By Political Editor Duncan Garner
The head of Te Puni Kokiri, Leith Comer, has paid back $1,800 of taxpayers' money that he used to take his wife on trips.
However Mr Comer, who earns $400,000 a year, says his wife helps him in his work and the rules around expenditure need to be looked at.
Mr Comer says he “made a judgment, it was called into question… and rather than cause it to be a distraction I have chosen to refund the money”.
He took his wife to Style Pasifika and the Maori Sports Awards in Auckland and Opera in the Pa, to help him host on behalf of Te Puni Kokiri.
The Government pressured him to pay it back because it looked poor and hypocritical in these tough economic times.
Mr Comer has defended his spending, saying his wife “enhances my ability to do my job, and that's why I took her on those occasions”.
“From time to time when I have a hosting responsibility I think it's appropriate for my wife to be there to assist me.”
He wants the Government to look at changing the rules so his wife can be included and paid for, and says the issue of when it’s appropriate for a partner to accompany a government official is one that “warrants consideration”.
Mr Comer’s credit card also shows $1,600 of spending on his car, including a towbar which he says he didn’t want.
“I don't have any reason for [the towbar] myself but I understand it is good practice to have them on cars for flexibility reasons,” he said.
All up Mr Comer spent almost $61,000 on his government credit card last year, mainly on travel and accommodation.
Given the public naming and shaming over the past two days, his bill this year is likely to be greatly reduced.
3 News