Housing Minister Phil Heatley says he has no regrets about spending an extra $20 million over the past year on consultants at Housing New Zealand.
Labour says there has been a blow-out in spending on contractors and consultants at Housing New Zealand at the same time the corporation is cutting maintenance work.
Mr Heatley says that extra money has been spent on earthquake work in Christchurch, and on support for a computer system upgrade.
He says he has no regrets about that spending.
Housing spokesperson Annette King says Housing New Zealand spent $40 million on contractors and consultants in the year to the end of April.
Ms King says four years ago in Labour's last year in government, the corporation spent $15.5 million on contractors and consultants.
But according to figures provided to Parliament's Social Services Select Committee, she says spending on contractors and consultants since then has risen 170%.
