Barclay on indefinite leave and off the radar

Where is Clutha-Southland Member of Parliament Todd Barclay?

The last confirmed sighting is a pub in Queenstown, on Monday afternoon.

More than two weeks ago, the disgraced MP announced he would not seek re-election for the National stronghold he represents following a scandal over a recording he allegedly made of a staff member.

Police have announced they are investigating hte incident.

Since then Barclay has continued to receive his $160,000 annual parliamentary pay.

However, he has not made a single official public appearance and has taken leave from Parliament – though the National Party could not say when he would return.

He has been spotted at his home in Arrowtown but when Stuff reporters called, there was no response. He has not answered phone calls from reporters.

It was widely anticipated he would accompany Prime Minister Bill English when the party’s leader is scheduled to speak at the Property Institute of New Zealand conference in Queenstown on June 29 – as he usually does when a minister visits the electorate in an official capacity. English’s flight was cancelled due to poor weather and there was no sign of Barclay.

On Monday, Barclay was spotted taking a phone call outside the Pig and Whistle, in Queenstown. A reporter approached him for comment and was told several times that he was ‘‘not going to be speaking to anybody’’ and he was ‘‘taking a bit of a break’’. The MP then disappeared back inside the pub.

On Wednesday morning, he did not appear at the Education and Science Committee, of which is deputy chairman, in Wellington.

After a request for an interview that same day, Barclay texted a message advising the reporter to email questions to his media and communications adviser, Rebecca Ryan.

Phone calls to National Party Southern Region chairwoman Rachel Bird have not been answered.

On Friday, Ryan responded by email saying Barclay was ‘‘definitely back to work and focussed on serving his constituents across Clutha-Southland. He remains the MP until the 2017 Election and, until then, he is committed and passionate about remaining actively engaged in issues, looking out for the people of CluthaSouthland’s interests and advocating on their behalf’’.

A spokeswoman for Prime MInister Bill English referred questions about Barclay’s leave to the party’s whips, who are responsible for granting MPs leave

National senior whip Jami-Lee Ross said Barclay ‘‘had been away for the last couple of weeks, and we are in close contact’’.

Up to a quarter of a party’s MPs can be absent from Parliament and have their votes counted.

‘‘I’m sure we’ll come to an arrangement with him as to when he returns. I can’t give you that date though,’’ Ross said.

He said Barclay had indicated, when he announced he was stepping down at the election, that he was ‘‘very keen to continue being the MP for Clutha-Southland’’.

‘‘I think it’s quite reasonable that after the week that he had that he took some personal time out, and I support him in that as the party whip,’’ Ross said.

‘‘We are in close contact and we’ll be continuing to talk about the next four weeks of sitting and what happens there.’’

Ross said he knew Barclay was in his electorate because he had spoken to him, but asked if he was working in the seat, Ross said: ‘‘I do not ask all the MPs what they are doing in their electorate’’.

He said it was usual for MPs to have leave from Parliament doing ministerial work, parliamentary work or for personal reasons. ‘‘It’s very normal.’’