Clark stonewalls on Field inquiry, costs

Opposition attempts to find out why the inquiry into Labour MP Taito Phillip Field is taking so long ran into a brick wall in Parliament yesterday.

National MP Lockwood Smith was told it would take "as long as necessary" when he reminded Prime Minister Helen Clark that her initial estimate had been nine working days and the investigation had so far taken more than seven months.

Mr Field is under investigation into potential conflict of interest for asking a ministerial colleague to grant a work permit to a Thai overstayer who tiled his house in Samoa.

A separate controversy involves an Otahuhu house which Mr Field bought from a family when they risked losing it in a mortgagee sale and sold it for a $136,000 profit.

Helen Clark said progress reports on costs could be seen as placing pressure on the inquiry.

- NZPA