Awatere Huata could be out by Christmas, Prebble says

Independent MP Donna Awatere Huata could be out of Parliament by Christmas, ACT leader Richard Prebble said today.

Awatere Huata is vowing to fight in the High Court against ACT moves to use party-hopping legislation to oust her.

Mr Prebble told National Radio he could not see how legal action could help her, unless there had been procedural unfairness which ACT had been careful to avoid.

Awatere Huata has 10 days to convince ACT why its caucus should not vote to expel her under the Electoral Integrity Act.

That legislation sets out conditions and procedures under which an MP can be expelled from the political party they came into Parliament with.

Mr Prebble's view was that if she failed to mount a convincing argument, the process could reach a prompt conclusion.

He simply had to write a letter to Speaker Jonathan Hunt and say 75 per cent of his caucus wanted Awatere Huata out, he said.

Mr Hunt had only to check procedure had been adhered to "and if it has, the member of Parliament is automatically out", Mr Prebble said.

"It would seem to me that unless Mrs Huata can give us some pretty good reasons in the next 10 days which she's still got, if that procedure goes through she will be a private citizen by Christmas."

Awatere Huata told NZPA yesterday she would take legal action against ACT, either this week or early next week.

She had not yet decided what form it would take.

Awatere Huata was this month told by Mr Hunt she cannot use her parliamentary office funding to fight her legal battles.

Her relationship with ACT hit new lows this week, when Awatere Huata laid a complaint with Mr Hunt that ACT deputy Ken Shirley threatened her.

Mr Shirley called her complaint a fabrication, and Mr Hunt yesterday said he would be taking the matter no further.

Awatere Huata, who is facing fraud charges laid by the Serious Fraud Office (SFO), also alleged ACT staff had threatened her staff.

One of the charges laid against Awatere Huata alleges she asked her electorate secretary to tell lies to the SFO.

She is also accused of attempting to pervert the course of justice by preparing minutes and invoices purporting, after the event, to authorise the use of Pipi Foundation funds, the counselling of foundation trustees, and the supply of information to tax planning services.

She also faces 11 fraud charges resulting from the cashing of Pipi Foundation cheques totalling more than $91,000.

Her husband, Wi Huata, 42, faces the same charge of attempting to pervert the course of justice, and six fraud charges arising from cashing Pipi Foundation cheques totalling more than $58,000.

The largest sum involved was a cheque dated December 21, 2000, for $30,946.

A report by the Auditor-General earlier this month indicated the MP may have unduly used her influence to lobby for taxpayer funds for organisations with which she was associated.

- NZPA