Peters re-submits defamation claim

New Zealand First leader Winston Peters is re-submitting papers in a defamation claim over National MP David Carter's comments in relation to the scampi inquiry.

In November, a High Court judge in Auckland struck out the defamation claim by Mr Peters, who is now Foreign Affairs Minister, against Mr Carter, who chaired the parliamentary select committee inquiry into the scampi industry.

But in a reserved decision, Justice Paterson said this "may not be the end of the matter" as Mr Peters' lawyer Brian Henry had indicated he would file an amended claim.

Mr Peters is suing TVNZ, RNZ, Mr Carter and others in relation to news items about the scampi investigation.

The action against Mr Carter related to comments he made to the media that he had received an affidavit making serious allegations about Mr Peters and had referred it to the Speaker.

The affidavit from Ross Meurant's former partner, Yvonne Dossetter, said a substantial sum of money had been paid by Simunovich companies to Mr Peters and to his then adviser Mr Meurant, so that the companies' interests would be looked after at the inquiry.

Mr Henry said at a previous court hearing that Mr Carter's comments were defamatory and implied Mr Peters was guilty of serious misconduct and that he was in contempt of Parliament.

Mr Henry said today he was "amending the wording" in papers to be filed because of a "technical" argument over the meaning of some words in the documents.

The amended papers would be relodged shortly.

- NZPA