Jim Bolger most expensive ex-Prime Minister
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Jim Bolger is the biggest spender on domestic travel perks available to former prime ministers and governors-general, racking up $36,000 in expenses in 2008.
An Official Information Act request from has revealed that five former prime ministers and four former governors-general had taxpayer funded domestic travel.
Mr Bolger has a number of high profile roles including chairing New Zealand Post.
Former National prime minister Jim Bolger spent $27,191 on chauffeur-driven cars, $5562 on self-driven cars and $3400 on domestic airfares.
Sir Michael Hardie Boys spent just $1404 on air travel and $4646 on chauffeur-driven cars.
Sir Paul Reeves was the most expensive former governor-general with $28,100 in expenses – $22,794 in chauffeur-driven cars and $5306 on domestic flights
The second most expensive governor-general was Dame Cath Tizard with $14,083 on chauffeur-driven cars and $2707 on airfares.
Sir Geoffrey said in a letter to that he had used the VIP transport service and domestic airfares concession for his work as Law Commission president.
The second highest former prime minister was Sir Geoffrey Palmer with $26,055 made up of $14,187 on chauffeur-driven cars, $10,078 on domestic airfares and $1791 on self-drive cars.
In 2008 work on the War Pensions Project and the review of liquor laws had required a great deal of travel above his normal expenditure.
This arrangement had been approved by the Auditor-General when he took up the position in 2005.
The least expensive former prime minister was Mike Moore, who spent $660 on domestic airfares, $2812 on chauffeur-driven cars and $5947 on self-drive cars.
“When I was practising law in the private sector I did not use these concessions in connection with my law practice,” Sir Geoffrey said.
Helen Clark, who left Parliament earlier this year to run the United Nations Development Programme in New York, spent $9681 on just chauffeur-driven cars.
Mr Moore was prime minister for two months in 1990.
Former Governors-general and former prime ministers’ domestic travel expenses 2008.
The information does not include other expenses such as international air travel subsidies available to former long-standing MPs through Parliamentary Service.
Former PMs Domestic Air Chauffeur-Drive Self-Drive Total
Geoffrey Palmer 10,078 14,187 1791 26,055
Mike Moore 660 2812 5947 9420
Jim Bolger 3400 27,191 5562 36,153
Jenny Shipley 9345 2972 2687 15,004
Total 23,484 56,842 15,987 96,313
Former Gs-G Dom Air Chauffeur-Drive Total
Paul Reeves 5306 22,794 28,100
Cath Tizard 2707 14,083 16,790
Michael Hardie Boys 1404 4646 6051
Silvia Cartwright 6335 9324 15,660
Total 15,752 50,848 66,600