Ousted Act member has last dig at leader

Tashkoff says Hide was in the room voting against him. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Peter Tashkoff is crying foul over his expulsion from the Act Party because party leader Rodney Hide attended the meeting at which his fate was decided and voted against him.

Mr Hide had previously excused himself from board meetings and discussions about Mr Tashkoff because of a conflict of interest.

Mr Tashkoff has been highly critical of Mr Hide's leadership and has tested the waters among caucus and party members for support for replacing him.

The party board held an emergency meeting on Saturday to vote on the motion to expel Mr Tashkoff from the party because he "may have brought the party into disrepute".

The board alleged that Mr Tashkoff's public statements criticising Mr Hide - including calling him a liar and a bully - had damaged the party.

Mr Tashkoff claimed that his criticisms were about the leader, not the party, and he still supported the party.

But he told the Herald that his comments at least showed an internal disorder in the party.

"I've been criticising the behaviour of Rodney Hide as disreputable, and talking about that has possibly assisted in Act's misfortunes, but the real reason is that he's been disreputable, not me talking about it."

The vote was not unanimous, but party president Chris Simmons said a majority of 75 per cent support - at least nine out of 12 votes - for removing Mr Tashkoff was "comfortably" met.

It will give some relief for Mr Hide because Mr Tashkoff was next on the party list to enter Parliament, and he has previously stated his intention to immediately move a motion in caucus of no confidence in Mr Hide as leader.

Mr Tashkoff said he accepted the board's authority and did not plan to challenge the decision, but he had a final dig at Mr Hide.

"The person who had previously recused himself from four board meetings on the grounds of a conflict of interest was in the room voting against me."

Mr Simmons said he did not have an issue with Mr Hide voting as "we were addressing a motion that was put to the board, and all board members should be available to address those motions".

Mr Hide said the motion to hold the expulsion hearing - where he had excused himself - and the hearing were different matters.

"Once they were going to have a hearing, I considered it sufficiently serious that I needed to be in a position that, as party leader, I was satisfied that it was done appropriately and properly, and to answer questions about it.

"I didn't go along so much to vote, but to be aware of the issues ... I didn't contribute."

He admitted to voting, but said his vote was not needed to reach the required majority.

Mr Tashkoff said the episode had ignited informal discussions - inside and outside caucus and the party membership - about a new party on the right.

"The name being bandied around is the Reform Party ... There are people frantic to start a new party today."

But he did not think it was the right time and he would revisit the issue in the new year.

Mr Hide said he had not heard of talks of a breakaway party, nor did it concern him that such a party might take some of Act's support.

"There's always talk of new parties. My concern is the Act Party."