Tamihere emerges after yesterday's debacle

Despite instructions from his party bosses to take a week off and keep a low profile after yesterday's very public name-calling uproar, Labour MP John Tamihere was on air on his regular Tuesday morning slot "the week in politics" with Paul Holmes on Newstalk ZB today.

Mr Tamihere's outspoken comments on many of his fellow Labour MPs were published in the April edition of Investigate magazine, following a lunchtime interview with the publication's editor, Ian Wishart.  Mr Tamihere was yesterday called to account at the Beehive for his comments.

Mr Tamihere insisted to Paul Holmes this morning that he had been unaware that a recording device was on during his lunch with the well-known journalist.

Prime Minister Helen Clark's stance on the issue has taken an about-face from blaming Mr Tamihere's indiscretions on "a liquid lunch", after Wishart asserted the politician had consumed no more than a single glass of wine. Helen Clark is now referring to the amount of stress her rebel MP has been under, according to National's Katherine Rich, who shares the Tamihere interview slot on the popular breakfast radio programme.

"Congratulations to John for unmasking a lot of the problems within the Labour party ranks", said Mrs Rich.

During the radio programme, Mr Tamihere repeatedly tried to swing the conversation away from himself and on to other matters, "such as the Warriors playing well and the Blues getting their season back on track".

- HERALD ONLINE STAFF