By HERALD POLITICAL STAFF
Maori Affairs Minister Dover Samuels was clinging to his cabinet job by a thread early today after a resign-or-be-sacked meeting with the Prime Minister ended in an impasse, despite stretching past midnight.
Helen Clark and her closest advisers issued their ultimatum to Mr Samuels during a series of meetings which lasted nearly three hours.
But the 60-year-old minister, who is facing allegations of sexual impropriety, refused to budge and was said to be fighting resolutely for his post.
Earlier last night it appeared Mr Samuels had accepted that he would have to go to stem the mounting political damage from the affair.
His defiance now makes it more likely Helen Clark will have to sack him or risk her own credibility being seriously undermined.
After the break-up of talks early today, she issued a brief statement, saying: "At some point a judgment will be made on whether what has happened has damaged the minister's capacity to be effective in his work in a critical area for the Government.
"That judgment will be made in due course."
Mr Samuels' friend and cabinet colleague, George Hawkins, was instrumental in trying to persuade him to step down for the good of the Government. Hauraki MP John Tamihere, however, continued to push him to fight.
Mr Samuels was summoned to Wellington from his home in the Far North for the meeting with Helen Clark after the two clashed over whether he could keep his job even if he was cleared of criminal liability.
The Prime Minister had raised the stakes on Monday by saying she would have to decide whether Mr Samuels could be an effective minister in the face of the allegations against him.
Mr Samuels' response was to publicly threaten to expose skeletons in the cupboards of other MPs, and to challenge Helen Clark's handling of the affair - giving her grounds to sack him.
The Prime Minister was also worried by rumours that further allegations against Mr Samuels would come to light, adding to those already under investigation.
Yesterday, the Herald put a series of allegations about a history of violence to him. These included:
* A troubled relationship with an Australian woman during the early 1970s.
* A conviction in April 1984 for assault of his brother.
* A dispute in 1995 in which it was alleged Mr Samuels threatened to shoot a family member.
Mr Samuels' lawyer, Chris Hodson, QC, said his client was unable to respond last night.
Mr Samuels' downfall began last week when Act leader Richard Prebble wrote to Helen Clark demanding she establish a judicial inquiry into allegations that Mr Samuels had sex with an underage teenager during the 1980s.
The teenager became pregnant and had an abortion.
After initially saying she would await the outcome of a police investigation into the allegations before making a judgment on Mr Samuels, Helen Clark began shifting her position late last week.
On Monday, she set a harder test for him, questioning whether he could be an effective minister.
Her harsher line did not win the total support of her caucus, and led to an emotional meeting yesterday morning.
Backbench MPs spoke out in Mr Samuels' defence, and Waimakariri MP Clayton Cosgrove moved that no changes be made to the cabinet. But the motion was disputed on procedural grounds and was not put to the vote.
Mr Hawkins and Invercargill MP Mark Peck travelled to Auckland Airport to meet Mr Samuels on his flight to Wellington last night in a bid to convince him it would be best to resign.
The Maori caucus held a regular meeting early in the evening, but it is understood the group has divided loyalties and did not broach the subject of Mr Samuels.
The Labour caucus was united on one thing - if opponents of Mr Samuels threw more dirt, they would start hurling mud themselves.
Helen Clark as much as warned this when asked early last night if she was aware of more allegations. "There is more to come about a lot of members of Parliament, if I am to believe the calls I am getting," she said.
Public records and Herald inquiries in the Far North have revealed the extent of Mr Samuels' chequered past.
In 1996, the Police Complaints Authority investigated a police decision not to charge Mr Samuels over an alleged threat to shoot a nephew. The police actions were cleared.
The Herald has also learned of a relationship between Mr Samuels and an Australian, Sandy Sinclair. They had a daughter in July 1974.
Locals said Sandy Sinclair was assaulted and taken to Kaikohe Hospital during her relationship with Mr Samuels but no complaint was laid.
The Herald contacted Sandy Sinclair in Australia. She said: "I was in a relationship with him. We had a daughter. It was an abusive relationship, and I have no other comment to make at this stage."
Yesterday, Mr Samuels said: "I don't deny anything and I don't support anything. Why is it now that they are waiting to jump into the sewer line of allegations and innuendo?"
Dialogue: PM's management mettle on the line
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