Labour Leader Phil Goff statement:

Today I have been approached by TV3 regarding my investment property in Wellington. It is important that the facts are made clear.

My accommodation arrangements are within Parliamentary rules. There is no rort here.
The property has been let for the past decade from when I became a Minister in the fifth Labour Government and I occupied a Ministerial house.

The most recent tenant departed three weeks ago after a tenancy of three years. That tenancy commenced when I was a Minister.

When I ceased to be a Minister following the 2008 election, I could not move back into my property because it was tenanted. I instead moved into a rental property.

I have been exploring the options of renting and selling the property, with the help of a friend, who also works in the Labour Leader’s Office. He has been helping me in a personal capacity.

Four people have viewed the property in the past fortnight with a view to renting the property. One of those people was a friend of Jason Ede, a senior National staffer working in the Prime Minister’s office. He declined the property this morning. I was contacted by TV3 this afternoon.

There has also been interest from the most recent tenant and from a neighbour to buy the property. A real estate agent has also viewed the property and took photographs yesterday. The agent provided advice about value and sale options.

Before the property can be sold, there are several maintenance issues that need to be resolved. For example, a shower has not been working properly. While this has been fixed temporarily, I have been advised that it will take until late January to be fixed permanently.

Last year I undertook to sell the property. I will do so.

ENDS

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