Former Conservative Party leader Colin Craig has revealed how he wanted to kiss his former press secretary Rachel MacGregor in a long and intimate letter written in the run-up to the 2011 general election.
The revelation came on day two of Craig's defamation case against right-wing blogger Cameron Slater at the Auckland High Court.
During cross-examination, Slater's lawyer Brian Henry asked Craig to read parts of a 12-page letter he wrote to MacGregor just six weeks after employing her as his press secretary.
One passage concerned questions Craig said he'd been asked by people who were keeping tabs on him.
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Advertise with NZME."Questions were: Colin, are you having an affair? Do you think your relationship with you PA (ie you) is special? Have you kissed her?"
Craig went on to read how he responded to those questions.
"Well obviously the answer to the first is 'no' unless I missed something."
"The second question was interesting. I said yes. I am interested your thoughts on this, I do think we work together amazingly well."
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Regarding the third question, Craig wrote, "And again obviously the answer to the last question was no, not that I wouldn't want to, a lot, but that is a boundary."
Henry also questioned Craig about a part of his letter where he apologised for looking down her top.
"I owe you an apology ... I was caught off-guard. My eyes went where they shouldn't have gone."
When asked if he believed his comments had been appropriate in the context of their professional relationship, Craig said he and MacGregor had "an intimate friendship" that wasn't "purely professional."
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Advertise with NZME.The letter ended with a poem before concluding "your friend and more. Love Colin."
The trial continues and is set down for three weeks.
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