Is NZ First being run out of their parliamentary office?

Hamish Rutherford at Stuff reports:

Brendan Horan claims he has been inundated by people wanting to share information about NZ First as he makes new allegations that his former party had breached Parliament’s rules.

Horan’s office today released a memo written by Apirana Dawson, NZ First’s director of operations, to party leader Winston Peters addressing “poor party financial structure and inadequate funds to support the party and to run a campaign”.

Horan alleged last week that Dawson and other NZ First staff were engaged in party work when they were meant to be focused on parliamentary activities. Speaker David Carter has confirmed he is investigating.

In today’s document, from July 2012, Dawson called for the establishment of a system where party members had their fees increased to at least $3 a month, to be paid by direct debit.

Parliamentary staff should not be working on membership issues for the party. That is a bright red line.

Peters has not fronted in Parliament for almost a week. No doubt when he does he’ll huff and puff and bluster.