The Green Party co-leader Russel Norman says he will ask for donations to fund his legal defence if Conservative Party leader Colin Craig takes him to court.
Mr Craig is preparing a defamation case against Dr Norman after the MP refused to apologise by a deadline on Friday for comments he made at the Big Gay Out.
Green Party co-leader Russel Norman. Photo: RNZ
Dr Norman is standing by his statements and says he's prepared to defend it in court.
"We're not multi-millionaires like Mr Craig, we're just ordinary New Zealanders who believe in a tolerant and inclusive society.
"And so I will ask other ordinary New Zealanders, who believe in a tolerant and inclusive society to fund any kind of court battle - if that's what it comes to."
He says lawyers have already approached him to offer assistance.
Conservative Party leader Colin Craig Photo: CONSERVATIVE PARTY
Mr Craig says Dr Norman's comments are provably untrue and, in his view, defamatory.
He's asked his lawyers to draw up a draft claim and to estimate the costs and possible timeframes of a court proceeding.
Mr Craig says he's been advised that further comments made by Dr Norman this week on Television New Zealand's Breakfast programme may also be defamatory.
He says he's seeking legal advice on whether they can also be added to the claim.