30 Mar 2023

Govt under pressure to explain when it knew about Nash emails

From Morning Report, 6:43 am on 30 March 2023

There's pressure on the Government to explain just when it knew about Stuart Nash's breaching of cabinet rules and why weren't alarm bells triggered earlier.

The National Party is calling for a wider scope to be applied to the inquiry into Stuart Nash's correspondence with political donors.

Nash was stripped of all his ministerial portfolios on Tuesday when it was revealed that he'd shared details of a Cabinet meeting with two of his donors.

The Prime Minister yesterday announced the investigation would look into any further breaches or conflicts of interest in his communication.

Chris Hipkins says the review is important for public confidence, but doesn't need to go any further.

But that's exactly the undertaking the Opposition is calling for - Christopher Luxon says repeated breaches have lifted the lid on a more widespread problem in Government.

He also wants Nash to be booted out of his electorate role.

Nash confirmed yesterday that for now he would continue as the Labour Party MP for Napier. He posted on Facebook there won't be an "unnecessary, messy and expensive by-election".