According to data released under Official Information Act stated that about $4 million were spent in eight months on travel and in the same period a year prior, the Ministry of Health staff spent more than about $1.6 million.

The report stated that between September 2008 and December 2009, directors and chief advisers spent just over $400,000 on travel, with $63,905.38 being spent by the chief adviser of Pacific health.

Before he quit his job in December, the ministry's former chief nurse, Mark Jones, on travel spent nearly $40,000 during the period making him the fourth-highest spender of the ministry chiefs.

The ministry said the results would be made public after the investigation, which was underway into his expenses, was over.

On travel during the 16-month period, according to the reports, the director of public health spent $42,264.36, and the director of health services planning spent $46,644.99.

The ministry said some of the roles involved significant travel.

But the ministry also said that as it had a budget of $13 billion, it was cognizant of bringing down the travel expenses.