The Ministry of Health has apologised to the Associate Minister of Health Casey Costello for failing to inform her that one of its officials advising her on tobacco reform had a conflict of interest. The ministry said that it was its responsibility and stressed that the staffer in question had followed the correct guidelines. It comes after NZ First leader Winston Peters named the official in Parliament's debating chamber, accusing her of attending meetings with Costello without telling her she was the sister-in-law of Labour's health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. Speaking to reporters on Thursday afternoon, Peters also suggested - without providing evidence - the official had been leaking ma... [Read more]