Government spending on contractors and consultants jumped by a third last year, up $300 million.
The latest public service workforce data shows one-point-two-billion-dollars was spent, all while departments have supposedly been trying to cut the consultancy cash splash.
The Public Service Commission says the rise was driven by pandemic spending, reforms to health, water and the RMA, as well as one-off IT projects.
But the National Party says the government is addicted to spending.
National's Public Service spokesperson Simeon Brown spoke to Corin Dann.
