Independent MP Brendan Horan has been cleared of any wrongdoing by an investigation into allegations that he stole money from his mother's estate.
Brendan Horan. Photo: SUPPLIED
The executor of Olwen Horan's estate, John Buckthought, says he has found no evidence enabling any claim against the MP.
Mr Horan was expelled from New Zealand First's caucus in December 2012, after members of his family accused him of misappropriating money from his mother's bank accounts before she died.
At the time, New Zealand First leader Winston Peters said he had received information that had caused him to lose confidence in the MP.
Following the executor's final determination, Mr Horan has received his share of the estate without any deduction and is relieved that the investigation cleared him.
"Well, of course I'd be cleared. It was a ridiculous allegation from the start. People have tried to bully me. The attacks have been consistent and malicious."
New party plan
Brendan Horan says he will remain an independent MP and contest the Tauranga electorate seat at this year's general election.
He is also starting a new political party, representing independent candidates.
Mr Horan says as an independent member, he has seen disenchanted MPs not able to serve their communities properly because they have to put their parties' interests first.
An independent coalition of MPs would allow those members to be directly responsible to their electorates. Mr Horan told Radio New Zealand's Checkpoint programme on Wednesday that MPs would ask their electorates how to vote on almost every piece of legislation.
"What would happen for governance, you'd agree with the Government on confidence and supply, but for all other matters, it would be what the electorate wanted. So it would be a mini referendum using the digital media technologies that we have available to us to use today."
Mr Horan says independent MPs in the proposed coalition would need to be nominated by two community groups. He says he is in the process of registering the party, with a number of candidates already willing to stand in electorate seats.
