And how much of the reaction is down to the fact that the new cars are BMWs - a supposed luxury marque, but in reality probably not a great deal different in price from other makes in a similar class.
OK, I suppose one could argue that in this age of hyper-austerity, ministers of the Crown and their overseas dignitary guests should be riding shoulder to shoulder, knees to chin, in a clutch of second-hand Toyota Corollas- rather than in these bejewelled beamers, chariots of so much clamouring public envy and ire.
This whole egalitarian impulse, of which on occasion we are justly proud, can be taken a little too far.
Much as we would like our MPs to be treated like second-class citizens and tend to regard them with the sort of respect we generally reserve for journalists - i.e. very little - effective government requires otherwise.
Effective government requires dedication, intelligence and very hard work. There will of course always be exceptions to the rule, but for the most part whether you agree with their views or not (and regular readers of this column will know that often I don't) most of those politicians who rise to the rank of cabinet minister have to be reasonably well endowed with, or practised in, those qualities and inclinations.
Spend any time in the company of ministers and you find them constantly on their cellphones, reading a clutch of papers, preparing briefings or fine-tuning reports. They tend to do this in much of their so-called spare time which includes travelling, and because our Parliamentary democracy involves a large number of electorate representatives from far-flung parts of the country, that time can be extensive.
Likewise, when Parliament is in recess there is often a requirement that our ministers get out and about.
We would criticise them no end if all they did was remain in their ivory tower Beehive offices.
The latest uproar seems to be over the fact that three of the new long-distance BMWs are to be equipped with optional extras including computer monitors, internet access and back-seat lighting, and one is to have heated seating. What? So the Minister of Finance can play Metal Gear Solid on the way from Dunedin to Waimate or wherever?
As citizens, we increasingly expect to be able to access instant communications; many of us travel with our laptops, tablets, Blackberrys or iPads. On overseas trains you can hook up to wireless internet. Why should it be any different for our Crown ministers? In fact, perhaps we should be congratulating them for providing themselves with one less excuse for not being productive every waking hour of their very long days.
But, no. we like to give them a good kicking. Makes us all feel a bit better. So I don't buy the clamour and the over-hyped cries of hypocrisy. It is just too easy, and too lazy.
By all means criticise the Government, but criticise it constructively - so we can all have a good debate - over things that really matter: the tax-policy assisted accelerating gap between rich and poor; the seeming lack of a coherent economic growth strategy; obeisance to the popular but bankrupt penal policies of ever increasing incarceration; the failure to invest seriously in research and development; the adherence to flag-waving but poorly thought-out education policies such as National Standards.
But, no: such an approach cannot easily be reduced to rabble-rousing slogans or quick-fix king-hits. They don't lend themselves to headline grabbing ideological burn-outs in the Parliamentary bun fight of the day.
By all means keep an eye on Government expenditure, but choose the battles that are likely to make some traction. Beating up on ministerial vehicles doesn't really cut it.
Speaking of official cars, the DCC's $1.9 million vehicle fleet has been making the news as well. There is a suggestion that has come by way of doubtless expensive Auckland-based consultants that big savings could be achieved by ending a buy-local policy for council vehicles under $50,000.
The drive to cut costs is admirable, but should the recommendation come to pass could, in fact, the resultant policy end up costing more than it saves - in rates and further money being taken out of the local economy? Just wondering.
• Simon Cunliffe is deputy editor (news) at the Otago Daily Times.
