Peters on Mallard punch: enough prissy finger-pointing

Beleagured senior Cabinet Minister Trevor Mallard - under fire for punching National MP Tau Henare in the jaw - has won support from NZ First leader Winston Peters.

In a speech to the party's annual convention this morning, Mr Peters said Mr Mallard - who hit Mr Henare during an altercation in Parliament's lobby on Wednesday - should not be vilified for making "one mistake".

"Could we just have a little less of all the hectoring, lecturing, prissy, dogooder, PC, pointing-the-finger at Trevor Mallard because he made one mistake. Imagine where the ... English speaking people would be in the cause of democracy and freedom ... if [Winston] Churchill got done for one mistake. Thanks heavens people had a larger view of life then.

"I'm just saying that as a matter of precaution because I know lots of people who got into scraps - and most of them were utterly innocent and you are entitled to defend yourself instead of rushing off and saying 'please Mr Speaker, Mr Speaker, someone touched me'."

This last comment was an apparent reference to the altercation Mr Peters had with National Cabinet minister John Banks in 1997. At the time, NZ First was in coalition with National, and Mr Peters was deputy prime minister.

Mr Banks accused him of assault during the late night incident - also in the lobby - and the Speaker referred the complaint to the privileges committee. It found the evidence supported Mr Banks' claim of assault, and invited Mr Peters to apologise to Parliament, but he refused on the grounds he had already done so.

Mr Peters' remarks today come as Prime Minister Helen Clark considers Mr Mallard's future ahead of a Cabinet reshuffle next week. It is understood Mr Mallard will be demoted from the front bench and will miss out on plumb portfolios he may have been in line for.

Act leader Rodney Hide will also ask Speaker Margaret Wilson to sent Mr Mallard to the privileges committee.

Mr Peters attack on Mr Mallard's critics appeared to be as much directed at Mr Henare - who was a NZ First MP in the 1996-1999 coalition, but who stayed with National after Mr Peters was sacked as deputy prime minister.

There is obvious bad blood between the two, and Mr Peters' reference to Mr Mallard defending himself appeared to be in relation to reports Mr Henare grabbed the minister's tie before he was hit.

The fracas resulted in an unseemly struggle in which both men reportedly ended up on the floor of the lobby and had to be separated by an interpreter.

- © Fairfax NZ News