Colin Craig's membership suspended

Former Conservative Party leader Colin Craig. Photo / Michael Craig

Colin Craig's membership has been suspended from the Conservative Party following a decision by the just-appointed new board.

Board chairman John Stringer said he voted against the measure, but was overruled by a majority of the five member board.

The final decision about Craig's membership and who the new leader will be will be made at a later yet-to-be decided date, Stringer said.

Stringer said he had not spoken to Craig.

Stringer said the issue between Craig and his former press secretary Rachel MacGregor was "now a private matter".

"The story will now continue but it will be continuing separately from that story.

We don't want to comment anymore on the issue. I think they're going to spiral around and take a life of their own ... but it's really none of our concern."

He accepted the party had been damaged.

Stringer also "categorically denied" leaking information to Cameron Slater's Whale Oil blog.

The four new board members are Deborah Cunliffe, former Conservative Party candidate in the Bay of Plenty electorate, Mark Pearce, former Palmerston North candidate, Thomas O'Rourke, former Te Atatu candidate and Al Belcher, the party's regional chairman in the Waikato.

Stringer said he was able to appoint the new board members as under the party's constitution a quorum was needed, and as the sole remaining member he provided that quorum.

The conference took place in a room at the Heartland Hotel near Auckland International Airport.

Stringer said the board would meet next month but may not decide Craig's long-term future with the party then.

"It's not a priority."

He had voted against suspending Craig because he didn't " want to make it about Colin and I".