More repayments could be required.
Mr Maharey said TVNZ should not automatically accept Dr Armstrong's view. He expected the organisation to assess whether spending was excessive or extravagant, even if it was related to TVNZ business.
"I am working on the assumption that if there was extravagance, that would become part of the process of asking for some money back."
He said he had been assured Dr Armstrong's five-day visit to Paris in May, when it is understood he stayed in expensive hotels and hired an interpreter and a swanky car, was to look at new business for the company "in a normal and bona fide fashion".
The dinner at Vinnies was arranged for Dr Armstrong to discuss private-public partnerships (PPPs), not TVNZ business.
Prime Minister Helen Clark has said the four discussed PPPs at a "high level", but mostly talked about the political situation in Asia.
The Herald reported yesterday that the meal was put on Dr Armstrong's corporate credit card, although TVNZ spokesman Glenn Sowry had denied this. Mr Sowry has since apologised.
"When we went back and looked at the Diners [credit card] statement that had yet to be processed . . . we found the Vinnies charge on the former chairman's Diners card," he said.
"We will be extracting payment from the chairman for that."
In Parliament yesterday, Prime Minister Helen Clark said: "If he [Dr Armstrong] wishes to send me an invoice I will cheerfully pay it."
Dr Armstrong yesterday spent several hours with TVNZ chief financial officer Rodney Parker in a room at Sky City, after the former chairman refused to brave media staff camped outside TVNZ's headquarters.
Dr Armstrong's expense claims are thought to total about $50,000.
Chief executive Ian Fraser said the company started looking at Dr Armstrong's claims six to eight weeks ago.
Since Mr Fraser took over as chief executive six months ago, the chairman's expenses have been authorised by the head of TVNZ's audit committee.
But before that they did not require any board approval.
"By and large nothing has been brought to my attention so far that suggests that there is a widespread pattern of unauthorised spending," said Mr Fraser.
But it was unacceptable for Dr Armstrong to use a company credit card at Vinnies when he was not on TVNZ business.
Mr Fraser would not comment on TVNZ's spending for advice from Ms McDonald, saying the board was looking at it.
TVNZ paid Ms McDonald at least $66,000 plus GST last year for advice.
In a statement Ms McDonald said the media "continues to misconvey to the public the basis upon which I did work for TVNZ".
She said her instructions had come in writing from TVNZ's in-house solicitor, Noel Vautier.
The letter that offended the Government:
Pacific Road NZ: Infrastructure Partnership Between the Government and the Private Sector