JT at the very end of a very wobbly plank

John Tamihere only recently joked when defending a wrong turn that he was JT, not the somewhat better known JC.

It must seem a long time ago. Yesterday as he arrived to prostrate himself before Labour's caucus and proclaim his undying commitment to the Faith, his position was akin to that of Judas Iscariot.

Underscoring his isolation was the fact that when he arrived at the Labour caucus meeting, he was flanked only by a few electorate supporters and a dutiful Maori Affairs Minister, Parekura Horomia.

Of his fellow Maori MPs only Mr Horomia, working to keep communication lines open between the Labour leadership and the outcast, had minutes earlier accepted an invite to attend a karakia (prayer) session in Mr Tamihere's office.

Other erstwhile mates, the "betrayed" Clayton Cosgrove and flatmate Damien O'Connor - who later noted Mr Tamihere had been given an opportunity to "redeem himself" - arrived at the caucus long after Mr Tamihere had gone.

Elsewhere in the Beehive the Agriculture and Forestry Ministry was conducting Exercise Taurus - an exercise "simulating an outbreak of foot and mouth disease".

The tests were to "ensure our exotic disease response" in the event of such a disaster was as "integrated and comprehensive as possible", Biosecurity Minister Jim Sutton explained.

Having been unable to prevent a very real outbreak of the disease within Labour ranks and to subsequently quarantine the man responsible in Auckland on stress leave, his colleagues' response - once finally choreographed yesterday - was comprehensive and co-ordinated.

To a man and woman - bar the lone voice of Dover Samuels on radio yesterday - they left him in no doubt as to their thinking.

It was Helen Clark who expressed it behind closed caucus doors and it was reportedly a fearsome flaying.

Mr Tamihere is said to have sat propped against a wall with his eyes fixed on the floor.

Whether it was his distress or a reflection of the fact Labour believes "people who have been under considerable stress need to be treated humanely" - as Helen Clark later told the House - she nevertheless gave him a kiss and a hug when he left.

The Opposition, which last week questioned why the MP has been banished when he was telling the truth, accused her of being a pussycat.

Luckily they had the horrible Holocaust and "front bums" comments to explain their change of heart.

"Does the Prime Minister accept that today John Tamihere stared her down and she blinked first," asked National deputy Gerry Brownlee."

"Obviously not. Leadership is about judgment and I have exercised mine in the interests of the Labour Party," she replied.

Taking to people "with a piece of four-by-two is not the only form of leadership available," the apparently compassionate one added.

But no one was fooled this was a case of HC trying to be JC. Mr Tamihere might not have been hit with a plank, but he's still standing right at the very end of a very wobbly one.

MPs earn right of reply

* Steve Maharey
Called: "Smarmy"
Response: "We're drawing a line under it and moving on from there."

* Chris Carter
"Tosser"
No comment.

* Georgina Beyer
"I have a great distrust of the man right now ... He has gone too far."

* David Cunliffe
"Nakedly ambitious"
"I don't give a bugger's toss."

* Tim Barnett
"Queer"
"When John's back I'm looking forward to meeting with him one to one."

* Damien O'Connor
"A good thinker"
"It's a good opportunity for John to redeem himself."

* Michael Cullen
"He can cut a deal..."
"Disunity is always very heavily punished in New Zealand politics."