Ministers will have to personally buy the taxpayer-provided furniture, crockery and whiteware in their Wellington homes.

ACT leader Rodney Hide gives Parliamentary Services a cheque for nearly $12,000 as payback for the taxpayer funds he claimed to take his partner on overseas trips.

Rodney Hide has said sorry, but the public still seem unimpressed at his use of MPs' perks.

Rodney Hide apologises for his 'casual use' of taxpayers' money on holidays.

Rodney Hide took his girlfriend to an LA theme park during their taxpayer-funded trip that was also timed to coincide with her brother's UK wedding.

Rodney Hide timed his taxpayer funded trip with partner Louise Crome to Britain and North America to coincide with the wedding of Crome's brother.

Rodney Hide's remarks that Mr Key "doesn't do anything" and is highly regarded, while "ACT did everything and we are hated" should be a warning to voters, says Annette King.

Rodney Hide has apologised for criticising John Key's performance, saying it was "light-hearted banter" taken out of context.

It is up to MPs to decide whether to use their parliamentary perks to take spouses overseas, but if they do they should realise the media will report it, John Key says.

Despite their 21-year age gap, Louise Crome and Rodney Hide are the very model of a modern couple.

Lapsed perkbuster Rodney Hide says he will use his MP's travel expenses again to take his partner overseas.

Rodney Hide disagrees with a perk giving MPs a taxpayer-funded 90 per cent fare discount for themselves and partners - but he still used it to take his girlfriend overseas.

Former perkbuster Rodney Hide has used his MP's travel privileges to take his girlfriend on an overseas tour.