Prime Minister John Key is defending the time and money he spends on overseas travel.
Mr Key leaves for Europe next week on a trip that will include meetings with British Prime Minister David Cameron and French President Nicolas Sarkozy.
In a foreign policy speech to a Wellington audience on Tuesday, Mr Key made a reference to the ongoing scrutiny of MPs' travel expenditure.
Mr Key says he does not take his swimming togs with him on overseas trips, and does not have a lot time for shopping.
He says in the future, New Zealand prime ministers will travel more - not less - especially to forums such as the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
