Goff re-election a cause for celebration

Phil Goff with MPs Jacinda Ardern, Annette King and Darren Hughes. Photo / Richard Robinson

Just hours after they unanimously re-elected him at the first caucus of the year, Labour leader Phil Goff hosted his colleagues to feast on a barbecue at his Clevedon farm last night.

As well as a few hunks of meat, the feast also included a roasted lamb - but not one of the family pet lambs.

"This one is imported from elsewhere. It won't have a name," Mr Goff said.

He said the event would give Labour's MPs a chance to relax.

While Prime Minister John Key happily gets photographed at barbecues, it's a more sensitive issue for Mr Goff.

"Barbecue at Phil's" is code for leadership plotting in Labour after Mr Goff had reportedly discussed his plans to oust former Prime Minister Helen Clark when her polling was very low.