Wellington, Feb 23 NZPA - MPs appear to be taking steps to ensure they don't get caught up in credit card spending controversies by reverting from taking them out of their wallets altogether.

Government ministers Phil Heatley and Gerry Brownlee apologised today after The Dominion Post highlighted purchases they made last year on their ministerial credit card, on expenses they should have covered themselves.

Mr Heatley said he would repay $906.80 in travel, accommodation and meal costs for him and his family for the duration of a South Island visit which included a conference and trip to Kaikoura's Whale Watch, and had paid back $175.30 for food and drinks purchased at a National Party conference in Christchurch last year. He had since questioned his decision to take his family on the trip.

Mr Brownlee repaid $151.90 spent in September for lunch with electorate staff in Christchurch.

Mr Heatley made other minor purchases outside the rules, one of which he repaid soon after realising he had used the wrong card, and the other involving a food purchase he mistakenly thought he was entitled to make.

Prime Minister John Key said he was disappointed at the gaffes.

He said he acknowledged the spending slip-ups were rubber-stamped by Ministerial Services, but the onus was on individual ministers to know the rules and ensure they stayed within them.

Mr Brownlee said he had handed in his card and Mr Heatley said expenses would be handled by his staff from now on.

MPs' and ministers' expenses came under intense scrutiny last year with the first ever disclosure of the MPs' claims for travel and housing expenses. Some MPs paid back tens of thousands of dollars spent on housing in Wellington and travel for themselves and their partners.

Not all ministers use the cards, including Foreign Minister Murray McCully, who told reporters he had never had one.

"I've always left it to my ministerial staff to look after the bookkeeping for me. I think that's been prudent from my point of view," he said.

Maori Party co-leader Pita Sharples said he was considering what to do with his.

"I am probably going to throw mine away. I've hardly used it; a conference meal and an overnight stay that's about it. I'm within the rules but I think I will throw mine away."

Green Party co-leader Russel Norman said he hoped Mr Key would sort the issue out once and for all. "Obviously it doesn't seem right, some of the spending that's been revealed, and I hope it gets sorted out so we can all move on."

Dr Norman said he thought the rules were clear.

Some purchases made by Trader Minister Tim Groser were highlighted in the Dominion Post, but he said today they were all related to his ministerial responsibilities and were legitimate -- something Mr Key had agreed with.