An independent report into allegations against National MP Sam Uffindell has been handed to the party, with a statement on its findings expected later on Monday.
"The National Party received Maria Dew's report late last week. We expect to make a statement later today," a spokesperson said on Monday morning.
The report stems from allegations against Uffindell in August, just weeks after he took his seat in Parliament as the new Tauranga MP. He won the traditionally blue electorate in June with more than 55 percent of the vote.
Stuff reported Uffindell was asked to leave the prestigious Auckland school of King's College when he was a 16-year-old student there more than 20 years ago, after beating up a 13-year-old during a nighttime raid on a dormitory.
Uffindell contacted the victim last year to make amends, and while the victim accepted his apology, they began to question if it was genuine after Uffindell threw his name in the ring for Parliament.
While the National Party pre-selection committee was made aware of the attack ahead of Uffindell becoming the party's candidate, leader Christopher Luxon wasn't informed and Uffindell never spoke about it publicly.
At a press conference the day after the report emerged, Uffindell conceded to reporters he had been a bully at school and wasn't proud of his actions.
"I've said to my mum over the years that I look back and I don't really like that person because I did stuff that I am not proud of at all," he said.
"I was effectively a bully and I was a mean person and there will be other people at high school that I have hurt one way or another and for those people as well I just want to apologise for that. I'm not proud of it at all."
Later that evening, the National Party released a statement from Luxon saying Uffindell had been stood down from the party caucus.
That came as RNZ reported a former flatmate of Uffindell accused him of being aggressive and destroying their flat while intoxicated.
"He was smashing on my door and yelling obscenities and basically telling me to get out - 'hit the road, fatty'," she told RNZ.
"I ended up climbing out of my bedroom window and ran to a friend's house to stay the night. I feared for my safety. I was scared."
Luxon also announced National had asked for an independent investigation into the allegations.
"This evening my office became aware of very concerning accusations made to RNZ about behaviour shown by Mr Uffindell toward a female flatmate in 2003 while at university," Luxon said.
"Mr Uffindell disputes the allegations and in the interests of natural justice, an independent investigation will now be undertaken to determine the facts. While this process is underway, Mr Uffindell will be stood down from caucus."
The report was initially expected to only last two weeks, but Maria Dew KC later requested more time to finish her investigation.
