Key says he should have been told of brothel at MP's house

Kanwal Bakshi, part-owner of the property that was being used as a brothel. Photo / Dean Purcell

Prime Minister John Key says he isn't seriously worried about one of his MPs being part-owner of a house that was used as a brothel, but he should have been told about it.

First-term list MP Kanwal Bakshi has said the tenants were evicted, as soon as he found out the Mt Eden house was being used as a brothel.

But he didn't tell Mr Key, and MPs are supposed to alert the prime minister if they are in any sort of trouble.

"It's a bit of a stretch to say an MP is responsible for somebody else's actions," Mr Key said on NewstalkZB this morning.

"He was part-owner of a house that was rented in January, apparently some people started using it as a brothel, I assume it was unlicensed.

"He possibly should have mentioned it to my office but he's a new MP and I guess he didn't see it as a political issue."

Mr Key said he would "have a chat" to caucus tomorrow about informing his office about anything which might blow up into an issue.

Mr Bakshi told the Herald on Sunday he was shocked when he found out about the house being used as a brothel.

"I didn't expect anything like that...within three weeks the property was vacated," he said.

- NZPA