Ministers will be given a lump sum of $37,500 a year to pay for accommodation in Wellington - and they can pocket any of the change.

Stations such as Ponsonby (valued at $1.78m) and Newmarket are within minutes of Auckland Central but only open from 8am-4pm.

The police say they are reviewing their property portfolio but deny there is a list of stations earmarked for closure.

Radio New Zealand staff are set to agree to a salary freeze this week as the public broadcaster searches for $1.5 million of savings to make ends meet.

Ernst & Young accountant Jo Doolan estimated the "real" value of an average backbench MPs' salary package was $150,454.

A ruling days before last year's election restored lucrative travel perks to 23 MPs, 12 of whom were not re-elected.

Health Minister Tony Ryall is distancing himself from a controversial recommendation that would in effect resurrect part of National's '90s health system.