Garrett's political career hanging in the balance

Act MP David Garrett's political career is on the line after he admitted stealing a dead baby's identity 26 years ago to get a false passport.

Party leader Rodney Hide is standing by his party's hard-line law and order spokesman.

Mr Garrett told Parliament he thought at the time it was a "harmless prank" to get a passport by using a false identity -- an idea he picked up from the best selling novel Day of the Jackal.

He said he never used the passport and eventually destroyed it, but 21 years later he was arrested during a police investigation into passport scams, appeared in court, pleaded guilty and was discharged without conviction.

On Monday Mr Garrett, a first term MP, confirmed he was charged with assault in Tonga in 2002 and fined $10.

He said he was the innocent victim of an attack and had been trying to appeal the conviction ever since.

Mr Garrett is a tough campaigner for stronger sentences and got the "three strikes and you're out" legislation through Parliament.

Mr Hide said last night Mr Garrett made "a terrible mistake" 26 years ago and recognised the significant hurt his actions had caused.

"While this does not excuse his actions or behaviour, this matter has been dealt with by the courts," Mr Hide said.

"Since entering Parliament Mr Garrett has proved to be an invaluable member of the Act team... the issues that have arisen in the media this week do not impair his ability to make a difference as a Member of Parliament."

Mr Hide said he didn't believe past mistakes should rule out anyone being an MP -- and revealed that he was arrested and charged for being drunk at Heathrow Airport when he was a young man.

Mr Garrett made his statement to Parliament after being questioned by reporters about whether he had ever been charged with offences other than the assault in Tonga.

He said he hadn't said anything about the passport because the court gave him permanent name suppression.

Deputy Act leader John Boscawen said this morning Mr Garrett had gone to court to inquire about getting the suppression orders around his case lifted so he could be more open.

Meanwhile, Mr Garrett is also set to be part of an upcoming Speaker's tour. Details have not been announced, but the tour group is later this month is set to visit Spain, Turkey and Israel.

Speaker Lockwood Smith said today it was not up to him to say whether Mr Garrett should still go.

"It's not a matter for me, obviously it's a matter for his party," Dr Smith said. Asked if Mr Garrett's behaviour was a good look for an MP, Dr Smith said there was "not a lot as Speaker I can do about that."

Labour leader Phil Goff said he felt for the family of the dead child -- the child's sister told the Dominion Post family members were upset and distressed.

"The very worst thing here is for the family of that dead child whose identity was stolen," Mr Goff told Radio New Zealand.

"They have effectively been gagged for years by a suppression order while they have to listen to Mr Garrett pontificating about being opposed to suppression orders, being in favour of openness, being in favour of the rights of victims and he's been anything but."

Former Act MP Deborah Coddington told the broadcaster the situation was farcical and the party appeared to be deeply divided and the ongoing sideshow was not good for the government either.

Deputy Prime Minister Bill English said the problem was Act's to deal with.

"It's not a matter for the National Party to determine who represents the Act Party," he told reporters.