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Cabinet minister Trevor Mallard has been advised by the Prime Minister to get anger management counselling after his fight at parliament with National MP Tau Henare.
The embattled Sports Minister also seems likely to be demoted in
Wednesday's cabinet reshuffle.
But right now, Mallard is being advised to get some help with his
temper.
"It's very important that he becomes a good example of what
happens when people do these things and undertakes to get some
support around dealing with the pressures which caused him to react
in the way that he did," says Helen Clark.
Clark says Mallard's actions last week were out-of-character for a
man who has made a huge contribution to the government.
She says he has been in a very stressed situation and there is nothing shameful about getting support.
The red carpet was laid out for the visiting President of Ireland on Monday but it was a very different offer for Mallard.
While Clark paraded her ministerial line up to the visiting head
of state she's also been mulling over Mallard's future.
"There have to be a lot of factors weighed up around issues like
this and the outcome of that weighing up will be advised on
Wednesday," she says.
That is when Clark reshuffles her cabinet and she will be conscious that if Mallard stays on as a minister, despite his punch up with Tau Henare in parliament's lobby last week, that could take the focus away from Labour's goal of rejuvenation.
Ministers expecting promotion include David Parker and David Cunliffe.
Clayton Cosgrove is also expected to be rewarded and Darren Hughes could go up from junior whip to a minister outside cabinet.
Damien O'Connor is expected to lose Corrections and Rick Barker
may find he is also given a lesser role.
Some in Labour also feel Jim Anderton should give up his front
bench slot.
The reshuffle will be signed off on Wednesday but all that is being confirmed about Mallard's future is that he will get help.
"I'm absolutely certain he will be seeking some support," says Clark.
Clark has been playing a crafty game over last five days since the incident happened. She has never ruled out dropping Mallard from cabinet, buying herself some time before making a difficult decision.
Weighing up whether his skills as a tough and loyal colleague are valuable enough to weather the flak she will get for keeping him on.
