MPs' expenses: Who are the big spenders?

Andrew Little spent $36,009 in the last quarter. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Parliament's latest expense disclosures show that Government ministers pulled in their belts compared to last year.

In total, ministers spent $1,084,717 on accommodation and travel in the past three months -- around $90,000 less than the same period last year.

That was partly due to a quieter workload for the biggest travellers, Trade Minister Todd McClay and Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully, who was recovering from surgery.

MPs spent $1.4 million in the January to March quarter, a slight increase on last year.

The minister with the biggest bill was Mr McClay, who spent $108,774, mostly on international travel -- though some of that total was carried over from the previous quarter.

The biggest-spending MP, excluding ministers, was Leader of the Opposition Andrew Little, who spent $36,009 in the last quarter.

That was partly due to international travel from the previous quarter, including a trip to the United States to meet trade delegates.

He was followed by Labour MP Kelvin Davis, who lives in the Far North and represents the large Te Tai Tokerau electorate, and National list MP Nuk Korako.

On average, Labour MPs spent $15,444 each, New Zealand First MPs spent $14,652, Green MPs spent $14,509, Maori Party MPs spent $12,234 and National MPs (excluding ministerial expenses) spent $8505.