Maori Party co-leaders free to support Field, says Key

The Maori Party co-leaders wrote letters of support for Taito Phillip Field, saying he was a man of integrity who had made a major contribution to his community and pleading for it to be taken into account in his sentencing.

TV3 yesterday obtained the letters of support Pita Sharples and Tariana Turia had written to the High Court before Field's sentencing on Tuesday.

The former MP received six years in prison for bribery and corruption and obstructing the course of justice.

The letters were on parliamentary letterhead and sent as MPs and co-leaders rather than in their capacity as ministers.

Yesterday, Prime Minister John Key said the pair were free to do soas Maori Party co-leaders but itwould have been "wholly inappropriate" to send them in their capacity as ministers. He had not knownthat they were writing the letters.

"There are long-standing relationships we need to accept are out there and people have a different perspective on issues or at least want to speak about their experiences with an individual. They are free to doso."

Field was the first person to be convicted of such charges for his actions while an MP and Mr Key has said the convictions reflected badly on the integrity of Parliament.

In her letter, Mrs Turia said she held Field "in the highest esteem" and that he was held in high regard by Pacific peoples.

In his letter, Dr Sharples urged the court to take account of Field's "lifelong service to his community and the country, the sacrifices involved and his potential contribution into the future".