$1.24m spike in MPs' travel costs

John Key's travel costs were over $120,000 between October and December last year. Photo / Martin Sykes

The Prime Ministers' limousine bill topped $100,000 for the last three months of 2011 - part of a total $1.24 million increase in the cost of MPs' travel and accommodation during the election campaign and Rugby World Cup.

The domestic travel and accommodation costs of MPs and ministers totalled $3.7 million from October to December - 51 per cent higher than for the same quarter in 2010 when it was $2.4 million. It equates to an average of an extra $10,000 on travel for each MP over the three month period.

The figures do not include accommodation costs for MPs' bases in Wellington.

The sharp spike in travel was likely caused by the election campaign and the Rugby World Cup.

MPs have unlimited domestic travel, including for campaigning and personal use as well as work-related.

The Prime Minister's domestic travel costs rose by $35,400 compared to the same period in 2010 - a 41 per cent increase. Much of that was the $100,045 on ground transport - Mr Key usually travels in the Crown BMW limousines. The figure for the three months around the election was much higher than for the same three months in 2010 when he spent $86,501 and in 2009 just $66,248.

Mr Key's domestic air travel costs doubled from the same period in 2010 from $10,458 to $21,865. A spokeswoman for the Prime Minister said he was not available to comment.

Labour's former leader Phil Goff spent just one quarter of that amount - $29,000. His ground travel bill was one tenth of the cost of Mr Key's at just $11,000. Mr Goff said he used Crown limousines for the month before the election because the Diplomatic Protection Squad had requested it for security.

He used rental cars or taxis for the remainder of the period. He had stopped using Crown cars regularly in 2009 after seeing the cost. Mr Goff also usually had one staff member with him, while Mr Key had travelled with more during the campaign.

Although Mr Key's costs went up,the total bill for ministers' accommodation and travel was just over $1 million - up only $62,000 since 2010.

Of the minor party leaders, Mana leader Hone Harawira's bill went from $36,182 in the December quarter in 2010 to $53,200.

Over the same period, Maori Party co-leader Tariana Turia's costs dropped from $59,644 in 2010 to $49,726 in 2011. Pita Sharples' increased from $52,753 to $68,054.

Green co-leader Russel Norman went up by $3444 to $15,714 but co-leader Metiria Turei shrank her bill by about $3000 to $20,404. United Future leader Peter Dunne's remained relatively steady on just over $20,000.

ELECTION COSTS

MPs' domestic travel and accommodation costs from October 1 to December 31, 2011 compared to same quarter in 2010.*

All MPs and ministers (including staff):

* 2011: $3.6 million

* 2010: $2.4 million

John Key:

* 2011: $121,884 ($100,045 car travel, $21,865 air travel)

2010: $86,501 ($75,232 car travel, $10,458 air travel)

Then Labour leader Phil Goff:

2011: $29,287 ($11,609 car travel, $17,127 air travel)

2010: $38,187 ($19,702 car travel, $18,485 air travel)
* Does not include Wellington accommodation costs.