Labour says the Government is paying 39 of its Beehive staff more than $100,000 -- nearly a quarter of the total 161 on the payroll.
Internal affairs spokesman Chris Hipkins said figures obtained under the Official Information Act showed that in June this year, annual salaries totalled $13,008,803.
"This figure does not include the money spent on contracting temporary communications staff or the significant amounts spent on hiring private purchase advisors for ministers," he said."In addition, over $165,000 has also been spent on temporary communications staff since November 2008."
Mr Hipkins said the previous Labour government had 162 Beehive staff in June last year, for an annual cost of $13,319,768, but only 16 earned more than $100,000."When you factor in the extra money the Government has spent on purchase advisors and communications consultants, it becomes quite clear they are spending more on staffing the Beehive than Labour did," he said.
"This is yet another example of the National Party looking for loopholes to feather its own nest at the taxpayers' expense."
