Christopher Luxon says he is "well within the rules" to be claiming $52,000 in an accommodation allowance for staying in his own mortgage-free apartment in Wellington due to maintenance issues at Premier House.
The prime minister was claiming the expense — which he is entitled to do — 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.
He was asked about the issue during a news conference in Queenstown today, where he said he would like to stay at Premier House, but can't.
As for the allowance, he said: "It's part of an entitlement for an out of Wellington MP, whether you are an MP or a minister, there's a series of allowances and entitlements and it's because I don't have a primary residence in Wellington."
"Like everyone I travel in and out of Parliament each and every week from my home in Auckland and it's an entitlement all MPs and ministers have."
He wouldn't say whether or not it was hypocritical given his government was asking for departments to find savings of up to 7.5%, repeating his line that he can't live at Premier House and was entitled to claim the allowance for staying in his apartment.
Luxon said he intended to live at Premier House when he could.
Opposition leader Chris Hipkins has commented on social media site X, saying Luxon is "treating hard-working Kiwis like his personal ATM".
Luxon's government had been handed a previously commissioned report into the issues at Premier House, and it would consider what options were available for fixing the property.
Jacinda Ardern opted to live at Premier House when in Wellington, while other prime ministers such as Chris Hipkins and Bill English were already based in the city.
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.
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