Field's staff tell of huge caseload

Former Mangere MP Taito Phillip Field's staff were often kept busy dealing with up to 60 immigration files at once, a jury hearing corruption charges was told yesterday.

Naomi Aliva, a former ministerial secretary to Field, told the High Court at Auckland that electorate office work was mainly focused on immigration matters, and the MP's staff dealt with dozens of inquiries.

Field is defending 12 corruption and bribery charges, and 23 allegations of acting to pervert or obstruct justice.

Prosecutors say Field received benefits from Thai immigrants for help he gave them on immigration matters between 2002 and 2005.

Ms Aliva said she had several times made travel arrangements for Field and others, including Thai tiler Sunan Siriwan, a Crown witness, who allegedly did work in Samoa for Field.