Taito Phillip Field said he felt "persecuted" by the media after the bribery allegations against him became public in September 2005.
Field is on trial in the High Court at Auckland on 35 charges, which allege bribery and corruption while he was a member of Parliament in that he allowed work on his homes by Thai tradesmen in return for providing them with immigration help.
Other charges relate to providing false statements to a subsequent inquiry headed by Noel Ingram QC.
Crown prosecutor David Johnstone asked Field today about allegations in the media, which started on September 12, 2005, with a broadcast on TV One.
"The media allegations were grossly unfair and unjustified. The media persecuted me and my family for three and a half years.
"It's time to stop," Field said.
Mr Johnstone asked Field about the way the Ingram inquiry was conducted.
"Did you say to the Thai people that the inquiry may cause problems for their immigration status and they had to be careful about how it proceeded?" Mr Johnstone asked Field.
"There was some expression of concern amongst the Thai people about the media frenzy surrounding my situation," Field said.
"I suggest you have sought to portray a version of the truth which is not true and you have asked the Thai people and others to go along with that," Mr Johnstone asked Field.
"That is not correct. I just wanted to allay some fears about what the police inquiry and Ingram inquiry was about," Field said.
Mr Johnstone asked Field about when prime minister Helen Clark announced the Ingram inquiry.
"She called a meeting about the inquiry. It was clear that it was going to take nine days to determine whether I had breached the cabinet manual in relation to my responsibility as a minister.
"There was an issue with conflict of interest with Mr Siriwan (Thai tiler Sunan Siriwan). My understanding was that there was no suggestion of criminality involved. There was no warning that what I may say may be used in a court of law," Field said.
"Whether you were warned or not, there's nothing wrong with telling the truth," Mr Johnstone said.
"I'm suggesting that you were happy with the announcement of the Ingram inquiry as it meant you would not be facing charges," Mr Johnstone added.
"For you to tell me what was in my mind is wrong. There was no suggestion whatsoever of criminality. I did not ask for an independent inquiry. I agreed to it," Field said.
"Did you welcome it?" Mr Johnstone asked.
"I accepted it on the terms explained to me by my colleagues at the time," Field said.
"Did you welcome an extension of the Ingram inquiry so additional allegations would not be pursued by police?" Mr Johnstone asked.
"Absolutely not," Field said.
Field was expelled from the Labour Party in 2007, continuing to represent Mangere as an independent MP.
