Migrants did Field work 'as thanks for accommodation'

A former MP on trial over alleged bribery and corruption told the Queen's Counsel appointed to look into claims against him that Thai immigrants who worked on his Wellington home did so because they were grateful for letting them stay there - and not because he assisted one of them with a work permit.

In a statement to Noel Ingram, QC, Taito Phillip Field - at the time the MP for Mangere - said he had written to then associate immigration minister Damian O'Connor about a work permit being sought by a woman who came to his office, Phisamai Phottisarn.

Dr Ingram was ordered by then Prime Minister Helen Clark to investigate allegations of wrongdoing in what became known as the Ingram Inquiry.

He interviewed Field at the start of his inquiry into whether the MP helped people with immigration matters in return for work at his properties.

In the High Court, Field is defending 12 counts of bribery and corruption as an MP and 23 of wilfully obstructing or perverting the course of justice.

Mr O'Connor was prepared to grant Mrs Phottisarn a temporary two-month work permit. Field wrote to the Immigration Service and later got his secretary to write to Mr O'Connor's secretary to inquire about delays in the permit.

He couldn't recall doing anything more and assumed it had been successful because she stayed in the country.

His wife, Maxine Field, got to know Mrs Phottisarn and agreed when the Thai woman asked her if she and some friends could stay at their Wellington house while they holidayed there. Field told the QC that's when they offered to do odd jobs around the property.