Ministers put Crown limos to use

The ministerial credit cards got a workout as soon as the new Government took charge.

Ethnic Communities Minister Jenny Salesa was the country’s top spending minister in the coalition Government’s first three months.

Jacinda Ardern ($27,751), Shane Jones ($27,296), Kelvin Davis

($24,644) and Phil Twyford ($23,642) also had high internal costs, mostly thanks to the Crown BMW limo service.

Salesa spent a total of $30,186 between October 1 and December

31, according to ministers’ expenses released by the Department of Internal Affairs.

She spent $13,916 on what is referred to as surface travel for ministers, spouse, and staff, which was likely mostly the cost of the Crown limo service.

The Manukau East Labour MP also spent $7397 on Wellington accommodation, and $8873 on domestic air travel.

Prime Minister Ardern’s expenses for the three months came in at $27,751, however, a $6904 repayment brought her total spending down to $20,847 – making her the eighth highest spender for the three months.

Ardern’s repayment was the Wellington accommodation allowance. This was not needed as she lived in Premier House during her time in the capital.

Ardern also had $6128 of international Cabinet-approved travel.

NZ First’s Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones came in at second place, with $27,269 in spending.

Jones spent $11,436 on ground travel, likely in his Crown limo, and $9108 on domestic air travel – the highest of any minister.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters spent a modest $16,139 on internal expenses, including $4828 on the Crown limo, and $3914 on domestic air travel.

Like Ardern, Peters was paid a Wellington accommodation allowance, despite living in the other local Crown-owned property reserved for ministers. A note in the figures said Peters was overpaid $3945 in the three months due to an administration error.

Last month, Ardern and Peters revealed they were mistakenly being paid the Wellington accommodation allowance for ministers who live in other regions. The total overpayment was $12,082 and $9123 respectively, which had been repaid in full.

The foreign affairs minister also spent $33,000 on international travel – just ahead of Trade Minister David Parker, who spent $32,850. Most of this related to travel to Asia for Apec and CPTPP negotiations.

Peters also travelled to Canada. Climate Change Minister James Shaw spent $26,712 on international travel – he travelled to Europe for climate change meetings, with Pacific Peoples Minister William Sio.

The expenses released by Internal Affairs also show the ministerial credit cards got a workout as soon as the new government took charge.

Most of the spending was on diplomatic passports for ministers, spouses and staff – including for the prime minister’s partner, Clarke Gayford, who travelled with her to Australia and the Pacific.

Peters used his credit card to pay for accommodation and meals during his time in Asia in November. He also bought three gifts, totalling $182.82.

Meanwhile, NZ First MP Fletcher Tabuteau, who is also undersecretary of foreign affairs, spent

$219.76 on e-Christmas cards. The National Party’s biggest internal spender in the last three months of 2017 was Waitaki MP Jacqui Dean.

Dean spent $18,896, including

$10,148 on surface travel, $2451 on domestic air travel, $1555 on out-ofWellington expenses, and her Wellington accommodation allowance was $4742.

Then-National Party leader Bill English spent a total of $17,165 in the three months to December 31. English has a house in Wellington, so did not receive an accommodation allowance. He spent $138 on Cabinet-approved international travel.