On Thursday July 30, 2009 figures on Ministers and MP's expenses were released showing almost $8 million of taxpayer's money was spent on travel and accommodation in the first six months of 2009.
Prime Minister John Key and Speaker Lockwood Smith released the expenses list detailing the figures up to the end of July.
Labour leader Phil Goff ran up the most expenses as an MP with $124,480 in bills.
Foreign Minister Murray McCully's travel made him the most costly minister with more than $260,000 in international expenses and another $84,000 in internal ministerial costs.
MPs were found to have an average of $40,000 in expenses.
MP Chris Carter's had an expense bill of more than $82,000.
Key spent more than $82,000 on international travel and more than $212,000 in internal expenses.
It was the first time that all individual MPs' expenses have been revealed.
The release of figures follows a scandal in England where leaked information showed that many MPs were abusing the expense system.
September 30 - Labour MP Chris Carter's travel expenses were considerably lower in the second disclosure of MP expenses.
Mr Carter faced criticism over travel expenses of $82,410 for the first six months of the year.
Figures for the July 1 to September 30 period showed Mr Carter's travel bill had decreased to $13,549.
Labour leader Phil Goff's travel expenses remained a healthy $45,870.
ACT leader Rodney Hide spent $25,163 under MP's spending in air travel, while as a minister he spent $26,872.
Prime Minister John Key spent $63,663 in Cabinet approved international travel, while Foreign Minister Murray McCully spent $83,836.
He was topped by Trade Minister Tim Groser, who spent $120,235.
TIMELINE
Thu, 30 Jul 2009 - MP expenses show Goff largest MP claimant, McCully for minister
The first disclosure of expenses claimed by MPs as well as ministers shows that Labour leader Phil Goff ran up the most expenses as a non-ministerial MP.
Thu, 29 Oct 2009 - Second disclosure of MP's expenses out; Labour MP Chris Carter's travel expenses were considerably lower in the second disclosure of MPs' expenses released today.
MPs expenses exposed in continued drive for transparency
What expenses can ministers and MPs claim?