Peters tries to distance himself from Haumaha

WELLINGTON: New Zealand First leader Winston Peters made a personal explanation in Parliament yesterday in a bid to distance himself from Wally Haumaha, despite Mr Peters speaking at an event to celebrate Haumaha’s promotion last year to assistant police commissioner.

Mr Peters said he had been invited to the event to mark Mr Haumaha’s promotion under the previous National government and police had asked him to make a speech.

‘‘I do not think that in any way compromises me,’’ Mr Peters said.

The process by which Mr Haumaha was subsequently appointed to his new role is the subject of a Government inquiry, which is being set up by Internal Affairs Minister and New Zea land First MP Tracey Martin.

At the heart of the initial controversy was whether the appointment committee knew about Mr Haumaha’s historic comments suggesting rape allegations by Louise Nicholas against his former colleagues were nonsense, and whether the cabinet should have known.

But Mr Haumaha’s association with NZ First is coming under increasing scrutiny, too — an association that was not declared to cabinet.

Mr Haumaha was briefly named as a NZ First candidate in 2005 before Fletcher Tabuteau, now New Zealand First deputy, was selected as the candidate.

It was revealed this week that Mr Tabuteau and Mr Haumaha are whanau and come from Rotorua marae Waiteti, of which Mr Haumaha is the chairman. — NZME