Green MP Julie Anne Genter has been referred to the Privileges Committee in relation to her outburst in Parliament last week.
Genter has been accused of threatening and intimidating National Minister Matt Doocey after she yelled in his face during a debate in the House on Wednesday night.
Speaker of the House Gerry Brownlee said on Tuesday he had referred the matter to the Privileges Committee.
When asked whether Genter is likely to lose her transport portfolio, Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson said "no, not at all".
"She is one of this country's most experienced and passionate MPs when it comes to transport," Davidson said.
"What is important is she knows the action in the House was wrong and she is accepting a process to be able to provide support so that this may never happen again."
Last year, when National MP Tim van de Molen was referred to the Committee for threatening Labour MP Shanan Halbert, Christopher Luxon stood him down from all his National portfolios.
Davidson said they can't parallel what other MPs have done.
"We've deemed it appropriate that we are having disciplinary action which will be confidential as we work that out," she said.
The Privileges Committee investigates allegations that members of the House have acted improperly or taken advantage of the special rights and exemptions from general law known as parliamentary privilege.
A question of privilege is raised by an MP making a complaint to the Speaker.
On Thursday, Speaker Gerry Brownlee confirmed multiple parties had made a complaint over Genter's outburst in the House.
Genter had until midday Monday to respond to the complaints before Brownlee decided whether to refer Genter to the Privilege Committee.
The Privilege Committee will investigate the matter and make recommendations to the House, which then decides whether to adopt the recommendation.
This is the fourth scandal to hit the Green Party in less than a year.
Last year, Dr Elizabeth Kerekere quit the party after bullying allegations surfaced about her behaviour towards other Green Party MPs, staff and members.
Then, at the start of this year, Golriz Ghahraman resigned after she was caught shoplifting. She has since pleaded guilty to four counts of shoplifting in Auckland District Court.
Darleen Tana has been stood down pending an investigation after her husband's company was accused of migrant exploitation.
Genter has been an MP for 13 years, serving as a minister during the Labour-NZ First Coalition Government, when the Greens entered into a confidence and supply agreement.
She is currently the Green Party spokesperson for seven portfolios and is a member of the Transport and Infrastructure Select Committee.
The outburst
The outburst occurred as Labour's Rachel Boyack was asking the Transport Minister about projects in the South Island, expressing concern that there were only a small number planned in the South.
In particular, she was asking about a delay in the Hope Bypass when Doocey, the Associate Minister for Transport, interjected.
It is not clear what Doocey said, however, in response Genter got up out of her seat and approached him with a book, slammed it down on his desk, and started yelling and waving her arms at him.
Deputy Speaker Barbara Kuriger interrupted, demanding Genter go back to her seat.
"We are just going to have some order here, sorry Rachel Boyack, we will have order. We know that transport is one of those touchy subjects but if we want to get the best out of the minister, interjections are fine but it would be good if we could just ask the questions and let the minister answer them," Kuriger said.
"It is not appropriate to get out of one's seat to have an argument with someone on the other side."
Boyack then continued with her question, however, the matter was later brought to Speaker Brownlee's attention by National's chief whip Scott Simpson who asked Brownlee to be recalled to the House.
Brownlee said it was not appropriate for any MP to stand on the floor of Parliament and called Genter to speak, who apologised for her actions.
"That is why, Mr Speaker, I'm apologising, that I was physically intimidating. That was not my intention and I will not do that in the future."
Further allegations against Genter
Since Genter's outburst in Parliament, further allegations of inappropriate behaviour against the MP have surfaced.
Newshub revealed Genter allegedly put a camera in the face of a Wellington florist while the pair were having a heated exchange about a cycleway installed in front of the business – removing car parks outside of her shop.
"She was very intimidating. She pulled out her phone, she put the phone camera right in my face and I was like 'Okay, you need to leave now' and then she started yelling and screaming over me that I didn't care about her kids cycling," Four Seasons Florist owner Laura Newcombe said.
Another business owner claims she was grabbed by the politician when she went to discuss the negative impacts transport changes under the Golden Mile project would have on her business.
"She really bristled and got quite defensive and then she tried to walk away from any responsibility and say 'I'm not in power anymore, it's not my doing'. And that's when she grabbed my arm," Nicola Cranfield said.
"I was really scared. I'm quite petite. Yeah, I was quite rattled afterwards."
Meanwhile, Wellington Regional Councillor Simon Woolf claims Genter approached him inappropriately on two occasions. One, when he was the photographer at an event, and the second when he was at an awards ceremony for his mother.
He alleges the MP was in his face and very animated.
"It was unfortunate, and it was unexpected, and it was certainly inappropriate," he said.
"She's very very forceful and very very passionate. And unfortunately, some of that passion, she gets carried away and it crosses the line."
