Hughes will be discussed at Labour Party council

New Zealand Labour MP Darren Hughes with party leader Phil Goff. Photo / Supplied

The Darren Hughes saga will "inevitably" be discussed at the Labour Party's national council meeting this weekend but the leadership says it will be pushing to focus on other issues.

Mr Hughes, a list MP, quit Parliament on Friday after it was revealed an 18-year-old man made a complaint to police about an alleged sexual incident after a night out drinking.

Mr Goff knew about the alleged incident two weeks before it was leaked to the media but decided not to take action at the time.

He yesterday explained himself to caucus colleagues at a long and tough meeting in Dunedin but emerged victorious with his MPs backing him and dismissing coup rumours.

Party president Andrew Little said the Hughes case would be discussed at Saturday's meeting in Wellington.

"I think it's inevitable, it will be a topic but it will be one of many," he told NZPA.

"Our priority is the continued campaign preparation but I don't think it will be possible to have the meeting without that issue being addressed."

Today Mr Goff said the past two weeks had been tough.

"This week we lost a senior colleague from parliament. It hurts and it's a setback and I regret the circumstances that led to that," he said in an electronic newsletter.

"But I want you to know I'm determined to keep focused on jobs, on the cost of living, and on owning our future."

- NZPA