New Zealand First list MP Brendan Horan is on full pay after being sent home to deal with allegations that money is missing from his late mother's bank accounts.
Forensic accountants have been called in to investigate Mr Horan's mother's estate after allegations from the MP's brother, Mana Ormsby, that large sums of money had gone missing from bank accounts.
Party leader Winston Peters yesterday confirmed Mr Horan was on full pay.
According to the Parliamentary Salaries and Allowances Determination document an MP of Mr Horan's level earns $141,800 a year.
When pressed about whether Mr Horan had provided him with an explanation for the money alleged to be missing from Olwyn Horan's account Mr Peters said he would not discuss any private conversations on the matter.
Mr Peters said the allegations were "deadly serious".
"I think it's a matter of the greatest urgency and I want it sorted out now," he said.
The Bay of Plenty Times visited Mr Horan at home yesterday.
Mr Horan could not say how long it would take to clear up the allegations but said it should be days, not weeks.
He said the ordeal had been hard on his family.
Mr Horan said they were still grieving for the loss of his mother and asked for privacy for the family.
He declined to comment further on the matter until all the information came to light.
Mrs Horan's former neighbour Robert Taylor was one of the witnesses who signed a codicil to the will shortly before her death.
The amendment stated that any money loaned, or taken, from Mrs Horan by Mr Horan - or her daughter Marilyn Bleackley - should be recovered, and their share of the estate should be adjusted to reflect any outstanding money.
Mr Taylor said he did not know the circumstances around Mrs Horan's decision to amend her will nor did he personally know Mr Horan.
"I was asked to bear witness and I just went and did my duty there," he said.
"It's pretty poor that the family have to bring it to light in public."
Mr Taylor said he knew nothing at all about the issue until it was made public this week and had been following the story with interest.