Departing MPs' one last spend-up

Former MP Hone Harawira on election night. Photo / Getty Images

Departing and defeated MPs went out with a splurge on the taxpayer tab, the latest expense details show.

The latest release of MPs' and ministers' expenses covered the entire election campaign period and the 10 days after the election.

It shows that most MPs spent less than usual during the election period.

In all, MPs spent a total of $1.5 million between and July 1 and September 30, compared to $1.7 million in the same period in 2013.

But a few MPs were not as frugal.

Mana leader Hone Harawira was the biggest-spending MP. In the last three months before he lost his Te Tai Tokerau seat he racked up $54,020 in expenses.

This compared to $44,737 in the same period last year.

MPs in Maori seats often had big travel bills because their electorates were larger than the general electorates.

Disgraced National MP Claudette Hauiti was again one of the bigger spenders.

Although she was not running for re-election, she spent more than $23,000 in three months - the second-largest bill for a National MP.

Ms Hauiti did not stand for re-election after she was found to have used her parliamentary credit card for personal spending.

Independent MP Brendan Horan, who also lost his seat at the election, spent $25,500 in the last expense period - an increase of $9000 from 2013.