Careful lady driver (the PM)

Prime Minister Helen Clark has the oldest car in the Cabinet - although she doesn't appear to drive it often.

Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters, meanwhile, now drives a Ford Territory, which the National Party claims is another "tax-funded bauble" he needs to explain.

Details of the taxpayer-funded self-drive vehicles provided to ministers were sought by National deputy leader Gerry Brownlee.

They reveal that Mr Peters and United Future leader and Revenue Minister Peter Dunne are among eight ministers to receive new cars last year - worth $225,329, Mr Brownlee estimates.

Ministerial Services said Helen Clark, who, like most other ministers, is regularly driven in a Crown limousine, also drives a Mitsubishi Diamante purchased in 1998.

It appears to spend much of its time in the garage - its last odometer reading was just 25,242km.

Deputy Prime Minister Michael Cullen is a Subaru Legacy man, clocking up just over 10,000km since his car was bought in 2004.

Mr Peters' Ford Territory would set the ordinary car buyer back $50,000 - or up to $65,000 with all the bells and whistles, Mr Brownlee said.

"It's now up to Mr Peters to reconcile his decision to accept this brand-new vehicle with his earlier rejection of the 'baubles' of office. Surely he must have expected questions to be asked?"

Tainui MP Nanaia Mahuta has also opted for a Ford Territory, and Holden Commodores and Nissan Maximas appear a particular ministerial favourite.

Immigration Minister David Cunliffe has a Skoda Superb, and Police Minister Annette King had done just 87km in her Peugeot 307 when the odometer was last read.