Education Minister Hipkins has been dragged into the Green School controversy after a video was leaked of James Shaw saying he had given "verbal sign-off" for the bid.
Mr Hipkins has been actively distancing himself from the proposal, saying publicly it's not something he'd spend education money on.
James Shaw, the co-leader of the Greens, has been working to repair the damage after infuriating party supporters, schools and unions with his strong advocacy for the nearly $12 million application for the private school.
Here's RNZ political editor, Jane Patterson.
