Prime Minister Bill English at Stadium Southland, Invercargill talking to a group of children in an after school rock climbing group.

More than half of Government ministers have refused to disclose how often they visit the South Island as part of their job.

In July, Stuff asked all 27 ministers under the Official Information Act to provide details of all their official ministerial visits to the mainland since the last election.

Just 11 gave answers. Twelve declined to release the information and four – Prime Minister Bill English, Dr Jonathan Coleman, Nathan Guy, and Todd McClay – did not respond.

Reasons cited for not releasing the information included the "substantial collation or research", and security concerns.

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Political commentator Bryce Edwards said the haphazard response revealed a government that was "tired and defensive".

"It's disappointing and somewhat alarming that government ministers are resisting the accountability that might be expected of them in detailing how much they travel to parts of the New Zealand constituencies."

While there were some details ministers could expect to keep to themselves, they were accountable to the public and should provide such details, he said. Openness and transparency was "a basic way to tell how much health there is in any government".

During an election year ministers liked to show how engaged they were, Edwards said, but the refusal to disclose that information may make the public "suspicious that these politicians are embarrassed with just how little they've visited".

Since 2015, Maggie Barry visited 38 South Island locations, largely in her capacity as Conservation Minister. Louise Upston visited 49 locations across seven portfolios.

"It seems likely that these two ministers are willing to provide such details simply because the numbers look good," Edwards said.

"In contrast, the numbers for the ministers who didn't supply information, can probably be assumed to be very poor."

The most visited South Island location was Christchurch with 59.

It was followed by Queenstown with 11 visits, Nelson 10, Invercargill and Dunedin with 9 respectively.

Other locations with only a handful of recorded visits include Timaru, Kaikoura, Ashburton, Blenheim, Westport, Greymouth, Balclutha and Gore.

Ministers who provided answers: Nikki Kaye, Judith Collins, Maggie Barry, Paul Goldsmith, Louise Upston, Mark MItchell, Jacqui Dean, David Bennett, Tim MacIndoe, Scott Simpson and Alfred Ngaro.

Ministers who declined: Paula Bennett, Steven Joyce, Gerry Brownlee, Simon Bridges, Amy Adams, Chris Finlayson, Anne Tolley, Dr Nick Smith, Michael Woodhouse, Nicky Wagner, Te Ururoa Flavell and Peter Dunne.

Minister who did not respond: Prime Minister Bill English, Dr Jonathan Coleman, Nathan Guy, and Todd McClay.