"Claims by Rodney Hide MP about my attendance at Parliament are utterly and completely wrong," says United Future leader, Hon Peter Dunne.

"They are based more on petty retaliation for being named on my list of Parliament's worst behaved MPs than on fact."

"According to my count, Parliament has sat for 97 days this year - I have been absent from Parliament on 8 of those days, often attending engagements outside Wellington."

"I have voted either directly or by proxy on every one of Parliament's votes this year."

"I have always ensured that when a proxy has been used on my behalf, I have left specific instructions regarding how it is to be applied."

"In addition, I have attended 28 meetings of the Finance and Expenditure Committee this year; 27 meetings of the Business Committee; 13 meetings of the MMP Review Committee; and 6 meetings of the Parliamentary Service Commission."

"I have also asked over 550 Written Questions of Ministers; 14 Oral Questions (all I am entitled to); and approximately 150 supplementary questions to Ministers in the House."

"I have made 35 speeches in the House this year, bearing in mind that speaking is allocated on a proportional basis, and I frequently do not qualify for a call in debates," Mr Dunne says.

Mr Dunne acknowledges that as the sole MP for his Party, he faces unusual pressures.

"I have to juggle my Parliamentary responsibilities; my electorate responsibilities and my Party responsibilities in a way that no other MP has to."

"Also, by the end of this week I will have attended some 349 separate engagements within my electorate for the year."

"My record on behalf of my constituents speaks for itself, and I am happy to be judged upon it," Mr Dunne says.

Ends

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