Embattled Labour MP Meka Whaitiri will likely not be in Parliament this week, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says.

Despite the House returning from a two-week break on Tuesday, Ardern said the suspended minister would likely be working from her home constituency office throughout the week.

Whaitiri, who had been the customs minister, was stood down from all of her ministerial positions on Thursday night while an investigation is carried out into an issue between her and a staffer.

BRADEN FASTIER/STUFF Customs Minister Meka Whaitiri stood down from all her ministerial roles while an investigation into an employment matter is carried out.

"My understanding is that she's likely to be working out of her home constituency this week," Ardern said on Monday.

"Of course her role continues on as a Member of Parliament whether she's in Wellington or in her home constituency.

"She's been stood aside from her ministerial roles but remains of course a member of Parliament."

Ardern confirmed that Whaitiri was still being paid her ministerial salary of $243,841 while the investigation took place.

If Whaitiri were to come to Parliament, she would almost certainly face a barrage of questions from reporters.

She will remain as an MP and co-chairwoman of Labour's Maori caucus while Ministerial Services conducts the investigation.

It's alleged a physical altercation took place between Whaitiri and a member of her staff, which other media has reported as an assault.

Different sources have offered differing versions of events, but all allege Whaitiri got physical during the confrontation after yelling at the staffer.

The press secretary was a new addition to the office, which Stuff understands has gone through an entire rotation of staff during Whaitiri's time as minister.

Stuff has attempted to contact Whaitiri to put the allegations to her.

There have been a growing number of questions asked about the number of staff going through Whaitiri's office.

Ministerial staffers sign event-based contracts, which mean ministers can fire them at-will if the relationship breaks down, with no real recourse for the employee other than a payout.

For an investigation to be launched, the allegations would have to be "significant and serious", Stuff has been told.

Ardern said she hoped the investigation would take "in the order of weeks".

If Whaitiri were to leave Parliament, it would spark a by-election in her Māori electorate of Ikaroa-Rawhiti.

It seems some in her caucus already believe she is unlikely to return to the executive, with Labour MP Peeni Henare telling Māori Television's Te Kāea the situation could be an opportunity for up-and-comers within the party.

"For example, Willow-Jean Prime and Kiritapu Allan, who would make excellent ministers. There's plenty who could do the job and this could be an opportunity for them," Henare said.