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Rodney Hide is in trouble for backstabbing his boss at an Act
Party fundraiser.
The Act leader accused his political partner, the Prime Minister,
of being highly regarded while doing nothing.
Keeping busy on the job, John Key was launching a new whale watch
vessel in Kaikoura on Thursday.
But it seems a key political ally thinks he's actually a rather lazy Prime Minister.
During an Act fundraiser at a Christchurch hotel, a reporter overheard Hide telling breakfast guests his boss Key "doesn't do anything" yet is still highly regarded while "Act did everything and we are hated".
Hide has apologised to the Prime Minister.
"I've profusely apologised to the Prime Minister and to his cabinet colleagues and the Prime Minister has graciously accepted that. It was part of the two-way political banter that you have with party members," says Hide.
He has apologised to cabinet colleagues because he said they are too busy "with their own stuff, they're not bothered" about what he's pushing through.
Hide also gave his thoughts on getting rid of 700 bureaucrats through the Auckland super city plan, saving $66 million.
Labour deputy leader Annette King says she thinks Hide has been caught telling the truth.
"I think someone has called for him to be sacked but why would you sack someone who's been caught telling the truth?"
Key says he thinks Hide's comments were a bit of light hearted banter.
"I wouldn't take it out of context. I'm not stressed about it and I don't think anyone else should be."
While Hide feels Key doesn't actually do much, the Prime Minister has in fact been kept pretty busy lately defending his junior politicsl partner's behaviour after revelations he took his girlfriend on a 10-day international trip at the taxpayer's expense.
Key says this latest gaffe won't affect their relationship - he still thinks Hide's a good guy.
But the emergence of any more unsavoury stories may see the two no longer being best buddies.
