Dumped NZ First MP alleges items stolen from Parliamentary office

Andrew Williams has issued a parting shot to his former boss Winston Peters, but the NZ First leader says it's a "humbug complaint". Photo / NZ Herald

Dumped New Zealand First MP Andrew Williams has fired a parting shot at his party, accusing them of stealing his personal property and improperly wiping him from the party's website before his formal tenure as an MP expires tomorrow.

But party leader Winston Peters said his party has to get ready for the next intake, and Mr Williams was wasting his time in laying a formal complaint with Parliamentary Service.

Mr Williams was axed from the party list for the 2014 election. He is seeking a judicial review of the party's decision to exclude him, alleging that the party breached its constitutional requirement for fairness.

The High Court will hear his case in November.

Mr Williams said he entered his parliamentary office in Wellington yesterday and discovered a number of items missing.

"Feels like a burglary almost. To walk into what you think is your own secure Parliamentary office and find all sorts of valuable things taken is a real invasion of your personal space (flat screen TV/printer/private filing cabinet/meeting table).

"These are taxpayer-funded items that have been stolen from an MP's office within the Parliament precinct. These are NZ First people who obviously have helped themselves to my office.

"Until the 20th of September, I'm a NZ First MP, and I'm still taking calls and receiving inquiries. I find it most insulting that they think they can remove me and at the same time think they can help themselves to my personal possessions ... basically stealing things." He said no files or sensitive information were missing.

He is meeting Parliamentary Service this morning to lay a formal complaint.

He said on a visit to the office three weeks ago, he found his flat screen TV and printer missing.

"I asked Parliamentary Service to investigate, and they told me the items were going to be put back into my office. Now I return to find other things have actually gone missing to.

"This is still an operational MP's office and I'm entitled to use it until the September 20." He said he has also been completely removed from the NZ First website.

Mr Peters said Mr Williams was wasting his time by complaining.

"It's a futile complaint, and baseless. The reality is that these items don't belong to the MPs. They belong to the taxpayer." Asked if Mr Williams should be able to use the items until tomorrow, Mr Peters said: "With respect, that's not the point. We've got to get ready for the next intake. What has he done for the last seven weeks while we've been slaving around the country?

"It's a humbug complaint without merit. I've never heard something so extraordinary." Mr Williams said he had not spoken to Mr Peters since the party list was released.

"In general he will not speak to me, and has not given me any reason for my demotion or my dropping off the party listing." He said he had played nice in not speaking to the media after laying his complaint with the High Court, but a line had been crossed.

"When I get to the point of coming down to my office in Wellington and find that that's the way they are treating me, having total disregard for my position until the 20th of September, then perhaps it is time for me to speak to media. It's just not right."