Bill English told police last year that the then-MP Todd Barclay had told him he'd "just left a dictaphone on" when the conversations of a staff member were recorded.
Police have released audio of an officer's interview with Mr English, who was deputy prime minister at the time, in which he recalls a conversation with former Clutha-Southland MP Todd Barclay about secret recordings of his electorate staff member Glenys Dickson.
Ms Dickson had complained that Mr Barclay had secretly recorded her private conversations.
The audio released today matches a transcript of the police interview released by Mr English's office in June.
"I had a conversation with him regarding Glenys Dickson leaving his office and he said to me that he had recordings of her criticising him ... he said he had just left a dictaphone on," Mr English says in the police interview.
Mr English says he cannot recall what prompted his conversation with Mr Barclay about the recordings, and states that he never heard the recordings or was shown the dictaphone.
Releasing the police interview to 1 NEWS today, a police spokesperson said some information from the recording has been redacted in accordance with sections 9 (2) (a) of the Official Information Act, privacy of natural persons.
Mr Barclay denied the allegations and refused to meet with police.
He did not seek re-election to parliament in last month's election and has now moved to London.
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