A senior member of the Exclusive Brethren has revealed the use of private detectives to dig up information about the Labour Party.
The religious sect may not vote but at least some of its members appear deeply involved in politics.
A senior member of the religious sect, Phil Win, has confirmed in a taped conversation with One News that Private Investigator Wayne Idour, and another detective, were hired to delve into the affairs of key figures in the Labour Party
When asked if he was concerned if the decision to hire PI's could come back to bite and how he would respond if it did, Win said he was "certainly concerned that it might happen. How I'd respond to that? I don't know."
Idour has denied working for the Exclusive Brethren or investigating the Labour Party, saying his only involvement was organising for a Wellington house to be checked for bugging devices, because church member Tim Lough feared he was under surveillance.
The use of detectives by the church appears to be a closely held secret even among Exclusive Brethren members themselves.
When asked if other church members knew PI's were being paid to "get whatever dirt they can on the Labour Party?" Win said:
"I'd pass on that one you understand. We are a pretty close bunch...I'm just trying to think...there is an awareness of what is going on at varying levels, I suppose, of detail."
Helen Clark says it is a sad day in New Zealand when "people feel they've got to try and put private investigators onto me and my husband."
And her husband Peter Davis has broken his silence about being dragged into the dirty politics row, with rumours questioning his sexuality.
"I'm really quite alarmed that somebodt like myself, who goes about their business and gets on with their work, is dragged into the limelight and diced and sliced by people that should know better, the media and then spat out. It's quite appalling," he told Radio New Zealand.
The Dominion Post also quotes Davis as saying he resents being dragged into the row and he is not gay.
Davis says he has not seen anyone tailing him despite reports of police, a private investigator and a media organisation watching his movements.
Clark says her husband just wants to be left alone.
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister has little comment on the reference made to her on American talkshow, The Late Show with David Letterman.
Letterman welcomed the Prime Minister of New Zealand onto the show however, instead of Helen Clark turning up, it was a leggy blonde woman.
He then used his regular Top 10 slot to ask the question "how do you know if your husband is gay."
A spokeswoman for Clark says there is no evidence the two segments were related. She says as far as the Prime Minister's concerned, they were unconnected items.
The spokeswoman says Clark's office is not taking it too seriously.
