Attacks on MP worry health advocates

Nick Smith. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Ongoing attacks about MP Nick Smith's mental health - including Winston Peters calling him a "loony tune" and to "take your pills before you come down to the House" - have been criticised by mental health advocates, but Dr Smith's opponents say he gets what he asks for.

The Mental Health Foundation says it is disappointed at the attacks over Dr Smith's mental health in Parliament this week - attacks which have been an ongoing theme since he went on stress leave in 2004 after being deposed as newly appointed deputy leader of the National Party following Don Brash's election as leader.

During the exchanges, Mr Peters described Dr Smith as looking "slightly zany and slightly nutty", and, the next day, saying: "Listen, loony tune, take control of yourself. Take your pills before you come down to the House, not halfway through question time."

The exchanges were initially prompted by Dr Smith telling Mr Peters to "stop living in the past, old man" and later asking if NZ First had paid back the money it overspent at the last election.

Such calls have been a repeated refrain since 2004 - but both parties reined in their members' comments after personal comments went overboard in 2005.

However, lately the comments and snipes from Labour MPs have increased again.

Hansard records reveal references since 2005 include Annette King referring to Dr Smith as "cracked", both Ms King and Trevor Mallard telling him to "take his pills", Phil Goff suggesting he take his "medication", Clayton Cosgrove referring to him as "troppo" and Michael Cullen making references such as "long before Dr Smith needed his pills", and "big, brave Dr Smith will take his pills".

Dr Smith did not rise to Mr Peters' bait in Parliament, but when the Herald approached him yesterday said the statements were "personally derogatory and untrue".

Judi Clements, chief executive of the Mental Health Foundation, said there had been good inroads into public acceptance of mental illness, and it was not helpful to see a politician constantly having an episode of mental illness thrown back in his face.

"I know the behaviour in the Beehive is full of all sorts of peculiarities, but even taking that into account, I would hope they set standards for themselves which include not degenerating into denigration of people, and not trying to pass it off as humour, because it isn't funny."

Dr Smith said he had no problems with "taking stick" as rebuttal for interjections, but the constant references to mental health were "nasty" and untrue.