Fresh questions for the Prime Minister over how much access lobbyists have to the halls of power.

Official documents released to RNZ show Government departments are paying lobbyists hundreds of thousands of dollars for communications advice.

Documents also show Chris Hipkins' Chief of Staff, Andrew Kirton, was previously working for liquor firms to lobby ministers to water down the now scrapped container return scheme.

Hipkins told Mike Hosking anyone can seek a meeting with ministers, but admits some people, like Kirton, may have had an "in", because they know ministers personally.

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