Megan Woods has hit back at Gerry Brownlee's defence of Southern Response chair Ross Butler

Mr Butler resigned last night over the Thompson and Clark spying scandal.

Former Christchurch Regeneration Minister Brownlee says the Government's treated him disgracefully, after he did a sterling job.

Current Minister Woods says Southern Response had every right to protect its staff - which is how this began.

But she says where it ended up, is not something any Minister should tolerate.

Woods says when Brownlee knew about the use of Thompson and Clark, when he was Minister in 2016.