Ross makes new claim of influence

Former National MP Jami-lee Ross used a select committee on foreign interference in elections to intimate the Chinese community were keen on installing a Chinese minister in the next National-led Government.

Ross would not repeat his claims in full or elaborate on them outside the committee room, where he lacked the legal protection he has inside a select committee hearing.

The claim took the form of a question to NZ Security Intelligence Service head Rebecca Kitteridge, who was submitting on possible political interference.

Kitteridge had said the intelligence agencies regularly briefed both ministers and the leader of the opposition, Simon Bridges, in a long-running practice.

Ross asked whether those briefings had ever contained concerns about ‘‘specific individuals’’ posing a threat to New Zealand’s political environment.

Kitteridge replied: ‘‘... In this area we’ve provided briefings, as we’re required to do, to both ministers and the leader of the opposition.’’

The now-independent MP followed up his question by asking whether Bridges had been basing his comments on a briefing from her when, in an alleged conversation between Ross and Bridges on May 14 last year, Bridges said the Chinese community were keen on a Chinese minister in a future Government.

Kitteridge would not comment further on specific intelligence.

A spokeswoman for Bridges said he would not comment on anything Ross said.