Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has removed Meka Whaitiri as a Minister over allegations from a staff member.

The investigation into the Meka Whaitiri incident with a staffer finds it "probable" that Whaitiri grabbed a staff member, but not probable that she dragged her from the room.

The investigation into the incident, which saw the Labour MP lose her ministerial portfolios, was finally released on Friday.

Whaitiri and her lawyer dispute the allegations of physical contact, and were concerned with a draft version of the report, even alleging a friend of the staffer had "blackmailed" the prime minister.

Braden Fastier/Stuff Meka Whaitiri said she had cooperated with the investigation fully.

Whaitiri was suspended from being a minister in late August while the incident with a new press secretary was investigated.

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It was alleged that Whaitiri had shouted at and manhandled the press secretary after an event in Gisborne in late August, where Whaitiri had missed an opportunity to stand with the Prime Minister at a media standup.

The staffer told the investigation that Whatiri "grabbed me by the arm and pulled me outside and said she needed to talk to me."

Whaitiri told the investigation she hadn't touched the staffer.

"I did not touch [the employee]. I didn't yank at [the employee]. I didn't pinch at [the employee]. I just don't touch staff," Whaitiri said.

A photo of a bruise on the employee's arm was given to the investigation as evidence.

BENN BATHGATE/STUFF Meka Whaitiri was fired from her ministerial role by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.

Barrister David Patten, who carried out the investigation, said on the balance of probabilities Whaitiri had grabbed the staffer.

"After giving careful consideration to this matter, it is my view that the explanation provided to me by Employee A is a more probable explanation as to what happened than the explanation provided to me by the Minister. That is, rather than the encounter between the two of them in the foyer being a face to face encounter as described to me by the Minister, the Minister in fact approached Employee A from slightly behind and grabbed Employee A by the arm," Patten wrote.

The investigation by the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) was completed in late September.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern fired Whaitiri as a minister upon seeing the report in September, saying that while Whaitiri disputed aspects of the incident there was no question that an incident had taken place, and she had subsequently lost her confidence in her.

Ardern said a version of that report would be made public, with some details removed to respect privacy. That is the report that has been released on Friday.

'BLACKMAIL' ALLEGATION

Whaitiri's lawyer Sally McKechnie, a senior partner at Simpson Grierson, wrote a letter to the DIA detailed "serious concerns" with a draft version of the report.

McKechnie considered the conclusions reached in the draft report "not sound or sustainable".

One of the lawyer's main complaints regarded the way in which the allegation was brought to light.

McKechnie noted that the employee did not "initiate" the complaints process herself, but instead it was established by Ministerial Services after a "threatening email" had been sent to the Prime Minister by a friend of the staffer's who had heard about the incident from the staffer, containing details inconsistent with the employee's later recollection.

She wrote that the email included a "blackmail threat" and described "serious themes."

This email resulted in a meeting with the staffer, ministerial services, and the Prime Minister's chief of staff Mike Munro.

Patten accepted that the email used "strong language" but said it not did impact the employee's credibility - as she had not written the email herself.

"In my view, the fact that Employee A's employer initiated the investigation adds to the credibility of Employee A in the sense that s/he did not return to Wellington from Gisborne seeking to somehow punish the Minister," he wrote.

WHAITIRI WELCOMES REPORT

Whaitiri welcomed the public release and said she had co-operated with the investigation fully.

"I have accepted the Prime Minister's decision and I intend to work hard to regain her confidence," Whaitiri said. "As noted I contested some of the allegations.

"However I am disappointed my behaviour led to a complaint. I am committed to my own development, including better managing employment relationships

"I am focusing on working hard for the people of Ikaroa-Rāwhiti, as a member of Labour and Māori Caucus and contributing as a Member of Parliament."

Another version of that report was leaked to the NZ Herald recently. That leak is now being investigated by DIA.

Whaitiri was a minister outside Cabinet with responsibility for customs and associate agriculture, local government, and Crown/Māori relations.

Kris Faafoi will retain the role of Customs Minister while her associate portfolios will sit with the lead ministers of each portfolio.