Moving the original Treaty of Waitangi to the National Library is going to cost nearly $7 million, Labour has revealed.
Deputy leader Grant Robertson says it doesn't make sense.
"The Government has been telling New Zealanders there have to be cutbacks across the board. Spending money on an unnecessary move like this shows it has got its priorities wrong," he said.
The treaty document is in the National Archives building, next to the National Library on Wellington's Molesworth Street.
Mr Robertson says it's going to be moved about 300 metres.
He has official documents showing the cost of fitting out a new room at the library is going to cost $6.7m.
"The treaty is our founding document and deserves to be housed where it is - in a purpose-built viewing room at Archives, along with other important documents," he said.
"The room was opened in the 1990s and has specially reinforced walls and glass. The Government is spending money for no good reason."
NZN