Opposition piles pressure on Trevor Mallard - a podcast by RNZ

The Speaker remains under pressure from the Opposition in the continued fallout over his 2019 claim of rape at Parliament.
National's urging the Prime Minister to support a vote of no confidence, after obtaining a statement of claim in the defamation case of the man Trevor Mallard wrongly accused of being a rapist.
It alleges Mallard's lawyer said they'd "vigorously" defend any defamation claim a month later, despite the Speaker already knowing he was wrong.
He settled the case last year, costing taxpayers more than $330,000, alongside a statement in which he apologised for the "distress and humiliation" his incorrect comments had caused.
National MP Chris Bishop delivered a scathing speech during yesterday's general debate, with Mallard in the chair.
The Prime Minister said Mallard still had her backing, and nothing in her view had materially changed. Afterwards, Chris Bishop told reporters Mallard could have avoided the whole situation.
Trevor Mallard told RNZ he had no further comment to make. MPs have parliamentary privilege when speaking in the House, they have the same protections speaking at select committees.
Mallard said he will have more to say there.

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