Labour MP John Tamihere says he would accept a payout from the Waipareira Trust if it was offered today -- even though it got him into so much trouble in 1999.
The trust gave Mr Tamihere $195,000 when he left to become an MP after eight years as chief executive.
He accepted it although he had previously said he would not, and did not tell Prime Minister Helen Clark.
The Government ordered an inquiry into the payout after allegations that Mr Tamihere did not pay tax on it, and yesterday the MP was cleared.
The inquiry by lawyer Douglas White concluded that the trust should have paid the tax.
Mr Tamihere resigned his cabinet post while the inquiry was held, and is still waiting for the Serious Fraud Office to report on allegations of financial mismanagement in the trust while he was chief executive.
Today he was asked on National Radio whether he would accept the money if he had his time again.
"Yes, absolutely. I couldn't sit here and say otherwise," he said.
"I took an organisation over eight years from 12 employees to 240 and turned around hundreds of lives so they're productive Kiwi citizens today.
"Would I, in the event that it was offered to me again by the trust, take it on behalf of my family and myself -- yes I would."
Helen Clark is giving Mr Tamihere her full support after the White report cleared Mr Tamihere, and has said she expects to have him back in the Cabinet.
That is unlikely to happen until after next year's election.
- NZPA
I would take the money again, says Tamihere
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