"It seems the only way to stop Christine Rankin's spending splurge is to cut up her credit card.," Labour spokesperson on employment Steve Maharey said today.

Mr Maharey is concerned that, while inquiries by the Audit Office and State Services Commission into WINZ' extravagance are underway, Mrs Rankin is splashing out large sums of money on PR, a private detective and business consultants in an attempt to clear her department and herself of the allegations.

"In other words, having spent her way into trouble she is now trying to spend her way out of it.

"And while she has all the department's resources at her disposal, the manager facing disciplinary proceedings for her role in the hiring of the chartered flights to Wairakei has only her lawyer.

"This is relevant as the staff member vigorously contests Mrs Rankin's version of events, specifically her claim that she was "misled" over the Wairakei travel bill.

"Fairness demands that she be made to stand down as WINZ Chief Executive until the official Audit Office and SSC inquiry is completed and until the Wairakei incident has been fully investigated," Steve Maharey said.

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