Royal visit comes in under budget
The cost to New Zealand taxpayers was nearly $300,000 less than expected. UPDATED: Table - that budget in full.
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The visit of Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, to New Zealand last month cost nearly $300,000 less than expected.
In total, taxpayers paid out $766,000, figures just released by the internal affairs department show. Just over a million dollars had been allocated.
The royal couple spent just under a week touring the country as part of the Queen's diamond jubilee celebrations.
The government covered most of the visit's expenses and the largest, at $287,000, was for salaries for people such as event planners and media managers.
The second-highest cost at $103,000 was for an advance trip by members of Clarence House – Prince Charles' and Camilla's official residence – to review details of the visit.
Travel costs, including international and domestic flights, were $93,000.
Events such as the armistice service and welcome ceremony cost $21,000 and accommodation was $61,000.
Communications services, including photography, media and printing, came in at $36,000.
Prince Charles and Camilla and immediate members of the royal household stayed at Government Houses in Auckland and Wellington, while visit delegation staff and their New Zealand counterparts used hotels.
The costs of personal protection officers, who provide a regular security detail for the royal couple, were met by the London Metropolitan Police.
Internal Affairs says the final cost was lower than expected because initial projections were approximate only.
The full budget. Click to zoom. Source: DIA.
Caleb Allison
Wed, 12 Dec 2012
Wed, 12 Dec 2012
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Royal visit comes in under budget
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