Newshub has confirmed Chris Hipkins is reconsidering MP Stuart Nash's future after allegations he discussed confidential Cabinet discussions with businesspeople.
Stuff on Tuesday night reported that Nash in 2020 emailed business figures about his disappointment at a Cabinet decision on a commercial rent relief package.
That's despite the Cabinet Manual saying that discussions at Cabinet and at Cabinet meetings are meant to be confidential.
Newshub has obtained a copy of the email. It says: "I am as annoyed (and surprised) about the final outcome of the 'commercial rent relief package' as you are."
"I should have argued much harder for this when I saw that things were changing; but without the support I thought I had, it would have been incredibly difficult."
The resulting Cabinet decision was a temporary change to the Property Law Act coupled with a $40 million arbitration fund.
"Andrew Little was always extremely keen on arbitration," Nash says in the email.
The revelation has led to renewed calls for Hipkins to sack Nash. National Party leader Christopher Luxon took to Twitter saying he needs to go.
"Stuart Nash has leaked confidential Cabinet information. The Prime Minister must finally sack him," he tweeted.
Earlier this month, Nash resigned as Police Minister after admitting he once rang the Police Commissioner to suggest he appeal a court judgement. That's a breach of the Cabinet Manual as ministers aren't meant to comment on or involve themselves in prosecutions or sentencing.
A day later, it emerged Nash had also once nearly faced a contempt charge after going on the radio and saying the killer of slain police officer Matthew Hunt should receive a lengthy sentence. The Solicitor-General ended up recommending the Attorney-General give Nash a telling-off.
But it didn't end there, with Prime Minister Hipkins then demoting Nash and placing him on a final warning after it came to light that Nash had used inappropriate processes to advocate on an immigration case.
"However it is also clear in his pattern of behaviour that Stuart is not acting to achieve personal gain from his actions," Hipkins said last week. "The cases in question represent more his desire to get things done in his portfolios and on behalf of his communities."
