KEY POINTS:
Prime Minister Helen Clark accused the Serious Fraud Office of leaking that it was going to investigate the Winston Peters donations controversy even though she got a tip about it herself.
Helen Clark yesterday accused the SFO of "leaking to the Opposition", giving National leader John Key the strategic advantage of politically divorcing Mr Peters 24 hours before the investigation was announced on Thursday.
After a denial from the SFO, she included the police and Crown Law as possible leaks, saying Mr Key's timing "wasn't coincidental".
"There's some who are inclined to look at the move and say 'how brilliant'. Not so brilliant if you got some kind of tip," she said.
But Helen Clark was also tipped off on Wednesday by Deputy Prime Minister Michael Cullen - who had learned of the impending investigation in his capacity as Attorney-General.
She said she was told late on Wednesday, after Mr Key held a press conference saying a National government he formed was highly unlikely to work with Mr Peters.
A spokesman for Dr Cullen said he told Helen Clark because of the Government's "no surprises" policy, not because of any constitutional requirement. Dr Cullen was informed during his weekly meeting with Solicitor-General David Collins.
Helen Clark chose not to inform Mr Peters, her Minister of Foreign Affairs, her spokeswoman said. Mr Peters has said he heard about it from the radio.
Helen Clark told TV One's Breakfast programme it was "almost certain" the SFO leaked to Mr Key.
She later told reporters "word had seeped out", the police and Crown Law were also in the loop, and she had learned there were rumours going round since Tuesday.
SFO director Grant Liddell is likely to have consulted Mr Collins, the Government's chief legal adviser, who is subject only to Dr Cullen. Mr Liddell was the Acting Deputy Solicitor-General before moving to the SFO last year. The law requires Mr Liddell to notify Police Commissioner Howard Broad when "assuming" an investigation.
A Crown Law spokeswoman, who confirmed Mr Collins was involved, said he "absolutely did not leak to the National Party, or anyone else for that matter".
