Miscreant MP of the hour John Tamihere has emerged from the Labour Party caucus this morning, apparently set to live yet another day.

Mr Tamihere was escorted into the caucus this morning by Maori Affairs Minister Parekura Horomia. He emerged roughly 15 minutes later censured, cowed, but seemingly having been given yet another chance by his fellow caucus members.

According to reports Mr Tamihere will be continuing for a while on his stress leave before returning to the Labour Party back benches, where he is expected to keep his head down till the general election.

Tamihere was told yesterday by the PM not to attend today's caucus after revelations in the Sunday Papers concerning previously un-published quotes from his infamous interview with Investigate Magazine.

However he decided to attend the caucus anyway, and place himself at the mercy of his colleagues.

There has been considerable speculation over the past 24 hours that the Labour Party was actively seeking a resignation from Mr Tamihere, and if one was not forthcoming, that the party might consider deselecting him.

With this morning's developments that speculation appears to now be over.

ENDS

© Scoop Media

Alastair Thompson

Scoop Editor & General Manager

Alastair Thompson is the Editor and co-founder of Scoop. He is of Scottish and Irish extraction and from Wellington, New Zealand. A journalist with 24 years experience at the Dominion, National Business Review, North & South magazine, Straight Furrow newspaper and online since 1997. He is the winner of several journalism awards for business and investigative work.

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