New Zealand First MP Shane Jones is thanking fellow MPs for "coming to his aid" as he was taken to Wellington hospital from Parliament in an ambulance.
Jones, the Minister for Regional Economic Development, felt unwell and lightheaded in Parliament on Wednesday, New Zealand First leader Winston Peters told reporters.
Jones' office said in a statement the minister "felt light-headed this afternoon and was taken to hospital as a precaution... He is suffering from exhaustion but is otherwise fine".
Jones has thanked National MP Shane Reti and fellow NZ First MP Jenny Marcroft who "came to his aid". He has also "thanked people for their good wishes".
Dr Reti, MP for Whangarei, is the National Party's tertiary education spokesperson and is understood to be the only practising doctor in Parliament.
Marcroft is New Zealand First's spokesperson for health, human rights, conservation and environment, among others.
Peters, the Deputy Prime Minister, said he suspected 60-year-old Jones was overworked.
"The fact is, he's worked every day for the last month... so I think it might be a case of exhaustion," Peters said. "I don't want to rush to judgment at this point in time."
Wellington Free Ambulance confirmed one patient in a moderate condition was transferred from Parliament to Wellington hospital Wednesday afternoon.
Peters said Jones has no underlying health issues, but said Jones had felt "faint".
"If you work long hours, this can happen."
He said Jones had seen a doctor, telling reporters: "I know what it's like to be way up north with enormous travel... He just felt lightheaded."
Jones, a list MP for New Zealand First, is based in Kerikeri, a town in Northland. He celebrated his 60th birthday at his home there in September.
The minister appeared on The AM Show on Wednesday morning and appeared to be well.
As Minister for Regional Economic Development, Jones has overseen the $3 billion Provincial Growth Fund, of which more than $1 billion has gone into KiwiRail and the One Billion Trees programme.
On The AM Show, Jones reflected on 2019, shutting down criticism of the PGF and praising Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern for kick-starting the Ports of Auckland relocation.
The minister is due to make an announcement on Thursday about the future of the ports, after the Prime Minister confirmed that Cabinet is in agreement it "is not viable" for the North Island's main port to remain in Auckland.
Reflecting on the year that's been, Jones described himself to Duncan Garner, host of The AM Show, as a "robust, colourful politician".
"I don't get it right all the time but during the course of the year I've held the flag, hoisted it, and it's flown... robustly."
Jones has been a Member of Parliament since 2005. He was a Labour MP until 2014 and from 2017 represented New Zealand First.
