Troubled Act MP Donna Awatere Huata this morning asked her colleagues to put off their decision on whether to suspend her until a police investigation is complete.
The MP arrived at the Act Party headquarters in Newmarket, Auckland at 10am. She will face her caucus colleaguesand Act president Catherine Judd, who want her to explain a series of allegations that she misused public money to pay for a stomach stapling operation, flights to Sydney and mobile phone calls. Police are investigating allegations that money paid to the Pipi Foundation, a trust set up to promote a remedial reading programme, was spent on her.
Mrs Awatere Huata told reporters gathered outside the Act office that she was going to ask her colleagues to be patient. She did not answer further questions because a security guard hired by the Act party intervened and shepherded her into the party headquarters.
Her lawyer Paul Davison, QC, arrived later in the morning.
Other MPs said they were eager to hear Mrs Awatere Huata's explanation but they did not seem confident that the MP would survive the suspension vote. Act leader Richard Prebble said "It is a sad day for Act and I don't think it will be very easy for her."
His colleague Rodney Hide said he was going into the meeting with an open mind.
"But, it is very serious. That is why we will be listening to what she has got to say very seriously."
