1 May 2015

MPs' travel expenses released

9:30 am on 1 May 2015

Globe-trotting Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully has topped the list as Parliament's biggest spender in the first three months of 2015.

Murray McCully speaks to China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit Beijing, 7 November 2014.

Murray McCully speaking to China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi at last year's APEC summit in Beijing. Photo: AFP

MPs' and Ministers' expenses for travel and accommodation have been released for the January to March quarter.

The highest spending MP was Labour's Kelvin Davis of Far North electorate Te Tai Tokerau who spent $31,020 on accommodation and travel.

The electorate is one of the largest in the country and can be expensive to traverse. Mr Davis' predecessor Hone Harawira had spent $44,403 the same time last year.

Co-leader of the Maori Party Marama Fox spent $30,302, and Labour Party leader Andrew Little spent $25,816.

National MP for Waitaki Jacqui Dean spent $25,832 compared with $17,891 the same time last year, and Auckland-based National List MP Melissa Lee spent $23,665 compared with $13,718 in the first quarter of 2014.

Green list MP Steffan Browning spent $21,252, while party's co-leader Metiria Turei spent $21,735.

ACT leader David Seymour spent a total of $406 as MP for Epsom.

Unsurprisingly, the highest spending Minister was Murray McCully, who travels regularly.

He spent $111,838 on Cabinet-approved international travel - down from $174,420 in the 2014 January to March quarter.

More details are available here