Govt ministers' expenses released

File photo / Mark Mitchell

Government ministers appear to have tightened their belts, with new figures showing spending reductions.

Previous credit card records for ministers and their staff have landed ministers in hot water, with a number of documents revealing excessive spending.

However, the latest records show an overall reduction in credit card spending of more than $130,000 from the previous quarter, and do not point to any rules being broken.

The figures, released by Department of Internal Affairs this morning, show that Government ministers spent a total of $152,080 on travel and expenses in the three months from October 1, compared with an overall $160,778 in the three months to September 30.

The figures show Government ministers spent $1,134,539 on their credit cards in the three months from October 1, compared with $1,265,803 in the three months to September 30.

A number of records show money being paid out for expensive hotels but also show new frugal behaviour, with some ministers forking out for their own luxuries.

Gerry Brownlee's expenses included $54 for two staff to have dinner at Midnight Express Auckland, noting that a $39 bottle of wine was paid for privately.

A $42.80 dinner with a staff member at The Cornerstone Bar was also charged to Mr Brownlee's staff credit card. Each had two burritos, fries and garlic bread.

Staff farewell functions also took up some cost, but with different offices catering to quite different standards.

Trade Minister Tim Groser's staff credit card was swiped for $81.97 at Thorndon New World, putting together a cheese and fruit platter. Simon Power's expenses also included a visit to the supermarket but just $6.69 was spent on 100s and 1000s biscuits and grapes for a staff farewell.

Foreign Minister Murray McCully racked up the biggest international travel costs, spending $189,737 on overseas trips in the three-month period.

Defence Minister Wayne Mapp and Mr Groser spent $110,424 and $138,527 respectively on overseas travel.

Documents from April 2003 until February last year showed several ministers breaking the rules.

Labour's Shane Jones, Mita Ririnui and Chris Carter were demoted over their behaviour, while others were left embarrassed by revelations of excessively expensive dinners and drinks.

- NZPA