Phil Twyford won't be intimidated by smear campaign

Labour MP Phil Twyford says he will not be intimidated by an alleged smear campaign that is apparently backed by foreign property speculators.

Labour's housing spokesman will reportedly be targeted by controversial political consultant Simon Lusk at the 2017 election because of his strong stance on offshore buyers.

TV3's Duncan Garner said last night he was told Mr Lusk was being funded by "Chinese money" to carry out a "direct mailout" that would focus on the Te Atatu MP.

Asked to respond this morning, Mr Twyford said: "I think it's interesting that foreign property speculators are so concerned to defend the tax-free mega-profits they're making in the Auckland housing market that they're willing to hire the National Party's dirty tricks machine to do their work for them."

Mr Twyford said he would not by silenced by "this kind of intimidation".

The Labour MP created a storm of controversy earlier this year when he highlighted the large number of Chinese-sounding names on a list of 4000 residential purchases in Auckland. His party wants to restrict foreign ownership of residential property.

Mr Twyford said he would press ahead with a private member's bill that would ban foreign property speculation, and was due to be debated soon in Parliament.

Labour leader Andrew Little said this morning he held no concerns about Mr Lusk's plans.

"When people like Simon Lusk appear on primetime TV in a programme like that, it means their business is failing, they're desperate for work, and that's why they're doing that."

Mr Lusk was one of the key players in Nicky Hager's book Dirty Politics.

He has previously acted as a strategist for several National MPs and is a friend of blogger Cameron Slater.

The National Party now warns candidates against working with Mr Lusk.

Mr Hager's book said that Mr Lusk worked with Mr Slater to discredit candidates they did not like, and to engineer Don Brash's takeover of the Act Party.

Mr Lusk has also been linked to Labour's Napier MP Stuart Nash.

TV3 reported that Mr Nash's associates reportedly paid Mr Lusk up to $20,000 to investigate the potential for an alternative centrist party, possibly headed by Mr Nash.

Mr Nash said today he knew nothing about the alleged "hit job" planned for his colleague.

"I have nothing to do with taking Phil Twyford out," he said. "Phil is doing a fantastic job."