Former PM Jim Bolger racks up $100,000 on taxpayer tab

Former Prime Minister Jim Bolger has racked up more than $100,000 in travel expenses. Photo / NZPA

Former Prime Minister Jim Bolger has racked up more than $100,000 in travel expenses on the taxpayer tab in the last three years.

And New York-based Helen Clark still spends $20,000 a year on domestic travel via the travel allowances which ex-premiers are entitled to.

The information was revealed under the Official Information Act to the Dominion Post.

It showed Mr Bolger, who was last Prime Minister in 1997, had claimed the most out of any past leaders. He and his spouse Joan spent $111,138 between 2011 and 2014.

Dame Jenny Shipley and her husband Burton were the next-biggest spenders, claiming $70,687 in travel expenses over that period.

Clark and her husband Peter Davis claimed $64,055 in the last three years.

The figures showed ex-Prime Ministers were spending more on travel than many current MPs.

Former prime ministers who were in office for two years or more were entitled to free, unrestricted domestic flights and VIP transport for the rest of their lives.

They also received annuity payments of between $19,400 and $48,500.

The Remuneration Authority said ex-premiers were given the allowance because their past role inevitably created travel obligations after they had left office.

The annuity payments made up for their "very modest salaries" while in office.

A rule change last year ensured that current Prime Minister John Key will be the last leader to receive unrestricted travel perks.