Conduct unbecoming, but Key's not telling

Prime Minister John Key is still refusing to say what made Richard Worth's ministerial role untenable - but has ruled out drugs, alcohol and Dr Worth failing to tell him the police were investigating a serious sexual allegation.

Mr Key said yesterday that even if it turned out to be a vexatious complaint from the woman against Dr Worth, he would not have him back as a minister.

But Mr Key refused to say what Dr Worth had done wrong, only that "Dr Worth's actions are not those that befit a minister".

Police are investigating a complaint from the Auckland-based Korean businesswoman about a sexual encounter she had after coming to Wellington at Dr Worth's invitation in March.

Dr Worth, who is married, denies committing any crime.

Mr Key's staff did their own investigation after learning of the woman's complaint. He would have sacked Dr Worth if he did not resign when they first met about it last Tuesday night.

Responding to questions, Mr Key said his concerns about Dr Worth's behaviour were not to do with drugs or alcohol. He was not sure if Dr Worth even knew the woman had gone to police when the two men met last Tuesday, so Dr Worth keeping the investigation from him was not a factor in his losing confidence either.

Mr Key declined to answer questions about whether any of the woman's expenses during the trip to Wellington were taxpayer-funded, or if one of Dr Worth's staff had escorted her on work time.

"All I can tell you is all of the appropriate questions we could think of, we asked."

Mr Key also would not say if a separate misdemeanour had been discovered during his office's investigation.

Mr Key's loss of confidence in Dr Worth is related only to the woman's complaint and not the earlier indiscretion when acting as a minister during a private business trip in India or the text messages he sent a Labour Party activist.

"All I can tell you is that, in my view, I have acted appropriately and correctly as Prime Minister to remove him as a minister."

The complainant's friend, who helped her go to the police and to National MP Tau Henare's office so Mr Key could be informed, has told the Herald the incident happened in a hotel room and they had breakfast together in the morning.

The friend said she did not complain to police until late May because she was gathering the courage. He compared her role in the incident to "David and Goliath".

Mr Key has had dealings with the complainant's friend on other matters. Asked yesterday if he would call him "a safe pair of hands", Mr Key declined to offer an opinion on him.