Kainga Ora's chief executive has been called out over emails appearing to defend running an ad with a Labour candidate in it

Those emails came despite being publicly admonished by the minister responsible for the agency.

Megan Woods first became aware of the issue last August and told chief executive Andrew McKenzie the conduct had not met her expectations.

She asked the Public Services Commission to investigate in November after a series of internal emails showed staff discussing how to cover it up.

National's Nicola Willis revealed in the house he continued to defend the actions of his staff internally in a November email.

In the email to a staff member he says the judgement call they made was fine, and he is happy to stand behind them on it.