Don Brash MP
National Party Leader

20 November 2006

Destruction of emails 'staggering'

National Party Leader Don Brash is staggered that the Foreign Minister has claimed that his staff destroyed evidence that was subject to a police inquiry - after the police investigation had begun.

"Mr Peters has today admitted being in possession of stolen emails, but now claims that staff destroyed the emails when they found out a police inquiry was underway.

"This shows a serious lack of respect for the legal process by the office of one of our most senior law makers.

"And now Mr Peters is asking the public to accept that he played no part in the decision to destroy this evidence. I find that hard to believe.

"Remember, this is material that Mr Peters said would 'blow their heads off'. He repeatedly made extravagant claims about the contents of the emails.

"Yet today, he appears to be saying that his staff didn't bother to consult him before destroying material that their leader had bragged about over a number of months. That is just incredible and Mr Peters needs to come clean."

Dr Brash says anyone holding his stolen e-mails should turn them over to the court. The police investigation into the theft of the emails is continuing.

ENDS

© Scoop Media