Bad minister claim 'gospel, not gossip'

Ministers who were at the Italy/Australia match. From left; Jonathan Coleman, Wayne Mapp, Maurice Williamson. Photo / file

The Australian columnist who says a New Zealand Government minister jeered the Wallabies and called them "f _ ing cheats'' during their Rugby Wold Cup clash against Italy says his sources are "impeccable''.

Greg Growden, the Sydney Morning Herald's "Ruck and Mall'' (R&M) columnist, yesterday quoted a source referred to only as "Jeeves'' as saying the man booed and abused the Australian team for the entire game at North Harbour Stadium on Sunday.

"He was yelling out 'f _ ing cheats' and other offensive remarks, and then when the Wallabies started to get on top he suddenly left,'' the newspaper reported.

One Australian Rugby Union representative then asked an official who the man was.

"Sorry. I can't do much about it. He's a Government minister,'' the official reportedly said.

Today's R&M column has the headline: "Kiwi PM really is off Key: our 'gossip' is pure gospel.''

"Jeeves'' has never let me down,'' Growden wrote.

"All I can say is that my sources are impeccable.''

Government ministers Maurice Williamson, Wayne Mapp and Jonathan Coleman were the three in the box but all categorically deny having behaved badly.

Prime Minister John Key said yesterday he had also spoken to others who were in the box and had been told the ministers' behaviour was appropriate.

"It's worth putting a bit of perspective on this, this is an unnamed gossip columnist reporting a theoretical unnamed minister in a gossip column.''

Growden's column was dismissed by Mr Key and his ministers as essentially "made up''.

Others who were in the box have backed up the ministers' version of events, although Mr Williamson was described as being "boisterous'' during the game.