'Rising star' adds to PM's woes

Helen Clark takes her usual lengthy swig out of a glass of water and begins her post-Cabinet conference.

At 5.30pm, it's much later than usual and the press gallery, which "unofficially" already knows the delay is because David Parker has resigned as Attorney-General, is twitchy about impending deadlines.

"Cabinet today approved the Local Government Law Reform Bill for introduction, which means a number of acts ... "

It goes on like this for several minutes.

The message is business as usual, but the grim face belies what's coming.

Finally the Prime Minister turns to the resignation statement circulating the room, which she observes has already seen some journalists "scurrying out".

She has her lines prepared and bats on, but with a hard, weary edge, accepting a mistake was made but defending the minister's honour.

The fresh-faced Parker, 46, was one of the few new MPs admitted to the Cabinet after the election, when Labour was under pressure to look revitalised.

He was credited as being a heads-down, hard-working MP without the ego which had contributed to the downfall of others, and Labour's primary concern was his ability to cope with the large number of complex portfolios it had given him.

But his work with Michael Cullen on the foreshore legislation had given the Prime Minister confidence.

He was billed by some as Labour's rising star.

Having just battened down the hatches on the David Benson-Pope furore, weathered the Whangamata storm, and under ongoing attack on election spending, it's not hard to imagine Helen Clark's mood when she was first told of the Investigate magazine claims by Newstalk ZB host Paul Holmes.

Later, seated at his desk in front of a series of trays bearing his portfolio titles - Attorney-General is still there - Mr Parker takes his turn fielding media inquiries. Cross-legged, he swings in his brown leather chair as he talks.

He's clearly crushed, but he largely keeps it together. He is "ashamed" of his "mistake" - a word that is queried several times.

He is unwilling to lay into his former business partner. "I'm not about to sling the mud." But he's still proud of himself, saying he's "done more in my life" than many others.

CREDENTIALS

* Elected Otago MP in 2002.

* Became a list MP in 2005.

* Is married with three children and lives in Dunedin.

* Was a civil litigation specialist and became partner of the South Island's biggest law firm, Anderson Lloyd.

* Co-founded the Dunedin Community Law Centre, which became a model for others.

* Moved into business and was involved in ventures ranging from forestry to cafes before moving to develop agri-biotechnology companies.