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Which Ministers, if any, were granted retrospective approval of overseas travel spending where they spent over 50% of their initially approved spend, and what was the total amount of additional spending they were granted approval for? and 19 other questions

Answered 20 questions (2026)
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Questions

  • Asked by

    Chris Hipkins

    Member for Remutaka · Labour Party

    28882

    Question published

    Which Ministers, if any, were granted retrospective approval of overseas travel spending where they spent over 50% of their initially approved spend, and what was the total amount of additional spending they were granted approval for?

  • Asked by

    Chris Hipkins

    Member for Remutaka · Labour Party

    28883

    Question published

    Which Ministers, if any, were granted retrospective approval of overseas travel spending where they spent over 25% of their initially approved spend, and what was the total amount of additional spending they were granted approval for?

  • Asked by

    Chris Hipkins

    Member for Remutaka · Labour Party

    28884

    Question published

    Which Ministers, if any, were granted retrospective approval of overseas travel spending, and what was the total amount of additional spending they were granted approval for?

  • Asked by

    Chris Hipkins

    Member for Remutaka · Labour Party

    28885

    Question published

    Which Ministers, if any, have sought retrospective approval of overseas travel spending, and what was the total amount of additional spending they sought approval for?

  • Asked by

    Chris Hipkins

    Member for Remutaka · Labour Party

    28887

    Question published

    Which Ministers, if any, have spent over 50% more than their initially approved spend for overseas travel, since 1 December 2023, and what was the amount spent over the initial approved total?

  • Asked by

    Chris Hipkins

    Member for Remutaka · Labour Party

    28888

    Question published

    Which Ministers, if any, have spent over 25% more than their initially approved spend for overseas travel, since 1 December 2023, and what was the amount spent over the initial approved total?

Show the remaining 14 questions

  • Asked by

    Chris Hipkins

    Member for Remutaka · Labour Party

    28889

    Question published

    Which Ministers, if any, have spent more than their initially approved spend for overseas travel, since 1 December 2023, and what was the amount spent over the initial approved total?

  • Asked by

    Chris Hipkins

    Member for Remutaka · Labour Party

    28890

    Question published

    On how many occasions, if any, has he or his office granted retrospective approval of overseas travel spending by Ministers where a Minister spent over 50% more than they were initially approved for?

  • Asked by

    Chris Hipkins

    Member for Remutaka · Labour Party

    28891

    Question published

    On how many occasions, if any, has he or his office granted retrospective approval of overseas travel spending by Ministers where a Minister spent over 25% more than they were initially approved for?

  • Asked by

    Chris Hipkins

    Member for Remutaka · Labour Party

    28892

    Question published

    On how many occasions, if any, has he or his office granted retrospective approval of overseas travel spending by Ministers?

  • Asked by

    Chris Hipkins

    Member for Remutaka · Labour Party

    28893

    Question published

    On how many occasions, if any, have Ministers sought retrospective approval of overseas travel spending where they had spent over 50% more than they were initially approved for?

  • Asked by

    Chris Hipkins

    Member for Remutaka · Labour Party

    28894

    Question published

    On how many occasions, if any, have Ministers sought retrospective approval of overseas travel spending?

  • Asked by

    Chris Hipkins

    Member for Remutaka · Labour Party

    28895

    Question published

    On how many occasions, if any, have Ministers sought retrospective approval of overseas travel spending where they had spent over 25% more than they were initially approved for?

  • Asked by

    Chris Hipkins

    Member for Remutaka · Labour Party

    28896

    Question published

    How many times, if any, have Ministers spent over 50% more than their initially approved spend for overseas travel, since 1 December 2023?

  • Asked by

    Chris Hipkins

    Member for Remutaka · Labour Party

    28897

    Question published

    How many times, if any, have Ministers spent over 25% more than their initially approved spend for overseas travel, since 1 December 2023?

  • Asked by

    Chris Hipkins

    Member for Remutaka · Labour Party

    28898

    Question published

    How many times, if any, have Ministers spent more than their initially approved spend for overseas travel, since 1 December 2023?

  • Asked by

    Chris Hipkins

    Member for Remutaka · Labour Party

    28899

    Question published

    How many Ministers, if any, spent over 50% more than their initially approved spend for overseas travel, since 1 December 2023?

  • Asked by

    Chris Hipkins

    Member for Remutaka · Labour Party

    28900

    Question published

    How many Ministers, if any, spent over 25% more than their initially approved spend for overseas travel, since 1 December 2023?

  • Asked by

    Chris Hipkins

    Member for Remutaka · Labour Party

    28901

    Question published

    How many Ministers, if any, spent more than their initially approved spend for overseas travel, since 1 December 2023?

  • Asked by

    Francisco Hernandez

    List MP · Green Party

    28943

    Question published

    Which Ministers, if any, listed by Minister and date the trip commenced, have exceeded an approved limit for a trip, and what was the total exceeded by, if any, compared to the original approval?

    Original response/referral lodged:

Answered by

Rt Hon Christopher Luxon

Member for Botany · National Party · Minister responsible for Ministerial Services

Answer

It is my expectation that Ministers and the offices take all steps to stick within their travel budgets, but there will be times where additional costs are necessary. For example, when I travelled to Australia in 2024 the NZ DF plane broke down, necessitating the purchase of commercial tickets. In other instances, changes to meeting programmes or weather events have resulted in additional costs beyond initially approved budgets. I am advised that on average, the amount spent on each international trip since 1 December 2023 is under budget by approximately $10,900. Of the 248 trips undertaken over this period, primarily to Australia and the Pacific, 230 were on or under their initially approved budget. However, 18 trips have incurred costs that exceeded their initially approved budget. The attached table sets out the information regarding trips where costs exceeded their initially approved budget. I am advised that retrospective agreement for the additional costs to be met by Ministerial Services has occurred for Minister Jones’ travel to Canada, and Minister McClay’s travel to Cameroon, given their quantum. Details around Minister Jones’ trip have been set out publicly. For Minister McClay’s travel to Cameroon, I am advised that the travel to Cameroon for Minister McClay, Hon Damien O’Connor and staff increased due to the flights having to be rebooked at short notice due to the conflict in the Middle East interfering with flight paths. Minister Destination Departure Return Cabinet Approved Amount[1] Cost of Trip to Date Variance $ Rt Hon Christopher Luxon Australia 5/03/2024 6/03/2024 $6,055 $14,070 -$8,015 Rt Hon Winston Peters UAE Egypt UK France Belgium Sweden 30/03/2024 6/04/2024 $121,922 $133,711 -$11,789 Hon Mark Mitchell Canberra, Australia 2/05/2024 4/05/2024 $7,581 $8,463 -$882 Hon Judith Collins Tonga 1/07/2024 3/07/2024 $7,205 $7,657 -$452 Hon Todd McClay Brazil 21/10/2024 27/10/2024 $80,252 $88,674 -$8,422 Rt Hon Winston Peters Melbourne, Australia 5/11/2024 6/11/2024 $13,729 $14,301 -$572 Rt Hon Winston Peters UAE, Saudi Arabia & North Asia 20/02/2025 2/03/2025 $79,826 $92,466 -$12,640 Hon Shane Jones Canada 1/03/2025 8/03/2025 $33,068 $63,019 -$29,951 Rt Hon Winston Peters France, Italy and Indonesia 7/06/2025 14/06/2025 $69,295 $71,382 -$2,087 Rt Hon Winston Peters Fiji 13/08/2025 14/08/2025 $1,461 $1,849 -$388 Hon David Seymour Australia 27/08/2025 31/08/2025 $1,600 $1,793 -$193 Hon Todd McClay Australia 29/08/2025 3/09/2025 $9,660 $12,144 -$2,484 Hon Mark Mitchell Australia 7/09/2025 9/09/2025 $4,884 $5,001 -$117 Hon Louise Upston China 22/09/2025 27/09/2025 $29.500 $34,499 -$4,999 Hon Dr Shane Reti Tonga 16/10/2025 18/10/2025 $3,267 $5,118 -$1,851 Hon Judith Collins USA 29/11/2025 8/12/2025 $10,395 $12,498 -$2,103 Hon Casey Costello Vienna, London and Geneva 15/03/2026 20/03/2026 $37,725 $49,169 -$11,444 Hon Todd McClay Cameroon 22/03/2026 1/04/2026 $76,666 $122,015 -$45,349 (1) Cabinet approval is not required for travel to Australia or the Ross Dependency. Travel to these destinations require the Prime Minister’s approval. Please note that total figures listed under the ‘Cabinet Approved Amount’ Column may include retrospective agreement for additional costs incurred. These costs are approved by the Prime Minister or delegate.