New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark announced on Friday that Winston Peters has stepped down as foreign minister and other ministerial portfolios.
Clark told a press conference in Auckland that she would take over the foreign minister role and his other portfolios.
Clark made the announcement following her meeting with Peters, who also serves as New Zealand First party leader, at a private residence in Auckland on Friday afternoon.
They discussed Peters' future in Cabinet, following the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) announcing it has launched an investigation into donations made to New Zealand First.
Clark told reporters that Peters will return to his roles as Foreign and Racing Minister if he is cleared by the SFO.
Clark said Peters had asked her and she had agreed to be acting minister in each of his portfolios.
The NZ First party leader was Foreign Affairs, Racing and Associate Senior Citizens Minister outside Cabinet under his party's support agreement with the government.
He was at the center of controversy regarding donations to his party and the SFO on Thursday announced an investigation on New Zealand First party.
"It is to be hoped that the SFO will address these matters expeditiously," Clark said. "Peters is offering his total cooperation to the SFO and the first meeting between his lawyers and the Office will take place on Saturday morning."
Clark said Peters had not had a chance yet to give his side to the SFO and would open all relevant books and documents which she thought would help it progress quickly.
On Wednesday, New Zealand's privileges committee released letters from Peters and billionaire Owen Glenn. Glenn said Peters solicited a 100,000 NZ dollars (70,000 U.S. dollars) donation from him and then thanked him for it in 2006. Peters denied this, saying he thanked Glenn in July 2008 after being told of the donation by his lawyer.
On Thursday, Clark revealed that Glenn had told her his version of events on Feb. 21 but that Peters had assured her that New Zealand First had not received a donation from the businessman.
On Thursday evening, the SFO announced it has sufficient information to launch an investigation into the fate of donations to New Zealand First party.
Source:Xinhua
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