Visiting oil executives attending the 2011 New Zealand Oil and Gas Summit were treated to a taxpayer-funded 7,200 (NZ) dollar wine tasting, reports The New Zealand Herald. As part of the budget for the 237,000 dollar summit, a figure which Energy Minister Simon Bridges deemed "very modest", dignitaries of the petroleum industry were able to visit Palliser Estate and enjoy a lunch catered by renowned chef Ruth Pretty
Naturally, the opposition Green Party leapt at the chance to criticize this expenditure. "It's offensive to New Zealand families struggling to get by for their money to be used on yachting and wine tasting for foreign oil executives."
