By AUDREY YOUNG
Police have received another complaint about a press secretary smoking marijuana at Parliament, this time involving an Act party aide, Andy Gregory.
A security guard is understood to have been alerted by smoke coming from toilets in Bowen House, where he found Mr Gregory, a temporary media aide.
Act leader
Richard Prebble confirmed last night that Mr Gregory was no longer working for Act but said the parting had been amicable.
Mr Gregory said there had been a "misunderstanding."
The incident is the second of its type reported to the police within three months.
An Alliance press secretary, Steve Collett, and journalist Alastair Thompson were accused of smoking marijuana in the House on the night of the Press Gallery Christmas party.
Act MPs led the charge then, with Mr Prebble naming Mr Collett in Parliament.
The Speaker, Jonathan Hunt, declared the accusations "unproven."
Parliament's general manager, John O'Sullivan, last night confirmed the second incident.
He said it had been reported to the police. "Whether or not there is anything to substantiate it will be over to them to determine."
Mr Gregory was asked last night if it was true he had been caught smoking marijuana by security guards last Wednesday and had resigned.
He said: "I'm afraid that's a complete misunderstanding of the situation and I'm not able to say anything more."
Asked if he had been wrongly accused, he said: "That's all I'm going to say."
Mr Gregory, a former radio journalist, was a foundation Act member.
Mr Prebble said last night: "As far as I'm concerned, Mr Gregory came to work for us on a short-term contract. We've been happy with his work and we've parted on amicable terms."
