User talk:Hon Peter Dunne/sandbox

Resignation and reinstatement ==== In mid-2013 Dunne refused to hand over all 86 emails between himself and Fairfax journalist Andrea Vance relating to the inquiry into the leaking of Rebecca Kitteridge's GCSB report following its illegal spying on Kim Dotcom. John Key told Dunne that if he would not co-operate with the inquiry he would have to resign his ministerial positions - which he did on 7 June. In December 2013 Parliament's powerful Privileges Committee found that Mr Dunne was entirely within his rights to decline the Henry Inquiry access to his emails. It further described the actions of the Henry Inquiry as "unacceptable", "mystifying" and "unprecedented". The committee found "failure at many levels", particularly as to why the Speaker of the House was not consulted, or at least informed, about the requests and information releases. 

On 28 January 2014, he was reinstated as Minister of Internal Affairs, Associate Minister of Health, and Associate Minister of Conservation. He retained his portfolios on 29 September 2014 after he signed his third confidence and supply agreement with National Party leader, John Key In December 2014 the Chief Ombudsman ruled that the emails did not contain official information and were therefore not required to be released.

Party registration status
On 31 May 2013 the New Zealand Electoral Commission de-registered the United Future Party at their request, following concerns the party no longer had the requisite 500 members. This meant Dunne was no longer the leader of a political party and was denied more than $180,000 in funding he had previously been allocated as a party leader. The Electoral Commission re-registered United Future as a political party on 13 August 2013. The Speaker of the House, David Carter, restored Dunne's position as leader of a recognised Parliamentary party and re-allocated party funding in late August 2013.