Horomia health worries 'a spin'

By AUDREY YOUNG

Three Maori colleagues of Maori Affairs Minister Parekura Horomia who have voiced concerns about his health have raised Opposition suspicions about their motives.

Associate Maori Affairs Minister Dover Samuels, parliamentary under-secretary Mita Ririnui and the chairman of Parliament's Maori affairs committee, Mahara Okeroa, were reported in yesterday's Dominion Post as saying they were concerned about Mr Horomia's health.

Mr Horomia is chronically overweight and has asthma and diabetes.

He has also had two high-pressure weeks in Parliament, facing grillings over scandals at the Maori broadcasting funding agency, Te Mangai Paho, from National MP Murray McCully and Act MP Rodney Hide.

Mr McCully said yesterday that it was possible the three MPs' "concerns" were part of an exit strategy being planned by the office of Prime Minister Helen Clark for the beleaguered minister.

"It is a perfectly credible scenario that this is the ninth floor [of the Beehive, the PM's office] working their magic spin, creating the environment for change."

He also said that in his experience "those who speculate about a colleague's health are generally not close friends and supporters".

"The first instinct you have is that someone is seizing the opportunity to undermine someone when they raise those issues."

A spokesman said Helen Clark had full confidence in the minister.

Meanwhile, Mr McCully and Mr Hide say they would be happy to accept Mr Horomia's invitation to go to marae with him.

Mr Horomia has defended his poor performance in Parliament, saying he is better on marae and that they should join him to see for themselves.