Prime Minister accused of brain fade over drinking age

Photo / Mark Mitchell

Prime Minister John Key is being accused of having a brain fade when making his latest comments on how he voted on the drinking age.

Mr Key has came under fire over his inability to remember when he was told of the Government Communication Security Bureau (GCSB) surveillance of Kim Dotcom.

He does not remember mentioning Dotcom in a speech to GCSB staff, despite Labour Party claims he did.

Mr Key's memory has come under fire again after he told reporters on Wednesday he voted to keep the minimum age for liquor purchases in off-licence premises at 18.

Mr Key told reporters on Wednesday he voted for the age to be raised to 20, when he voted for it to remain at 18.

He was asked for his response to a poll finding 57 per cent of people thought Parliament got it wrong by keeping the status quo on the drinking age.

He responded by saying he wasn't surprised by that result, which is why he had voted to raise the age to 20.

Mr Key first voted for the age to be split, so 18-year-olds could drink in bars but only those aged 20 or over could purchase alcohol at off-licences.

When that option failed, Mr Key voted for the age to stay at 18, instead of being raised to 20.

Mr Key cast his vote by proxy while he was at the Pacific Islands Forum in the Cook Islands.

Labour's deputy leader, Grant Robertson, said Mr Key either had "brain fades'' or he had not told the truth.

"I think New Zealanders deserve a bit better than that from the Prime Minister.''

Green Party co-leader Russel Norman said is appeared Mr Key "can't remember anything''.

He said it was almost like he had a "stunt double''.