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.
"On reflection I question my decision to include my family in this trip at all," he said.
He also reimbursed Ministerial Services for three food and drinks charges relating to last year's National Party conference in Christchurch, to the value of $175.30, while Mr Brownlee repaid $151.90 spent in September for lunch with electorate staff in Christchurch.
He has handed in his ministerial card.
The ministers' expenses were outlined in The Dominion Post today, which said it raised questions over why such purchases were being rubber-stamped.
Mr Heatley said he was under the impression he could claim expenses for attending functions outside Wellington, regardless of whether they related to his portfolios.
"This is clearly not the case and so I have today reimbursed Ministerial Services..."
"I have fallen short of the high standards the prime minister expects of his ministers," Mr Heatley said.
"I am embarrassed. I apologised to the prime minister last night and want to extend that apology to my colleagues and the public." Mr Brownlee said he accepted his repaid spending fell outside the determination of what was ministerial business.
Three other expenses by Mr Brownlee questioned by The Dominion Post today fell within the definition of ministerial business, he said. "I have now returned my ministerial credit card so there can be no future confusion over what is and is not ministerial business.
"I accept I have made a mistake and I have apologised to the prime minister."
