Why New Zealand Government is Corrupt Pt 3

Two-thirds of voters believe Helen Clark should have taken responsibility for her speeding motorcade. The latest Herald-DigiPoll survey shows that 65.2 per cent of voters believe the Prime Minister should have stepped forward over the speeding, which resulted in Constables Ian Howard and Simon Vincent and a civilian driver, who cannot be named, being fined $675 each for dangerous driving between Waimate and Christchurch Airport last year.

The motorcade travelled at up to 170km/h to ensure she caught a flight to Wellington for a rugby test. The survey shows more than half of Labour supporters - 50.9 per cent - think Helen Clark should have taken responsibility and 83 per cent of National supporters think so. National Party leader Don Brash yesterday told the Weekend Herald the motorcade case had cost about a million dollars. Deputy leader Gerry Brownlee said the $1 million figure came from costings National had worked out - taking into account such things as police time, court time and legal fees. The Crown Law Office and the Office of the Police Commissioner said they were still working out how much the case had cost.

Dr Brash said there was a specific exemption in law allowing ministers to speed on urgent matters of state. He said there would have been no case if Helen Clark had said it was important she get to the rugby game. "There is not much doubt that those police officers and the civilian driver took the rap for a situation which Helen Clark should have been responsible for." Helen Clark would not comment on the survey. To date she has said little about the speeding incident, except that the police "were in charge of a motorcade". On Monday, she told Paul Holmes on Newstalk ZB that she "would not have asked for urgent travel to go to rugby". "They [the police] advised my press secretary what plane could be caught. I accepted that advice, I got in the car."

Cabinet ministers have decided to contribute $120 each to pay the fines and court costs of the three men. Public donations are also being sent to the Timaru police station. Police Association president Greg O'Connor said about $3000 had been raised and any extra would go to the men so they could have a holiday with their families.

Why New Zealand Government is Corrupt Pt 2

Paintergate

What more don't we know

Helen Clark's behaviour over the investigation into 'paintergate' will make it impossible for her to campaign on law and order during this election, says National Party Leader Bill English.
"I am shocked at the behaviour of the Prime Minister of our country. When she came into office she said she would raise standards of public behaviour.

"The police report shows that even the police found it hard to believe that Helen Clark could not recall the TV coverage regarding publicity about the original charity event. I note that the report states, it is however considered unlikely that Miss Clark or her staff were unaware of this coverage. There appears to have been no action taken to set the record straight.

"It appears the Prime Minister made no effort to co-operate with the police. We now know she refused to be interviewed by police. Evidence given by staff show Miss Clark was involved in the destruction of the painting. The police point out, Miss Clark has not commented on this matter in her statement to the police.

"Helen Clark should have stopped her staff destroying the painting. Then she certainly should have told the police in her statement about her role.

"This behaviour from someone in such high office is unacceptable, and it means who can now trust her on anything she says. No wonder they are denying health cuts, pretending there is no crisis in education, and acting like we have no law and order problem. It is not leadership to cover up and hope it all goes away.

"Well I intend to make sure it does not. New Zealand deserves better than this and under my leadership that is what this country will get," says Mr English.

New Zealand Government is corrupt

The National Party is applying scrutiny to a key prime ministerial advisor's role in the pledge-card controversy, amid claims of a blowout in ministerial staff numbers.

Prime Minister Helen Clark has repeatedly refused to answer questions in Parliament on her chief of staff Heather Simpson's role in seeking funding for Labour's controversial $446,000 election pledge card.

Ms Simpson, known as "H2" in political circles -- with Miss Clark holding the "H1" tag -- wrote a letter to the Parliamentary Service after last year's election saying the pledge card was authorised and asking for funding "without further delay".

But Miss Clark, as Minister in charge of Ministerial Services, which employs Ms Simpson, has refused to answer questions on the basis the activities were undertaken on behalf of the parliamentary Labour Party.

Speaker Margaret Wilson appeared to back up that interpretation when Miss Clark was questioned in the House a fortnight ago. But today officials told MPs on Parliament's government administration committee Ms Simpson was wholly employed by Ministerial Services and not partially employed through a party leader's parliamentary budget as was the case in the offices of several minor party leaders.

National MP Tony Ryall said that meant Miss Clark had ministerial responsibility for Miss Simpson's actions and should have to answer questions on the matter. In Parliament later Mr Ryall asked Ms Wilson to reconsider the matter. She said she would. Mr Ryall also questioned officials on what tasks ministerial staff could undertake. Internal Affairs Department acting manager of executive government support Janice Calvert said under the rules they were not allowed to partake in electioneering, but were allowed to support MPs' work as ministers, legislators and elected representatives. The use of ministerial resources has come under scrutiny after the row over unlawful election spending. But Ms Calvert said there had been no complaints regarding misuse of staff ahead of last year's elections.

Mr Ryall also questioned a steep rise in ministerial staff between 2001 and 2005. Over the five year period staff numbers rose from 131 to 165. The department was unable to provide updated figures for the year to June 30, but said they were roughly similar to the previous year. Mr Ryall said there seemed to be a growing number of ministerial advisers and press secretaries. "This list of ministerial spin doctors and media advisors is the longest in living memory." Ms Calvert also revealed the department had been asking departments to pay for staff seconded to ministers' offices. In the past Ministerial Services had paid for some of these. Mr Ryall said that meant staff numbers could be even higher.

This Government has to go!