London, December 25 : The reported 88,000-pound bill for Prince William’s forthcoming three-day visit to New Zealand has sparked outrage.

Doubts have been raised against the use of New Zealand taxpayers’ money to fly the British royal to open the country’s new Supreme Court next month.

The amount could have paid for seven hip operations, it was further claimed by critics.

“That’s how we tend to measure things in New Zealand. This just shows the nonsense of flying someone over from Britain,” the Daily Express quoted republican movement chairman Lewis Holden.

“We’ve already got two people here who are perfectly capable of opening the court – the Prime Minister and the Governor General,” Holden added.

Asked about the visit, Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton, William’s private secretary, said: “It is not about Prince William becoming enmeshed in politics.” (ANI)