PM defends Jones’ travel costs

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has defended Shane Jones’ travel expenses, after the Regional Development Minister again outspent her.

Jones racked up the highest domestic travel and accommodation expenses of any Government minister in the three months from April to June as he jumped from province to province handing out money from the $1-billion-ayear Provincial Growth Fund.

He accumulated a total of $44,728 in bills, compared to Ardern’s $40,341 — although she also had just short of $100,000 of international travel costs compared to Jones’ $19,960.

Asked about the spending, Ardern said Jones’ role meant he was obliged to get about.

“He’s our Regional Economic Development Minister. That does mean he is expected to get around the country as we invest through the Provincial Growth Fund into the regions,” she said.

Politicians across Parliament combined accumulated about $3.6 million in travel bills in the quarter, according to officials figures released yesterday.

Opposition leader Simon Bridges was the highest spender on domestic travel overall, at about $45,000.

However, that figure includes $13,210 in limousine expenses for which he would have been charged only $6412 if he were a minister.

Of the top 10 MPs who aren’t ministers, nine of the highest spenders were from the National Party.

NZ First’s Mark Patterson was the only one outside of National to make the top-10 non-ministers list, with expenses of $34,645.

However, Associate Transport Minister Julie Anne Genter’s fondness for bicycles appears to be saving taxpayers some money.

Genter — who moved to Wellington after entering Parliament — spent only $6121 on travel and not a cent on accommodation from April to June. That’s less than half of the next thriftiest minister.