Colin Craig could face the chop after TV antics

Colin Craig appeared on TV3's late night News Worthy show going along with co-host David Farrier's edgy antics to be interviewed in a sauna. Photo / News Worthy

Colin Craig's days as Conservative Party leader may be under threat with a party board meeting in Auckland today expecting to discuss it after a recent television appearance by him in a sauna.

But Mr Craig said none of the board members had expressed any unhappiness to him and he would expect some notice about a leadership vote.

"I don't have any knowledge either of a motion or of the numbers," he said.

"If there is an agenda to replace me as leader, I have no idea who would replace me as leader."

It was a hard job and it was an unpaid job.

"I have had no notice of [a vote]. It would be a surprise. It doesn't mean it can't be tabled for discussion but I would expect some notice."

He was responding to television reports that he could be facing a coup after recent television appearances that some members believed were embarrassing.

He appeared on TV3's late night Newsworthy show going along with co-host David Farrier's edgy antics to be interviewed in a sauna, and shared a shower with him.

TV3 reported a party insider saying that Mr Craig's appearance in the sauna [clothed] was the last straw: "There he was in the sauna, talking about God, and about former press secretary Rachael McGregor with sweat dripping off his nose. It was kooky Colin and crazy Colin all over again."

Mr Craig founded the party and has been its main funder, giving about $3 million for last year's campaign.

He also loaned the party $315,000 after the election but said tonight that most of that had been repaid.

But despite all the money spent, and a high profile campaign including high profile candidates Christine Rankin and Garth McVicar, the party polled 3.97 per cent at the September election, short of the five per cent threshold required in the absence of winning any electorate seat.

Early on, he battled perception that he was a Sarah Palin loving conspiracy theorist who wasn't sure if man had landed on the moon.

Rachel McGregor, who had been Mr Craig's press secretary for several years, mysteriously quit just days before the election.

He said last night that he had met her earlier in the year and they had settled their differences.

Mr Craig defended the appearance saying that politics was more than the dry nuts and bolts of policy and that people wanted to know politicians as people.

"I think John Key is a great example of someone who has understood that.

"He will waltz down a catwalk and what on earth has that got to do with politics - and he'll say it has got quite a lot to do with politics because...the reality is people want to know a person as well."

"Doing different sorts of interviews and being available to the media is part of it."

Asked about the loan he had made to the party and whether the board could feel beholden to him - he has written off previous loans - Mr Craig said he would never hold the board to ransom.

"I think that would be entirely inappropriate."

Asked if he would stick with the party if he was ousted as leader he said "My initial reaction is yes. I am a committed Conservative Party member at one level...I don't see myself withdrawing from party membership at all but I guess that would possibly depend on how it transpired and whether I thought there was a fair process."