Nats on hunt for source of leak

The National Party has confirmed details of an internal investigation into who leaked leader Simon Bridges’ expense details.

Shadow Leader of the House Gerry Brownlee has confirmed the party has started the hunt for the leaker – who may suffer mental health issues – and has hired top legal and consultancy firms to carry it out. ‘‘It has engaged the services of PwC and Simpson Grierson to lead the investigation,’’ Brownlee said. ‘‘The investigation will be funded by the National Leader’s Office.’’

Meanwhile, the party would not comment further on the investigation, until it was completed.

Police confirmed that no Government minister had been briefed on the identity of the person at the centre the leak storm.

The confirmation comes as rumours and theories swirl over the identity of the person who claimed to be a National MP and is understood to be the leaker of Bridges’ expense details.

Bridges and Brownlee have called on Speaker Trevor Mallard and Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern to come clean on what they know, suggesting the pair had some level of co-ordination over Mallard’s abrupt decision to abandon an independent inquiry into the matter. Both have rejected the insinuation. The Government can’t help fund the trip home for a Kiwi mum in a coma in Bali, Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters has told her family.

It will cost $160,000 for the family to fly Hamilton mum-of-two Abby Hartley back home. The 41-year-old was rushed to a hospital on the Indonesian island with a twisted bowel on August 1, where emergency surgery was performed.

Two days later, she suffered acute respiratory distress syndrome and was put into an induced coma.

Insurance cover has been declined as her condition was deemed pre-existing.

Her 20-year-old daughter, Sophie Hartley, said the family asked whether the Government could provide any help.

Peters responded to the family as the minister of foreign affairs.

‘‘We got an email back from Winston Peters basically saying the New Zealand Government can’t fund us as she’s a New Zealander that got sick overseas,’’ she said.

In a written statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade said: ‘‘Our SafeTravel advice notes that if you do not have appropriate insurance cover, you could expect to pay any medical costs.’’

A simple whodunit took on added layers of mystery and complication when an anonymous text was sent to both Bridges and Mallard, imploring them to put a stop to an independent inquiry set up to hunt them out.

The texter claimed to be a member of the National Party caucus and said they had serious mental health issues.

Bridges sought professional mental health advice regarding the person and also engaged the police to help deal with the issue.

It took police a matter of days to find the person and provide mental health support. Although police gave Bridges assurances over the immediate stability of the person they would not reveal the person’s identity, citing privacy law.

But National has called foul over the timing of Mallard’s decision to halt the independent inquiry after the existence of the text became public.