Awatere leaps first hurdle in efforts to clear her name

Donna Awatere Huata

Embattled MP Donna Awatere Huata overcame one of her problems today, when Speaker Jonathan Hunt ruled she had not breached parliamentary privilege.

ACT MPs last week pursued the breach of privilege charge against Mrs Awatere Huata, after suspending her from its caucus.

At the time, ACT leader Richard Prebble said she was facing the most serious allegations against an MP in 100 years.

But Mr Hunt did not see it that way.

"I have determined that no question of privilege does arise in this case and I have advised the members concerned accordingly," he told Parliament this afternoon.

Mrs Awatere Huata is still facing allegations she misused public money given to the Pipi Foundation, which was set up to run a children's reading programme she designed.

She has denied the allegations, which are the subject of investigations by the Serious Fraud Office and auditor-general.

She told NZPA today she was pleased with the Speaker's ruling.

It was "a most important one, in terms of being the first one, I think it sets the tone for the others", she said.

Mr Prebble told NZPA he had some sympathy with the ruling.

"The Speaker made it clear by his ruling that her action was one that he would not expect from an MP, and I think that is the view the public will take," he said.

He did not regret taking the case, which centered on a letter Mrs Awatere Huata wrote to then Treasurer Sir William Birch on 19 February 1999.

In it she sought funding for a remedial reading programme run by the Pipi Foundation.

Mrs Awatere Huata wrote she would not assure the Government of her vote "unless I see an indication that my vote will not be taken for granted".

Mr Hunt told the House the only possibility of a contempt occurring was as a result of that letter.

While there was "reasonable evidence" Mrs Awatere Huata had soliticed public funds for the remedial reading programme run by the Pipi Foundation, that was not contempt.

"But it is a contempt to seek a benefit for oneself or for other persons close to oneself as the price of one's vote. To do so is to seek a bribe," he said.