Taxpayers spent $44,000 on prime ministers' Queenstown helicopter trip

Wednesday 10 September 2025 · 4 outlets · 4 reports · updated Wed 10 Sep 2025, 9:31pm

In this story Christopher Luxon, Labour Party, Department of Internal Affairs, Anthony Albanese

The Government has confirmed that flying Christopher Luxon and Anthony Albanese to a Queenstown mountain cost approximately $44,000. The leaders took two helicopter rides in August to film social media content. While Labour criticised the expense, the Prime Minister stated the money was well spent promoting tourism.

How they headlined it

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1. StuffWed 10 Sep 2025, 4:00am

   Revealed: Tens of thousands spent on prime ministers’ mountain trip (opens in new tab)

2. The Press via The PostWed 10 Sep 2025, 4:13pm

   The prime minister's $44k TikTok helicopter ride (opens in new tab)

3. RNZWed 10 Sep 2025, 6:17pm

   Hipkins slams Luxon over $44k bill for chopper trip with Albanese (opens in new tab)

4. Otago Daily TimesWed 10 Sep 2025, 9:31pm

   'Stunt gone wrong': $44k for Queenstown chopper ride (opens in new tab)