Prime Minister John Key has been accused of using the Diplomatic Security Squad to look important, after the squad's annual costs blew out by $800,000.

TVNZ reported that $3.98 million was budgeted for the squad in the 2009/10 financial year, but actual costs were $4.8 million.

Labour MP Pete Hodgson, who requested the figures from police, said while the Prime Minister needed protection, it should be used reasonably.

"The current Prime Minister seems to use it mainly for visual effects.

"I think he enjoys the entourage."

About $30,000 was spent sending DPS members to accompany Key on his summer holiday to Hawaii.

"Helen Clark, when she went overseas for a private holiday, never took protection with her. I'm sure Jenny Shipley never took protection with her."

However, Key defended the blowout.

"The DPS covers not only me - obviously [it's used for] the Governor-General and a lot of visiting diplomats."

Police Minister Judith Collins said the decision to use the DPS was entirely up to police.

"There are threats that are very significant and some which have been quite recent."

Collins was involved in another revelation tonight - TV3 News said it had discovered she had spent $11,536 of public money on petrol for her self-drive car since National came to power in 2008.



Like other ministers, Collins can use a chauffeur-driven BMW when she wants to and has a taxpayer-funded self-drive car as well.



Figures on ministerial spending show Collins' petrol bill was about five times as much as other ministers.



She didn't answer questions about whether someone else used the car, which is permitted under the rules.



"All my petrol is within the rules," she said



In comparison, Transport Minister Steven Joyce spent $273, Defence Minister Wayne Mapp $232 and Education Minister Anne Tolley $153.



Mapp said he usually paid for the petrol himself.

- The Dominion Post and NZPA