The leader of New Zealand's main opposition party has been secretly recorded calling one of his own party's MPs "****ing useless".

National Party leader Simon Bridges said Margaret Pugh had accepted his apology for the remark directed at her and he will not resign over the matter.

The recording was handed to police by another of the party's MPs, Jami-Lee Ross, who has accused Mr Bridges of corruption.

Image: Jami-Lee Ross handed the recording to police

During the conversation, Mr Ross tells Mr Bridges that two men, including Chinese businessman Zhang Yikun, have donated 100,000 New Zealand dollars (£50,000) and had expressed interest in having a second Chinese MP.

"Two Chinese would be nice, but would it be one Chinese and one Filipino, or what do we do?" Mr Bridges asks on the tape.


He then talks about a possible "mercenary cull" and how he would like two or three MPs to leave, including Ms Pugh, whom he describes as "***ing useless'.

Ms Pugh quickly forgave Mr Bridges but condemned Mr Ross, posting on Twitter: "Obviously I was disappointed to hear today's comments. But Simon has apologised and I have accepted that.

I’m always in his ear, at times pushing the envelope for what is right for my community.

I’m glad that JLR a man who deliberately released a recording that he knew would embarrass me is no longer in our caucus.

I continue to back Simon and we’ll both move on from this now. — Maureen Pugh (@MaureenPughNat) October 17, 2018

"I'm glad that JLR [Jami-Lee Ross] a man who deliberately released a recording that he knew would embarrass me is no longer in our caucus. I continue to back Simon and we'll both move on from this now."

Mr Bridges said Mr Ross had been trying to set him up and may have been secretly recording him for months.

"He's a terrible person," Mr Bridges said.

Mr Ross said he believed Mr Bridges had broken electoral laws and he had handed over evidence to police.

He said he recorded the conversation because he was uncomfortable about the donations.

Mr Bridges denies any wrongdoing.

In a statement, police said they had received a complaint and would provide any relevant updates in a timely manner.

The National Party held power in New Zealand for nine years before being ousted last year by a liberal coalition led by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.