Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is claiming $52,000 - provided by taxpayers - for his mortgage-free apartment in Wellington, while leaving Premier House vacant.
A spokesperson for Luxon today confirmed the prime minister was claiming the expense, which is an annual payment and on top of his $471,000 salary for the top job.
Premier House is the official residence for the Prime Minister of New Zealand but has been in a deteriorating state of repair for many years, most prime ministers avoiding renovations in part due to fear of negative press about it.
The spokesperson said Luxon's expense claim for his Wellington home was "in accordance with the rules".
He said the Premier House Board Report suggested Premier House required "a significant amount of work".
"So the Prime Minister is considering that before making any decisions around residing there."
Luxon is the first prime minister in at least 34 years to claim the expense, with many former prime ministers residing in Premier House while in Wellington.
Ardern, while repeatedly acknowledging the home leaked and was in need of repair, remained in residence there. Chris Hipkins remained in his Upper Hutt home and did not claim the expense.
In 2009 National's Bill English repaid an allowance he claimed on his family house in the Wellington suburb of Karori after designating it an official ministerial residence.
Last week AAP reported Australian cricketer Usman Khawaja as saying Luxon had told him that Premier House was "condemned" and didn't live there.
The venue was hosting a function for the New Zealand and Australian cricket teams on its lawns.
Luxon, who owns seven properties at a value estimated by the New Zealand Herald in 2023 to be more than $21 million, denied he said it was condemned but confirmed he did not live there.
Figures released this week revealed MPs from National, ACT and Labour claimed an accommodation supplement last year while owning property in the capital, Newsroom said.
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