Former Labour Party minister Mita Ririnui says Ministerial Services told him he could use his credit card for personal spending as long as reimbursement was made.
Mr Ririnui charged golf clubs, a bicycle and various other personal items to his credit card while a minister in the last government.
He says he was told personal use was acceptable, providing the money was reimbursed on time, which he did.
Mr Ririnui says he would never have used the card for personal items had he known it was outside the rules.
But Ministerial Services says no minister would ever have been told that ministerial credit cards could be used for personal spending.
It says the rules are categorical that, even if the money is repaid, ministerial credit cards should never be used for personal use.
More efficiency urged
Former Labour Conservation minister, Chris Carter, says the systems surrounding ministerial credit card spending could be more efficient.
Mr Carter has identified $250 of personal spending during his time as a minister, which he says he will reimburse.
He says there was no deliberate rorting of the system by his office.
Mr Carter has also defended spending more than $300 on a dinner with then-High Commissioner in London Jonathan Hunt and a British Labour MP.
