KEY POINTS:
Health Minister David Cunliffe is facing claims that he unwittingly had his house cleaned by an illegal worker during his time as Immigration Minister.
Investigate magazine yesterday released an affidavit from Chris Flavell who claimed his partner - a Mongolian woman on a student visa without a work permit - cleaned Mr Cunliffe's house for a cleaning company franchise.
Mr Cunliffe said neither he nor his household had known anything about the matter until Friday.
He could not comment further because it was an immigration matter.
Mr Cunliffe was Minister of Immigration until last week, when he became Minister of Health.
Mr Flavell said he approached Investigate magazine on Friday out of frustration that his partner's work visa application was repeatedly knocked back. He then contacted Mr Cunliffe's office to tell them he had gone to the magazine.
Mr Cunliffe rang him back and Mr Flavell told him his house had been cleaned by illegal workers, and that "in this ironic situation" he wanted help on an immigration matter.
Mr Cunliffe reportedly replied that he knew nothing about it and did not know who cleaned the house. He said he "could not help under threat" and repeated later that he could not respond to duress.
Mr Flavell's affidavit said he told Mr Cunliffe he was not trying to threaten or blackmail him, but was desperate to help his partner. He acknowledged Mr Cunliffe had no reason to know the woman was an illegal worker.
It says Mr Cunliffe cancelled his agreement with the cleaning company soon after he was told, and Mr Flavell's partner was then fired.
She is due to leave New Zealand on Wednesday.
