Labour rebuffs Ching appeal to get on list

Former Labour Party list candidate Steven Ching took a deputation to a meeting of the party's ruling council in Auckland to seek reinstatement to the list.

But president Mike Williams said the party would not reinstate him until it was satisfied there was no case to answer.

"We are still trying to resolve the matter", but serious accusations had been made and police were investigating. If they come and tell us there is no case to answer before the lists close, then obviously we will have another look at it."

The party list must be in by noon on August 23.

Mr Ching stood down almost two months ago from his winnable No 42 place after claims in the Herald on Sunday that he had offered to help Auckland broadcaster Paul Liu to become a JP and that Mr Ching had asked Mr Liu to lend him $50,000.

Mr Ching later issued a statement signed by Mr Liu saying the two events were not connected.

Mr Williams said the council discussed the matter for two hours on Sunday. "It's a really nasty situation."

But Mr Ching had stepped aside until matters were resolved, "and we don't see that they have been resolved".

Mr Ching has been a big fundraiser for Labour among the Chinese community in Auckland.

He was accompanied to Sunday's meeting by a friend and former MP, Jenny Kirk, the chairwoman of Labour's Auckland regional council.