By Elizabeth Puranam
Labour MP Darren Hughes has resigned from Parliament while police investigate allegations of a sexual nature from an 18-year-old male.
Today two people told 3 News they saw a man who fits the description of the complainant naked and trying to hitch a ride in the Wellington suburb of Haitaitai on the morning of the incident.
Mr Hughes had been offering to resign for three days but his leader Phil Goff refused to accept it until this evening.
But should Phil Goff have acted earlier?
Mr Goff called a last-minute press conference this evening to announce the end of one of his most promising MP's careers.
“Ladies and gentlemen, I've spoken to Darren Hughes this afternoon and he has informed me that he will be resigning from Parliament,” Mr Goff said. “The controversy around the complaint made against him has made it increasingly impossible for him to carry out his public duties.”
The complaint is by an 18-year-old first year university student; it followed a night out drinking at Wellington bars.
That night is alleged to have ended badly back at Labour's deputy leader Annette King's home, where Mr Hughes lives.
It's understood the student left on foot in the early hours of March 2.
3 News spoke to two witnesses who say they saw a man matching the student's description, standing completely naked on the road.
They didn't want to appear on camera, but provided 3 News with a statement saying:
“He was standing there with one hand over his private parts and the other hand with his thumb out, hitch hiking.
“I thought, ‘oh boy, the husband's come home and it's a quick exit’."
Mr Hughes maintains his innocence, despite his resignation.
“I take him at his word that he's done nothing against the law, but it will be a case of judgement that's led to the complaint,” Mr Goff told Campbell Live tonight.
Mr Goff has known about the complaint for two and a half weeks and political commentators say he should have acted earlier.
“It's a test of leadership,” says Matt McCarten. “He's had two weeks, two weeks, to work this out.
“This is all reacting in a panicky way which starts to raise the questions about him.”
Kiwiblog editor David Farrar says the political side is over for Mr Hughes, but not for Phil Goff.
“Because this resignation was offered two weeks ago and people are going to be saying why didn't he accept the resignation two weeks ago?”
Judith Tizzard is next on Labour's list to replace Mr Hughes, but couldn't be reached today.
3 News spoke with former members of the Labour Party tonight who said this is a very sad day for Mr Hughes.
The party's former president Mike Williams selected Mr Hughes as a candidate and said this is the end of a very promising MP and called it a “human tragedy”.
3 News