New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins has ended Stuart Nash's ministerial career after the Napier MP leaked cabinet discussions.
On Tuesday, news outlet Stuff reported Mr Nash had emailed two businessmen in 2020 to reveal cabinet disagreements over COVID-19 relief given to business.
Mr Hipkins said he acted swiftly to dismiss Mr Nash when he learned of the act.
"Stuart Nash has fundamentally breached my trust and the trust of his Cabinet colleagues and his conduct is inexcusable," Mr Hipkins said.
However, the action comes after Mr Nash had already been given two strikes for ill-discipline by the new PM.
Earlier this month, Mr Nash told a radio station he advised the police commissioner to appeal a sentence - a clear breach of ministerial standards - while also lashing the judiciary for what he saw as soft sentences.
For that indiscretion, Mr Hipkins stripped Mr Nash of his coveted police portfolio and demoted him down the cabinet ranks.
Mr Hipkins then placed Mr Nash on his "final warning" when it emerged he had used improper channels to lobby for a visa for a medical worker in his Hawke's Bay electorate.
The cabinet leak was a third and final strike, though Mr Hipkins indicated it would have been enough on its own to see Mr Nash ejected from cabinet.
Mr Hipkins also revealed the two men he emailed - Troy Bowker and Greg Loveridge - were donors to his election campaign.
"They are also commercial property owners who had an interest in the Cabinet decision," Mr Hipkins said.
"That crosses a line that is totally unacceptable to me.
"I expect Ministers to uphold the highest ethical standards and his actions raise perceptions of influence which cannot stand."
