023/24 Annual Review for the Finance and Expenditure Committee. A summary of international travel expenditure in 2024/25 for the period 1 July 2024 to 31 March 2025 is provided in Inland Revenue’s response to Question 63 of the 2025/26 Estimates review for the Finance and Expenditure Committee. Information on international travel expenses incurred by Inland Revenue 2024/25 will be provided in Inland Revenue’s response to the 2024/25 Annual Review for the Finance and Expenditure Committee that will occur in December 2025. Officials cannot break down internal travel expenditure by month due to the timing of travel booking and the timing of when the travel occurs. The majority of Inland Revenue’s international travel relates to international tax commitments, OECD meetings, chairing or co-chairing meetings, representation at tax working parties, and serving as a New Zealand delegate at international conferences.