NZ foreign minister stands aside amidst fraud claims
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Standing aside: Winston Peters (Reuters: David Gray)
New Zealand's foreign affairs minister Winston Peters has agreed to stand aside while he is investigated over undeclared political donations.
Prime Minister Helen Clark has been under increasing pressure to sack Mr Peters.
She held a meeting with him an hour ago to discuss his future.
When the pair met, Mr Peters offered to resign.
"It's very clear to me and very clear to him that the appropriate thing to do was to step aside from his portfolios, and Mr Peters is offering his total cooperation, as you would expect," Ms Clark said.
Ms Clark says she hopes the matter can be resolved quickly and in the meantime she will take over Mr Peters' responsibilities.
Earlier today, Mr Peters said he would not resign.
Parliament's privileges committee and the Serious Fraud Office are looking into political donations made to Mr Peters' New Zealand First party.
He is also being investigated by parliament's privileges committee over a $100,000 donation from a billionaire businessman.
Mr Peters maintains he did not know about the donation.
