Private eyes may be targeted as revelations continue

A private investigator on Friday admitted spying on Helen Clark. Picture / Mark Mitchell

Prime Minister Helen Clark is considering an inquiry into the private investigators who have been snooping into the lives - and rubbish bins - of politicians.

It comes after a string of allegations of spying done on both Labour and National MPs, including rifling through garbage and following Clark's husband, Peter Davis.

Dunedin private detective Wayne Idour admitted on Friday he had spied on Clark and Davis for the Exclusive Brethren. Idour said he had also collected information on Deputy Prime Minister Michael Cullen and Cabinet ministers David Benson-Pope and David Parker.

He then claimed that Labour had also hired private investigators to follow Brash and National deputy leader John Key. Labour denies the allegation.

National leader Don Brash yesterday admitted further contact with the Exclusive Brethren, saying he had met them once formally since the election. But he also believes he has met other members of the secretive church at political rallies.

Brash says there is no difference meeting the Exclusive Brethren than any other church. "Short of anyone saying I don't believe in your god, or I don't believe in your prayers, there's not a lot I can do about this."

On the formal meeting he said: "There was no plotting, planning or scheming done."

The admission has led to Labour's Pete Hodgson again calling for Brash to quit for not cutting ties with the sect.