Podcasts Other The Mike Hosking Breakfast Chris Hipkins: Prime Minister faces fresh questions over how much access lobbyists have to the halls of power

Chris Hipkins: Prime Minister faces fresh questions over how much access lobbyists have to the halls of power

Published: March 20, 2023, 7 p.m.

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Fresh questions for the Prime Minister over how much access lobbyists have to the halls of power.

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Official documents released to RNZ show Government departments are paying lobbyists hundreds of thousands of dollars for communications advice.

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Documents also show Chris Hipkins\' Chief of Staff, Andrew Kirton, was previously working for liquor firms to lobby ministers to water down the now scrapped container return scheme.

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Hipkins told Mike Hosking anyone can seek a meeting with ministers, but admits some people, like Kirton, may have had an "in", because they know ministers personally.

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