Labour MP Stuart Nash has been sacked as a minister after emails to donors emerged.

Prime Minister Chris Hipkins said “this evening I have advised the Governor General to dismiss Stuart Nash from all of his ministerial portfolios.

He said late this afternoon, he was made aware of an email that Stuart sent in March 2020 to two contacts regarding a commercial rent relief package that the Cabinet had considered.

In the email, he sets out his opposition to the decision Cabinet reached.

“This is a clear breach of Cabinet, collective responsibility, and Cabinet confidentiality. Stuart Nash has fundamentally breached my trust and the trust of his Cabinet colleagues. His conduct is inexcusable.”

The two recipients of the email were donors including Troy Bowker.

“They are also commercial property owners who had an interest in the Cabinet decision that crosses a line that is totally unacceptable to me” Hipkins said.

“I expect ministers to uphold the highest ethical standards and his actions raise a perception of influence that cannot be allowed to stand.”

“While Stuart was on a final warning, I want to be clear that this incident alone would have resulted in his dismissal in its own right. I consider the matter to be a very serious one.”

He said “sacking people is not easy. In this particular case. I don’t feel that there was any other option though. This is absolutely inexcusable.”

Megan Woods will be the Acting Minister for Economic Development and Acting Minister of Forestry.

David Parker will be the Acting Minister for Oceans and Fisheries. He will lead to the Hawke’s Bay cyclone response.