KEY POINTS:
The National Party has accused Conservation Minister Chris Carter of wasting $98,000 of taxpayer money by bungling of the Whangamata Marina decision.
The High Court ruled in September Mr Carter failed to follow proper process when he vetoed resource consents for a $10 million 205-berth marina in the coastal Coromandel town.
Mr Carter was ordered to repeat the process and has delegated the next decision on the marina application to Environment Minister David Benson-Pope.
Figures issued to NewstalkZB under the Official Information Act show the Government spent $98,000 in legal costs defending Mr Carter's decision.
National's environment spokesman Nick Smith today said those costs would have never eventuated if Mr Carter had not "played politics" and vetoed the resource consents.
Dr Smith said the Whangamata Marina Society, which successfully sought a judicial review of Mr Carter's decision, was also claiming legal costs of $250,000 from the Minister.
"This appalling abuse of ministerial power has resulted in a huge waste of public money, which could have bought nine hip operations or helped 30 special needs students."
He said Mr Carter needed to apologise.
The society has spent around $1.3 million over 13 years trying to get the marina proposal off the ground.
- NZPA
