MP Peachey sent 'knife in back' email

Allan Peachey

An Auckland high school has complained to National Party leader Don Brash after new MP Allan Peachey sent the principal an email warning he had "a knife in your back".

Education Minister Steve Maharey has also written to Dr Brash complaining about the email he labelled inappropriate and threatening.

Mr Peachey, a first-term politician, sent an email to Selwyn College's co-principal, Carol White, declining an invitation to the school's prizegiving ceremony in his Tamaki electorate.

At the bottom of the email he wrote: "P.S. Yes, I do have a knife in your back, so be careful!"

The former Rangitoto College principal, who is National's associate education spokesman, said last night it was a mistake and he had apologised to the school.

Copies obtained by the Herald show the email was sent at 1.39pm on Thursday, November 3. A second email was sent the following morning from Mr Peachey's executive assistant, which asked that the original be disregarded. It contained the first email, but without the PS.

Mr Peachey told the Herald: " I take responsibility for it, I can't do any more than that."

Asked what he meant by the comment, he said: "I didn't, it was just a mistake. I got caught up in something - I have taken responsibility for it and apologised and I thought that would be the end of the matter."

Dr John Hinch-cliff, former vice-chancellor of Auckland University of Technology and board of trustees chairman at Selwyn, said the note sounded threatening and had upset people at the school.

Neither he nor Mr Peachey would say last night whether the email was the result of an ongoing feud. Dr Hinchcliff said he had no idea what the National MP was referring to.

Asked if there was bad blood, Mr Peachey said: "I'm not sure."

But Dr Hinchcliff said the school's liberal culture and emphasis on the arts was clearly at odds with Mr Peachey's political views.

"He came to a board meeting [before the election] and seemed very friendly. I was quite taken aback at this compared to the very friendly approach to us during the election."

The board had written to Dr Brash but had not yet had a response.

Mr Maharey said it was inappropriate for an MP to communicate with a school in that way, particularly as Mr Peachey was the associate education spokesman for the largest opposition party.

"It's not something you expect to get from any MP using power in this way, particularly someone who is in a role where they could anticipate, all plain sailing and going well, they might end up being the Minister of Education. This school would rue that day unless it can be cleared up."

Mr Peachey said he had put his hand up for the error and that should be accepted. If people wanted to make more of an issue out of the matter it was their choice, but "I don't think it is wise to do that".

"I'm not a stupid man," Mr Peachey said. "I'm aware that people were taking the opportunity to make a bit of trouble for me. But I don't think that is particularly smart."

A spokesman for Dr Brash said Mr Peachey was "moving to apologise and Don supports that course of action".

The players

Allan Peachey

* Secondary teacher-turned-politician.

* Principal at Rangitoto College from 1993 until his selection this year as National's Tamaki candidate.

* Led decile-10 Rangitoto's focus on academic and sporting excellence.

Carol White

* Co-principal at Selwyn College.

* Fosters a liberal and inclusive culture.

* Leads decile-5 college's focus on the broader aspects of school life, improving motivation, deepening social skills, increasing maturity and developing a sense of community and service.