'Threw him under the limousine': Jackson attacks Government over Jones' $63k travel bill

Author: Lochlan Lineham,
Publish Date: Fri, 19 Jun 2026, 9:32am

Labour MP Willie Jackson has criticised the Government's unity after the disclosure of Shane Jones' travel cost blowout. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Labour’s Willie Jackson has claimed the Government is in disarray, saying the Finance Minister threw Shane Jones “under the limousine” over his travel budget blowout.

Jones, the Resources Minister, travelled to Canada in March last year to attend a mining conference, said to be the world’s largest.

The trip was approved by the Cabinet to cost $33,000, but ended up blowing out to $63,000.

Expenses included keeping a private limousine on standby and an upgrade to business-class flights for the New Zealand First MP.

Finance Minister Nicola Willis told RNZ yesterday that the blowout reflected “significant errors on the part of the minister and his office”.

Speaking this morning on Ryan Bridge TODAY with Nadine Higgins, Jackson said Willis’ criticism of the cost showed the Government was divided.

“Isn’t this a Government in disarray? You’ve got the Minister of Finance who just threw one of her colleagues under the limousine.”

Labour MP Willie Jackson has criticised the Government's unity after the disclosure of Shane Jones' travel cost blowout. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Jackson said the comments showed conflict within the coalition.

“It’s unprecedented that a Minister of Finance would go after a senior minister like this, and it just shows how many divisions there [are] in this Government at the moment.”

Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith, who appeared on the panel with Jackson, dismissed his claims, saying the issue was a “storm in a teacup”.

“You’d expect the Minister of Finance to be firm on these matters, nothing to see here.”

Speaking to reporters at Parliament yesterday, Jones said his officials were responsible for his travel costs, and approval was overseen by the finance department, RNZ reported.

NZ First leader Winston Peters defended Jones, telling reporters the blowout was “nothing out of the ordinary”.

Questioned on whether MPs were reading the mood of the nation and whether they needed to be more cognisant of people’s struggles, Goldsmith said it was important, but ministers needed to be seen on a global stage.

“We’ve got to remind the rest of the world that we exist from time to time. So that’s important, but yes ... One always needs to be careful with one’s spending. That’s absolutely right.”

Jackson agreed with that response.