Mark rolled

Stuff reports:

NZ First deputy leader Ron Mark has been rolled by his caucus colleague Fletcher Tabuteau.

Tabuteau, 43, has been with the party since the beginning and his Tauranga businessman uncle, Tom Gear, is a very close friend of party leader Winston Peters.

​”After careful consideration, the caucus today supported Fletcher Tabuteau to take over the role, and I congratulate him on this appointment as deputy leader,” Peters said.

Ron Mark rolled Tracey Martin not that long ago and now he has been rolled by Winston’s protege Fletcher Tabuteau. The caucus must not be a happy place. Three of the eight MPs have been Deputy Leader and Shane Jones of course is lining himself up for the top spot also.

It is rare for a party to roll a leader or deputy leader when in Government – and especially so just months after you go into Government. This suggests things must be very toxic.