Blankets, books on Key’s VIP gift shopping list

Details of ministerial spending are released every three months, and in general - at least since they have been routinely disclosed - ministers have been careful how they use their taxpayer-funded credit cards.

But as well as the big-ticket spending on travel and accommodation, they provide a rare glimpse into the interesting or occasionally trivial shopping habits of our senior politicians.

For instance, in the latest tranche - released yesterday - we learn that Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully bought some Nurofen and diarrhoea relief medication Imodium at Auckland airport. It is probably best not to ask if they were in anticipation or response to any particular issue.

The papers also reveal the gifts they pack in their luggage for their counterparts overseas.

So let’s go shopping with Prime Minister John Key.

In July, ahead of his trips to Europe and Indonesia, the PM’s office credit card took a trot around some local retailers, starting with splurging $360 at designer handbag shop Deadly Ponies for outgoing British Prime Minister David Cameron’s wife Samantha.

Then what about a little something at gift and homeware shop Tea Pea - for some towels and soap maybe? $91. On to Ora Design for a $909.50 spend-up.

A merino pashmina at $149 and a fantail brooch ($171) for the first

The PM's office credit card takes a trot around some local stores and retailers.

lady of Indonesia, Iriana Joko Widodo.

Throw in a Jill Main merino wrap for the Mayor of Surabaya and a pounamu Toki for the Governor of East Java. What about that bronze whale tail? Grab that bowl, some feather cushions and a coin purse.

A couple of coffee table books maybe? Pop into Hedley’s Bookshop in Masterton ($154.99) for a copy of Coast: An Odyssey Around New Zealand and Light and Landscape for Indonesia’s education minister.

Then it’s off to City Cards & Mags for wrapping paper and bows - $37.38. Job done.

Oh hang on, what about United States vice-president Joe Biden, who is over here to announce an end to a nuclear ship stand-off. Two luxury woollen blankets from Stansborough for $580 to keep him warm in his retirement. Perfect.

If your sights are on bigger-ticket items, ministers racked up $555,000 on international travel and $801,000 on domestic travel and accommodation costs in the three months to September.

That is almost a million lower than the previous three month period, with Key’s $139,000 topping the international travel bill.