Brash dismisses love child claims

Act Party leader Don Brash. Photo / Janna Dixon

Don Brash says he is staggered by a love child rumour circulating about him.

The man who rolled Rodney Hide to become leader of the Act Party said it is a smear campaign designed to discredit him.

Dr Brash dismissed the accusation as appalling and categorically denied it.

He said he had been assured by Mr Hide he was not behind the rumours, and he had no reason not to believe him.

Asked on TVNZ's Q&A if he or his supporters had anything to do with the rumour, Mr Hide responded: "Not at all, and I categorically deny that."

"I don't think you'll find any critical comment from me about Don. Don's been a friend of mine and a family friend of mine."

He went on to say he would "never do anything to undermine Don at a personal level".

The man said to be Dr Brash's son told the Sunday Star-Times the rumours were "fanciful" and represented a new low for New Zealand politics.

Dr Brash said when he first met the family, the man at the centre of the allegations was already two-and-a-half or three.

- Newstalk ZB, NZ Herald staff