ℂ𝕒𝕝𝕝 𝕗𝕠𝕣 𝕄ℙ𝕤 𝕥𝕠 𝕔𝕦𝕥 𝕕𝕠𝕨𝕟 𝕠𝕟 𝕤𝕡𝕖𝕟𝕕𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕒𝕤 𝕖𝕩𝕡𝕖𝕟𝕤𝕖𝕤 𝕣𝕖𝕧𝕖𝕒𝕝𝕖𝕕

𝕄ℙ𝕤 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕄𝕚𝕟𝕚𝕤𝕥𝕖𝕣𝕤 𝕙𝕒𝕧𝕖 𝕤𝕡𝕖𝕟𝕥 𝕞𝕚𝕝𝕝𝕚𝕠𝕟𝕤 𝕚𝕟 𝕥𝕣𝕒𝕧𝕖𝕝 𝕖𝕩𝕡𝕖𝕟𝕤𝕖𝕤 𝕚𝕟 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕗𝕚𝕣𝕤𝕥 𝕥𝕙𝕣𝕖𝕖 𝕞𝕠𝕟𝕥𝕙𝕤.

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t comes amid mass spending cuts in the public service, prompting questions over whether MPs should too be tightening their belts.

Every three months MPs' and Ministers' expenses are released by the Parliamentary Service and the Office of the Clerk. It shows the amount spent on accommodation and travel required for MPs to fulfil their duties.

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MPs' expenses between January and March totalled just under $1.65 million, while the ministerial expenses, including both domestic and international travel, were just under $1.35 million.

Of the Coalition Government Ministers, Judith Collins, who holds eight ministerial portfolios including Defence, spent the most on international travel, with $144,019 from January to March. 

Not far behind Collins was Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters, spending $138,428. Peters is the Minister for Foreign Affairs, so it is no surprise he travels a lot. He is followed by Associate Foreign Affairs Minister and Trade Minister Todd McClay who spent $53,869.

For domestic travel, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon had the highest expense totalling $47,964, followed by National Minister Louise Upston with $41,010 then National Minister Tama Potaka with $36,930.

Looking at the expenses for all MPs, National MP Tim Costley spent the most with $32,954, however, some of these costs include totals from the previous quarter proceed in this year's quarter.

Te Pāti Māori co-leader and Waiariki MP Rawiri Waititi had the highest expenses for just this quarter with $31,653. National MP Tim Costley spent $32,954, however, some of these costs include totals from the previous quarter proceed in this year's quarter.

Labour MP Arena Williams has the next highest spent with $29,467, followed by suspended Green MP Darleen Tana with $28,570, however, some of Tana's total included costs from the previous quarter.

Appearing on AM's panel on Friday, political commentator and former ACT Party press secretary Trish Sherson raised the question of whether MPs should cut down on spending considering the cuts to the public service.

The Coalition Government directed the public services to cut costs by between 6.5 and 7.5 percent to help reduce annual public service spending by $1.5 billion.

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"Given the cuts that are going on across the system… Has anybody said to MPs we are looking for you to cut back on your travel and expenses by at least 6 percent to match that," Sheerson said.

AM co-hosts Lloyd Burr and Nicky Styris agreed.

"I think they totally should," Burr said.

"Do your part," Styris said.

According to the NZ Herald, Williams' expenses included the cost of flying her two young children down to Wellington with her twice a month and her husband once a month.

MPs family members are allowed to accompany members on trips that are for parliamentary purposes or ministerial business. An MP's partner or spouse can accompany them on up to 20 one-way trips a year, up to 30 for specified members. There are no limits for children under 18.

Sherson said the rules for MPs should follow suit with businesses that commonly pay for transport, accommodations and a daily allowance (per diems).

"But if anyone was away working for some time there is no way the company would say 'oh well, yes you can just fly your husband and your kids down'," she said.

"I don't think that's fair on the taxpayer."

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