The National Party and a female MP whose text to disgraced MP Jami-Lee Ross triggered a police investigation appear to have been blindsided by the move.
Ross revealed on Tuesday police had approached him about the text in which he said the woman told him he deserved to die.
The Botany MP declined to discuss the circumstances of their relationship when interviewed by Stuff out of respect to his wife, who is supporting him. It has previously been reported he was having an affair with the female MP.
Botany MP Jami-Lee Ross says he will cooperate with police over text inquiry
Ross said he had agreed to cooperate with any police inquiry and told Stuff on Tuesday the text was among a series of events in October which ultimately resulted in a mental breakdown and admission to Middlemore Hospital's mental health unit.
It is an offence to incite people to commit suicide or self harm. Police launched a search for Ross and eventually found him on rail tracks outside Auckland after he texted back to the female MP "you get your wish".
Chris McKeen
Jami-Lee Ross opens up for first time since the drama of 2018.
National had no idea police were investigating till Ross dropped his bombshell on Tuesday - and has confirmed that the female MP at the centre of the investigation had been just as much in the dark.
She has not responded to messages and National said she would not be commenting.
A party spokesman said it was aware of media reports of an investigation but had not heard from police.
"If there is an investigation then we would expect people to cooperate fully."
Police confirmed in a statement on Tuesday it was investigating a text sent to Ross.
A police spokesman confirmed a separate investigation into Ross' allegations of electoral fraud by the National Party was ongoing.
Ross has been on mental health leave since his spectacular ousting from National last year after leader Simon Bridges accused him of leaking confidential details about his travel bill.
Ross denied he was the leaker and said the pressure "piled" on him by Bridges and deputy leader Paula Bennett contributed to his breakdown and thoughts of suicide.
His relationship with Bridges grew increasingly tense after Ross accused National of electoral fraud and released secret recordings to embarrass the National leader.
'I HAD NOTHING LEFT'
Speaking on Tuesday, Ross blamed his behaviour and "bad decisions" on his mental state, and said he'd hinted before his committal about his state of mind.
"I distinctly recall Tracy you texting me; you said to me are you going to be resigning? And I remember the specific words I said. I said 'there's going to be a vacancy created'.
"I was thinking about a different vacancy to what you were thinking about at the time. I Just didn't feel like existing many more, I didn't feel like I had anything left."
Ross said he was grateful that police got to him in time for the sake of his children.
National could oust Ross from Parliament by triggering the waka jumping bill but Bridges has so far ruled out that prospect.
Ross said he believed Bridges would face resistance from his caucus if he tried.
"Anything's possible….but I was in those caucus meetings and I believe there are a number of National MPs that believe in the principled position we took opposed to that legislation. It requires a large number of MPs to support him on that."
In the meantime, he was yet to make a decision on whether to stand in the Botany seat as an independent next year.
"I haven't thought about next year at all; about what I want to do and about what I should do...when you've reached an extreme low in your life you don't really know what you're going to be doing. I was struggling to think what the next hours were going to be."
WHERE TO GET HELP:
1737, Need to talk? Free call or text 1737 to talk to a trained counsellor
Depression.org.nz - 0800 111 757 or text 4202
Lifeline – 0800 543 354
Suicide Crisis Helpline – 0508 828 865 (0508 TAUTOKO)
Kidsline – 0800 54 37 54 for people up to 18 years old. Open 24/7.
Youthline – 0800 376 633, free text 234, email talk@youthline.co.nz or chat to someone online.
Samaritans – 0800 726 666
What's Up – 0800 942 8787 (for 5–18 year olds). Phone counselling available Monday-Friday, noon–11pm and weekends, 3pm–11pm. Online chat is available 7pm–10pm daily.
thelowdown.co.nz – Web chat, email chat or free text 5626
Anxiety New Zealand - 0800 ANXIETY (0800 269 4389)