KEY POINTS:
The Ministry of Maori Development has spent more than $240,000 on staff conferences in less than a year.
Revelations of the spending comes less than a month after Housing New Zealand came under fire for a series of luxury conferences held around the country for its maintenance division.
Answers to parliamentary questions show the biggest-ticket conference for staff of the ministry (also known as Te Puni Kokiri) was a "relationships and information national hui" for 132. It cost $69,000.
The three-day conference last July was at the New Zealand International Campus at Trentham, near Wellington. Another hui for 46 support staff at a hotel in Methven cost about $35,000.
The figures come from answers to parliamentary questions lodged by National's Maori Affairs co-spokesman Tau Henare.
Mr Henare said the spending - particularly for the two largest conferences, which were in the same month - was excessive.
"I'm into making sure the staff have the tools to do the job, but if it's just a talk-fest and just a get-together then I think it is just an abject waste of money."
National would crack down on such spending at the ministry, he said.
"I think when you look at our communities out there which are struggling, which are being asked by governments and government agencies to tighten their belts and look carefully at what they spend their money on, then I do think it's extravagant."
The release of the figures follows heavy criticism of Housing New Zealand for expensive conferences at luxury resorts, including a $65,000 talkfest at the Tongariro Lodge and a $36,000 retreat at the Spa du Vin, south of Auckland.
- NZPA
