KEY POINTS:
An angry New Zealand First has warned Labour not to take its support for granted, and in the process reinforced the vulnerability of struggling Cabinet minister Mark Burton.
In an unusual attack, senior New Zealand First MP Brian Donnelly yesterday tore into Mr Burton for failing to involve his party in the public release of the final independent rates inquiry report - an inquiry NZ First was instrumental in securing.
Although the stability of the Government is not under question, New Zealand First is clearly unhappy with what it views as shabby treatment of a crucial confidence and supply partner.
The rates inquiry report was made public last Tuesday at a press conference fronted by Mr Burton and the inquiry's chairman, David Shand.
Mr Donnelly yesterday took issue with the fact that he received no early briefing on the report, did not know about the press conference until an hour before it was held, and that Mr Burton had failed to mention NZ First's role in securing the inquiry.
The NZ First MP drew attention to the confidence and supply agreement between his party and Labour which stated their relationship would be based on good faith and no surprises.
"Does he believe that his failure to provide a timely pre-public release briefing to New Zealand First, his failure to inform New Zealand First of the press conference until the day it was to take place, the failure of his staff to send a copy of the report when they had promised to do so, and his complete exclusion of any reference to New Zealand First's role in securing the inquiry demonstrates acting in good faith with no surprises?" Mr Donnelly asked Mr Burton.
Mr Burton replied that a briefing had been set up but the weather had intervened and Mr Donnelly's plane could not take off to get him there.
"If I could take responsibility for the weather I would, but I can't," Mr Burton said.
But a fired-up Mr Donnelly was not finished. He said Mr Burton's office had cancelled three briefings on the report and New Zealand First had to handle the public release without actually having seen the report.
"If his poor judgment in this matter jeopardises the otherwise constructive relationship between New Zealand First and the Government, would he do the honourable thing and resign?" Mr Donnelly asked.
Mr Burton said the briefing had been confirmed as soon as it could be.
The spat was quickly seized on by National, which sought an immediate vote to test the House's confidence in the Government, but Labour MPs opposed the move.
The events will do little to help the prospects of Mr Burton, widely tipped to be demoted when Prime Minister Helen Clark next reshuffles her Cabinet.
The long-serving MP has been under fire over the controversial Electoral Finance Bill and has also been criticised for slow-moving Treaty of Waitangi settlement negotiations.
A spokesperson for Helen Clark said last night the Prime Minister saw the NZ First incident as "most unfortunate", and had discussed it with Mr Peters.
Under fire
* Cabinet minister Mark Burton has been criticised for introducing the Electoral Finance Bill, which is widely seen as unfair and unworkable.
* He has also come under attack for a lack of progress in Treaty of Waitangi negotiations.
* Last week he revealed the results of an independent rates inquiry without Labour's ally New Zealand First - the party which forced the inquiry in the first place.
* New Zealand First responded with a furious attack on Mr Burton in Parliament yesterday.
