A PNG audit team will be travelling to New Zealand this month to investigate the sale of the PNG Head of Residence in Wellington in 2014.
Minister for Foreign Affairs, Rimbink Pato, announced in Parliament last week that the team comprising of Government officials will be visiting Wellington this month to look into the matter and report back.
This follows the announcement by Prime Minister Peter O’Neill in January this year of an investigation into the sale of the property during the residence.
Pato confirmed in Parliament last week that the residence was sold on November 13th 2014 for some NZ$800,300 (K1.5 million) with proceeds deposited into a trust account.
“The reason for the sale was that seismic activity had caused substantial structural damage, and the mission advised it was best to sell for a sum equivalent to the purchase price,” stated the minister.
“For transparency and accountability reasons, I have instituted an investigation into the sale.
“An audit team, comprising officials from the Department of the Prime Minister and NEC as well as from the Department of Foreign Affairs, will be visiting Wellington this month to look into the matter and report back.”
Minister Pato also said they are continuing to look at options to economise on overseas representation and discussions in Cabinet will finalise the specific methods.