The former Ministry of Social Development boss says it wasn't possible to brief his Minister about the full implications of Winston Peters' pension overpayment, without naming him.
Brendan Boyle is one of five people the Deputy Prime Minister is taking to court for allegedly breaching his privacy over superannuation overpayments.
Mr Boyle has been grilled by Winston Peters' lawyer on Tuesday, and asked why he couldn't have assured his minister at the time, that MSD had acted appropriately without identifying his client.
RNZ political reporter Yvette McCullough is covering the case at the High Court in Auckland and filed this report.
