By Patrick Gower
Figures obtained by 3 News show Police Minister Judith Collins is by far the biggest spender when it comes to running her taxpayer-funded car for private use.
And that's on top of the cost of the chauffeur-driven limousine she does much of her travel in.
Ms Collins was out on the job today, travelling in her Crown limousine.
But she's also guzzling plenty of gas in her self-drive car. The minister spends $476 a month - all on the taxpayer.
The minister defends her use of the car, saying “it goes with the territory”.
“Well I don't think that it is [unreasonable] when all the circumstances are taken into account. It goes with the territory. You have to do the job,” she says.
Ms Collins has spent $5721 on petrol for her Mazda 6 in 12 months – which works out at $476 a month.
She is streets ahead of her ministerial colleagues in petrol consumption.
The next closest is Whanau Ora Minister Tariana Turia who spent $268 a month.
Agriculture Minister David Carter is also up there on $218 a month.
“It's consistent with everybody else’s when you look at the full picture,” says Ms Collins.
But some of her colleagues have spent next to nothing on their self-drive vehicles, which must be sitting largely idle.
- Anne Tolley has spent just $18 a month
- Wayne Mapp only $6 a month
- Nick Smith hasn't spent a cent - but he's got an electric car.
The rules allow ministers' family members and staff to use their cars.
So is it just Ms Collins driving her vehicle?
“All the travel is within the rules - that's all I’m prepared to say on it,” she says.
The rules also warn ministers to exercise "careful judgement" when loaning out their cars.
“It’s within the rules” is a bit of a cliché at Parliament - MPs use it virtually every time they're questioned about their spending.
Ministers like Ms Collins are always telling their departments to tighten their belts - but this mantra doesn't apply to their own perks.
But at least Ms Collins is using her car. The question could be asked of those with low spending - why do they have a car at all?
3 News