MPs reply: We didn't defame Collins

ACC Minister Judith Collins. Photo / APN

Labour MPs Andrew Little and Trevor Mallard are maintaining that they have not defamed ACC Minister Judith Collins, and say they will make that clear in responses to letters from the minister's lawyer.

Ms Collins announced last month that she would take legal action against Mr Little and fellow Labour MP Trevor Mallard, as well as Radio New Zealand, for making allegedly defamatory comments about her over the case of a leaked email about an ACC client.

Mr Little and Mr Mallard last week received letters from Morrison Kent lawyer Philip Ahern requesting that they apologise for the comments, and threatening to proceed with defamation action if they did not. They were given until yesterday to respond.

In his response, Mr Little said he had nothing to apologise for and would "not be intimidated by the continuing threat of legal proceedings".

"As an Opposition MP, I am required to hold ministers to account for their conduct and decisions," he wrote.

Mr Mallard told APNZ yesterday afternoon that he was also in the process of responding to the letter.

When asked about the case by reporters yesterday, Ms Collins repeatedly refused to comment.

The minister has continued to deny allegations from the Opposition that she or her office were responsible for leaking an email sent to her by former National Party president Michelle Boag.

Privacy Commissioner Marie Shroff is investigating how the email got to the media, and Ms Collins has told Parliament she will resign if the leak is found to have come from someone in her charge.