Independent MP Brendan Horan is rejecting suggestions he has a gambling problem.
Mr Horan was expelled from the New Zealand First caucus last week after its leader Winston Peters said he had received information that caused him to lose all confidence in his MP.
Brendan Horan says he gave his phone records to Mr Peters, showing he had made 144 calls to the TAB in 10 months.
But he says that does not constitute a gambling problem.
Mr Horan says his father was a respected horse trainer and he's been involved with racehorses for most of his life.
He says he pays a fringe benefit tax to allow for personal use of his parliamentary cellphone.
Meanwhile, New Zealand First confirmed on Monday that Mr Horan is no longer a member of the party.
The party has released a statement saying Mr Horan by his own action in notifying the Speaker that he be regarded as an independent MP, has in doing so, relinquished his membership of New Zealand First.
