National MP Claudette Hauiti has quit Parliament in disgrace after using taxpayer money for a private trip to Australia.
After making the announcement to her colleagues she went into hiding, refusing to answer any questions.
Ms Hauiti misused her Parliamentary charge card, known as P-card. She put on it a private trip to Australia, which she says cost around $200, and there was food at a hui.
But she and the Government are refusing to answer any questions, such as exactly how much she charged to the taxpayer.
Instead, she put out a five-line statement, which said virtually nothing.
"[The Government] throws allegations about everything else, but when it comes to themselves, there's no accountability at all," says New Zealand First leader Winston Peters.
Ms Hauiti has only been in Parliament for just over a year. She replaced another disgraced MP, Aaron Gilmore.
- READ MORE: Aaron Gilmore's final speech
Ms Hauiti says she has paid the money back.
It's not her first questionable use of taxpayer funds; earlier this year she employed her civil union spouse in her Auckland office, which is against the rules.
This election, she was National's candidate in the Auckland seat of Kelston. 3 News understands her electorate committee gave her a vote of no confidence.
Ms Hauiti was essentially forced out, with National threatening if she didn't quit she would be ranked so low on the party list there would be no hope of returning after the election.
Despite the serious questions about her spending and refusal to explain them, she will remain on full pay for the nine weeks up until election day.
3 News
source: newshub archive
