Acting Labour Party president was on panel which dismissed initial complaints

The acting Labour Party president was on the investigating panel which dismissed initial bullying and harassment complaints.

Labour President Nigel Haworth resigned on Wednesday over his handling of sexual assault allegations, and Tracey McLellan was put in place as the temporary new boss.

On Thursday, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern confirmed the role could be short lived.

On Wednesday Labour Party General Secretary Andre Anderson told Stuff the constitution did not provide for an official acting president.

Until a new president could be elected at the party conference in November, senior vice presidents McLellan and Tane Phillips will have to step up, he said.

On Sunday Stuff reported seven formal complaints were laid with the party and up to 12 people made general complaints about the staffer.

Labour's ruling council agreed to investigate the claims of bullying and harassment in February and appointed three party members to investigate.

They were, Christchurch-based McLellan, along with lawyer Simon Mitchell and Honey Heemi, of Labour's Māori Council.

They delivered a report to the council, which recommended no disciplinary action be taken. That recommendation was accepted.

On Thursday when Ardern was asked if it was appropriate for McLellan to hold the interim position, she said it was temporary.

It was an automated process in the constitution that defaulted to the senior VP, she said.

The party's council had the power to appoint an alternative but she had not heard if they would.

"To highlight, this is very temporary - there is only a matter of weeks required to ballot members and then of course a new president will be put in place."

According to the Labour Party constitution, if the position of president becomes vacant before the next Annual Conference, the General Secretary must, within 14 days invite the constituent organisations with voting rights to provide nominations.