PM taking advice on spy claims

Helen Clark

Prime Minister Helen Clark says she has not ruled out taking legal action following claims by private investigators hired by the Exclusive Brethren to follow her, her husband and Cabinet ministers.

Private detective Lew Proctor claimed at the weekend he was paid by the Exclusive Brethren to spy on Miss Clark and her husband Peter Davis.

He told the Herald on Sunday the investigation was continuing, and hinted that politically explosive information would be revealed this week.

Another private investigator, Wayne Idour, sub-contracted by Mr Proctor, said today he was still investigating "certain people".

He told TV3 the main focus of his inquiries was "corruption" but he did not want to specify what he meant by that.

"One of the things that has come to light is hush money's been paid."

Mr Idour also told TV One he had information that needed to be looked at "by other authorities".

Miss Clark said today the claims were "bizarre" and the allegations lacked any credibility.

"I know of nothing which would give their claims any basis," she said at her post-Cabinet press conference.

Asked about her options, Miss Clark hinted she might take legal action.

She said her security was in the hands of police and she also had her private rights as a citizen.

"I consider the claims incredible, extraordinary, bizarre and I'm taking advice on it.

"I believe these people have no credibility. I invite you to look at their record. The claims they are making I consider bizarre."

The private investigators were being paid by her political opponents, she said.

"They have identified the Exclusive Brethren as clients.

"...I consider it a new low in political life to have political opponents paying to have me, my spouse, other Labour ministers followed in this way. I think it's a bizarre, extraordinary, unfortunate, regrettable development in New Zealand life."

Miss Clark said she had been warned the Exclusive Brethren had hired private investigators to follow herself and her husband.

"We can't say that we personally saw anyone follow us but I suppose part of their trade, their obnoxious trade, is to ensure that we weren't aware of that".

Other ministers also were not aware of being followed.

Miss Clark said earlier today it was "pretty creepy" to hear claims she was being followed by private detectives.

Mr Proctor, a former police detective sergeant, also criticised the Diplomatic Protection Squad (DPS) responsible for Miss Clark's safety.

He claimed the DPS officers never knew she was being followed, and were "lazy".

Miss Clark today rejected his criticism.

"For seven years I've had the protection of the DPS, they've done a wonderful job and I'm not prepared to see them pilloried by someone who at this point has shown no credibility at all."

The leader of the Exclusive Brethren in New Zealand, Greg Mason, has denied that the church itself hired private investigators but he has not said individual members of the sect are not involved.

The Brethren ran a $500,000 campaign against Labour and the Greens in the runup to last year's election in a bid to get a National government, led by Don Brash, in power.

The religious sect is also accused of trying to influence minor parties during government-forming negotiations after the election.

Meanwhile, Miss Clark today said she was sorry if people took offence at her description of Dr Brash as "cancerous" but she believed they were misinterpreting the word.

Miss Clark two weeks ago described Dr Brash as "cancerous and corrosive", highlighting what she called his divisive racial politics, evidenced by his Orewa race-relations speech, and his association with the Exclusive Brethren.

A poll last week found that 73.6 per cent of voters felt Miss Clark's comments were "not okay".

Asked about the comment today, the prime minister said she was "sorry if people have taken offence".

"But clearly it is not a description one applies to people with cancer and I think people should consult their dictionaries."

- REUTERS