There is an ever-increasing whiff of something rotten emanating from Parliament Buildings.
Hello, it’s “All things Political”, with John Porter on Bay FM.
Is that whiff the odour of corruption?
Before new MPs can sit, speak or vote in the House as a Member, participate in debates or serve on a select committee they must be sworn in.
An MP can be sworn in by either taking an Oath of Allegiance or an affirmation.
I, Joe Blow, swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second, her heirs and successors, according to law. So help me God.
Allegiance to the Queen according to law.
Do you think government ministers believe in the Rule of Law?
I definitely think this gang feel they can circumvent the law.
How about consequences if they breach said Law: should there be any?
Of course, the answer is yes! However, this no longer, on the face of it, seems to apply to some of our current politicians.
In one of the world’s oldest democracies, it has become the new normal for MPs to routinely breach that sworn oath, AND NO ONE speaks out or holds them to account for this blatant dishonest activity!
And if anyone has the effrontery to question any aspect of the murky processes used in appointing members of quasi-government advisory groups and policy consultants, not to mention payments to the MSM to ensure their silent complicity, the first response is to scream racism…
The leader of the pack when it comes to questionable ethics and the accompanying odious smell has to be Nanaia Mahuta.
Regarding the 3 Waters Bill, the whiff around Mahuta is especially pungent.
Mahuta and questionable ethics are well and truly at the forefront of the 3 Waters Bill.
Mahuta’s bottom line has always been a requirement for the interests of Maori to be a priority.
In June 2021, Cabinet secretly agreed to a mandated approach to the Three Waters reform. Mahuta then went into overdrive with a misinformation campaign, dishonestly and knowingly telling councils that the plan was voluntary and councils could opt out! There’s dishonesty and deceit openly on display!
In late April this year Government responded to 47 recommendations made by the Three Waters independent working group about the initial proposed reforms, with Mahuta stating: “We are now at a point where the case for change is well made and the policy has been robustly tested and improved. We have listened to concerns, now it’s time to move forward with these reforms.”
Listened to concerns! 88,324 submissions but still pushing ahead. They’re not listening!
By issuing shares to councils Mahuta was being deceitful. Regardless of their shareholdings, councils and therefore ratepayers will still be stripped of the fundamental rights of control associated with ownership.
But tribes will still have 50 per cent control in appointing water governance boards?
What is the point in being assured that you still own something if you can’t control it?
Now get this.
Councils won’t be allowed to receive a return from the water entities, yet that is specifically allowed for Mana Whenua groups.
All along, opponents have been trying to point out that the end game in this 3 Waters co-governance bullshit is – ROYALTIES TO MAORI TRIBES!
Mahuta states, co-governance in three waters is all about the Crown meeting treaty obligations.
Her spin doctors say, “The reform provides a step change for Maori to participate in the delivery of water services and enables local expression of Te Mana o Te Wai.”
But why do tribes need to be involved in the delivery of water services?
Could it simply be a deceitful way of channelling payments to tribes under the guise of “consultancy”?
Back in 2021, Mahuta had the temerity to accuse councils of spreading misinformation about Three Waters. “I’ve seen a number of comments from elected officials which I frankly believe are biased and shameful. Much of the information is making claims that are simply not true or accurate in relation to these reforms”, Mahuta claimed.
Look in the mirror Nanaia! Utterly shameful statement!
The Taxpayers Union went to the High Court challenging the advice Mahuta provided her Cabinet colleagues: asking, “Have Ministers broken the law in statements on the Water Services Entities Bill?”
The Taxpayers Union believed that advice seemed untrue or calculated to be misleading.
The legal opinion they received stated, “Ministers appear to have cold-bloodedly decided to confuse Councils and ratepayers with false statements.”
The claims have been “calculated to deceive Parliamentarians, and when it becomes law, to deceive New Zealanders generally”. That’s lying, isn’t it?
QC Gary Judd reviewed the legal opinion and stated “When all the lying statements are put together, the government’s effrontery is breath-taking.”
So has Mahuta broken the law? You would think so, wouldn’t you? But hold on:
People making these sorts of statements would normally face prosecution under the Financial Markets Conduct Act and/or the Fair Trading Act.
But Ministers are not in business! There’s their escape clause! There’s the circumvention of law!
Even the Auditor-General published a scathing submission on Three Waters, saying it will result in a “serious diminution in accountability to the public for a critical service” and “no proposed audit scrutiny”.
Yep, the transgressions against Mahuta’s name keep racking up, and I haven’t even touched on Mahuta’s disgraceful influence and connection with family appointments for senior government roles and contracts.
It may not be outright corruption, but I would never have believed the standards, ethics and trustworthiness of government would ever have been dragged down to such a low level as it has been by this dishonest government!
Is this how co-governance looks under tribal law?
And don’t forget who sits atop this “Dung Heap” called the Labour Government: Jacinda Ardern!
