PHOTO/GETTY IMAGES
Labour’s Kieran McAnulty had parliamentary expenses nearly double that of National’s Alastair Scott in the past three months and Defence Minister Ron Mark racked up expenses in excess of them added together.
A collective $3.6 million was spent by politicians from April 1 to June 30.
Scott, the MP for Wairarapa, doesn’t claim a housing allowance so his expenses were $12,299, comprising $479 for non-Wellington accommodation, $4751 for air travel and $7070 for land travel in what is widely acknowledged to be a big electorate.
McAnulty, a Wairarapa-based Labour list MP, had expenses of $23,789, comprising $8323 for Wellington accommodation, $689 for non-Wellington accommodation, $3693 for air travel and $11,084 for surface travel.
Carterton-based Mark had domestic expenses of $39,919, nearly as much as that spent by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern at $40,341. The highest was Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones on $44,728.
Mark also went on cabinet-approved international travel costing $42,150, which was less than half the $99,521 for Ardern.
Carterton-based Tracey Martin had no international travel costs and her domestic costs were $33,214, of which $15,352 was surface travel.
Meka Whaitiri, who represents Ikaroa Rawhiti, had expenses of $25,375, including $8323 for Wellington accommodation and $304 for non-Wellington accommodation. She had $9314 for air travel and $7433 for surface travel.
The lowest ministerial spender domestically was Associate Transport Minister Julie Anne Genter with costs of $6162.
