Prime Minister John Key is shrugging off the latest opposition attacks over ministerial spending habits.



More than $275,000 was spent on a revamp of the Prime Minister's Wellington residence, Premier House.



Labour MP Chris Hipkins said the bill was more than what some people spent on an entire house.



On top of a $215,000 repainting bill, a further $55,366.87 went on re-carpeting the house and $3,056.88 on new blinds.



"Every Kiwi family struggling to pay the bills knows that if you can't afford to pay for dinner, new carpet and curtains for the lounge get pushed a long way down the list," Hipkins said.



The criticism was the latest in a string of attacks by Labour on Key and other ministers over what is says is excessive use of military transport, the Diplomatic Protection Squad (DPS) and expensive Crown limousines.



On TVNZ this morning, Key said Labour had highlighted "very minor" issues because it could not make ground on the bigger issues.



"I'm happy to take any scrutiny that's put at me. New Zealanders will understand why Labour is talking about those things and not the issues," Key said.



Unemployment was down (from 6.7 to 6.6 per cent), cancer waiting times were coming down and crime statistics were falling, Key said.



Key said he knew that ministerial services had decided on the Premier House revamp, which he said was on a rotational maintenance programme.



"If you don't paint it, then you've got an asset that would devalue. The advice is that it would devalue more if you didn't repaint it," Key said.



"It's an historical building, it's one of very few we have."



Key meanwhile confirmed there would be changes to KiwiSaver announced in next week's Budget. The changes to KiwiSaver and Working for Families would be designed to try and make them more sustainable schemes, he said.



"There will be some changes, I wouldn't describe them as dramatic, but there will be changes," Key said.



He suggested may offer "a few more clues" in a speech tomorrow.



KiwiSaver had been a "great addition" to New Zealand Superannuation.



"I think New Zealanders who rely on [KiwiSaver and Working for Families] need to know that they are going to be there," Key said.



The country had to be less dependant on foreign borrowing and the Government had to play its part.



"We're very reliant on those foreign lenders, so as a country, we have to change."