Suppression order in Darren Hughes case

File photo / NZH

The High Court has ordered media not to name the complainant at the centre of the Darren Hughes' controversy.

Mr Hughes, a Labour MP, resigned from Parliament last week after a sexual complaint against him was made public.

Named in the court document were media organisations Fairfax, APN, TVNZ, Mediaworks and bloggers Danyl McLauchlan and David Farrar.

Justice Robert Dobson said that the complainant's identity had not yet been revealed but there were concerns it would be.

"Once A's identity is published in any form, it will most likely be pointless to thereafter attempt any constraint on publication of his name in any context."

The man's identity was not a matter of public interest but the matter could be looked at again if charges were not laid against Mr Hughes.

While proceedings targeted six defendants, Justice Dobson said anyone who knew of the order was covered by it.

- NZPA