Internal Affairs Minister Tracey Martin yesterday joked about "borrowing" a Defence Force Hercules aircraft from Ron Mark.
Ms Martin headed a ministerial delegation to the Chatham Islands yesterday.
"I had to ask the Minister of Defence - it cost me two dinners - if I could please borrow the C130," the New Zealand First MP said in a speech to locals.
"And then I put out an invitation once I'd managed to get the plane to say 'is there anybody who'd like to come?' And then I had to stop people coming."
Fellow New Zealand First MP Ron Mark has today defended using military aircraft to get to and from home .
Mr Mark provided 1 NEWS with a list of all the New Zealand Defence Force flights he has taken to and from Masterton.
In October Mr Mark hopped on a B200 flight from his home in Carterton to Woodbourne airbase - and then flew back again - as part of an official visit to watch a military exercise.
And then in December he flew to and from Masterton to Waiouru to watch a military graduation on an NH90 helicopter.
Mr Mark said as Minister of Defence he's acutely aware of perception when taking NZDF flights.
"Each of the flights was taken to an official engagement. For two of the seven commitments I embarked and disembarked in Masterton. I live in Carterton," he said.
He said one of these flights was a regular scheduled flight that would have departed with, or without him and said that on several occasions he has declined NZDF’s offer of transport.
National's Defence spokesman Mark Mitchell says Mr Mark has some serious questions to answer over what appears to be totally inappropriate use of NZDF aircraft.
"Official Information shows Air Force NH-90 helicopters and a B200 King Air aircraft have repeatedly been diverted to Mr Mark's hometown, Masterton, apparently to ferry the minister from his home to events around the country and back again," Mr Mitchell said.
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