Police documents released to NZME show Clutha-Southland MP Todd Barclay refused to cooperate with police during an investigation into allegations the 26-year-old secretly recorded staff in his electorate office.
Mr Barclay initially told the Otago Daily Times that he would co-operate fully with police if they contacted him about the allegations. But police now say Mr Barclay did not return their calls after several messages were left for him to do so.
In November 2016, Prime Minister Bill English, who was then deputy, refused to back New Zealand's youngest MP in his former electorate, after his seat was challenged by former Merrill Lynch investment banker Simon Flood.
Mr Barclay has faced several scandals in his first term since taking over the seat from Mr English in 2014, but the alleged secret recordings made in his Gore office that resulted in several long-term workers quitting their jobs was the biggest.
Police at the time laid no charges against Mr Barclay claiming there simply wasn't enough evidence to do so.
Mr Flood unsuccessfully challenged Mr Barclay for his Clutha-Southland seat following the scandal.
It's now emerged Mr English's long-time Clutha-Southland electorate agent Glenys Dickson openly clashed with Mr Barclay before he asked her to stand down despite a positive appraisal.
It is alleged Mr Barclay made secret recordings of his conversations with Ms Dickson and other staff members.
Mr Barclay has since been re-selected to stand for National in the Clutha-Southland electorate in the upcoming election.
Newshub.
