KEY POINTS:
The stress of question time should not be underestimated - just ask Health Minister David Cunliffe.
Emerging from a tense exchange in the House with National's Tony Ryall yesterday, Mr Cunliffe walked straight to a blood pressure test in the Beehive to promote World Kidney Day.
The 44-year-old New Lynn MP revealed as he took his seat for the test that he has a regular six-monthly cardio check and historically has had good blood pressure readings of around 126 over 70.
But perhaps Mr Ryall got to Mr Cunliffe because he discovered yesterday his blood pressure was somewhat higher than usual at 136 over 78.
"Borderline," was the quick verdict, and Mr Cunliffe received a piece of paper describing his reading as "satisfactory" with "no action required".
The rise from his usual reading prompted quick-witted observers to ask if it might be due to recent events at the Hawkes Bay District Health Board, which Mr Cunliffe sacked two weeks ago in an action that has prompted a backlash in the region.
But an outwardly non-stressed Mr Cunliffe was told by kidney health staff that a variety of factors could have contributed, and to get a decent feel for his health it would be best to do another test later on.
The blood pressure test was offered to MPs and staff at Parliament yesterday to draw attention to kidney disease, which is estimated to affect more than than 190,000 people chronically in New Zealand.
Finance Minister Michael Cullen was another visitor to the test seat yesterday, and he said later he was "happy" with his reading.
