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National Party deputy leader Bill English has had words with renegade MP Brian Connell about how he handled media questions on Wednesday.
Mr Connell is one of seven retiring MPs known to be taking taxpayer-funded swansong trips overseas.
Questions have been asked about the value of MPs who are not going to be in office after the election meeting representatives of other countries.
A TV One report yesterday showed Mr Connell evading journalist Chris Faafoi as he tried to ask whether the MP was taking his wife with him to Europe.
Mr Connell accused Faafoi of gutter journalism and told him to "piss off".
Mr English yesterday said Mr Connell had agreed to go on the trip and it was up to him how he handled questions.
"I thought he was impolite and rude, trying to deal with a difficult issue and didn't handle it well," he said.
Mr English later said that he had since talked to Mr Connell about his conduct but would not comment further.
Asked if it was appropriate for a retiring MP to be sent, Mr English said Mr Connell was eligible to go.
"It certainly would have been the wrong call for MPs - who have electorates where they are busy in an election campaign - to go."
Mr Connell has been suspended from National's caucus since September 2006 after he asked questions about the private life of Don Brash, who was party leader at the time.
On TV3 last night, Mr Connell said he had been harassed over two days before snapping at media but did not think his comments extreme.
He also revealed he needs permission from Speaker Margaret Wilson to leave the trip early for a medical appointment but had not got it yet so may not be able to go. Mr Connell's wife had not decided whether to go with him. If she chose to, it would not cost any more as he could trade in his business seat for two in economy.
"I think it's fair where it's not actually going to cost the taxpayer [that] we can get our partners to come with us - it's good because we spend so much time apart."
Mr Connell said he had travelled extensively when in the corporate world so the trip was not a novelty and it was work.
"This is not about individuals, this is about Parliament to Parliament. It's about people meeting their obligations in that regard. And retiring MPs? It's an election year, for God's sake. No one was going to go. We have to meet our obligations."
- NZPA
