Labour is calling on Deputy Prime Minister and NZ First leader Winston Peters to apologise for naming a public servantin a statement found to be contrary to Parliament’s rules.

Speaker of the House Gerry Brownlee today addressed the House to explain when MPs could make personal explanations, which were most commonly used by MPs to correct misleading statements or to defend their reputation.

Brownlee ruled the explanations could not be used to “attack or criticise” other MPs or people outside the House.

“To do so is an abuse of the process,” he said.

Deputy Prime Minister and NZ First leader Winston Peters is being called on to apologise for naming a public servant in the House. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Last month, Peters used a personal statement to target Labour’s health spokeswoman Dr Ayesha Verrall and claimed a Ministry of Health stafferwho had worked with Minister Casey Costello’s office was Verrall’s relative, alleging the conflict of interest hadn’t been appropriately managed.

The Ministry of Health later apologised that it hadn’t declared the conflict to Costello.

Following Brownlee’s ruling today, Labour’s Kieran McAnulty asked whether Peters’ statement abused the rules. Brownlee replied: “It did not represent the intention of the Speakers’ rulings in this matter, would be a better way to put it.”

Associate Health Minister Casey Costello was apologised to by the Ministry of Health over the conflict issue. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Labour leader Chris Hipkins said Peters should apologise to the ministry staffer he named and to the House for “misusing the rules”.

“Parliament has standards, and Winston Peters fell well short of those,” he said.

“The person he has accused of wrongdoing cannot speak back, is part of a politically neutral public service and has declared the conflict of interest.”

The Herald has requested a response from Peters’ office.

In the days following his statement, Peters alleged there were links between leaks from Costello’s office and Verrall’s sister-in-law. He did not provide evidence, which the Herald also requested today.

Hipkins said he had been assured by Verrall no leaks had occurred.

“Winston Peters has no evidence of wrongdoing, because there isn’t any.”