Dear Editor
To judge from their actions, our leaders live in denial of their obligations and responsibilities. Take Chris Hipkins’s pre-coronation gaffe in London, stating that he “favoured NZ becoming a republic”. Extensively covered by international media, it reflects very poorly on every New Zealander. As PM, Hipkins was there as the New Zealand people’s representative at the crowning of our monarch – NOT to blurt out anything as inappropriate, crass, immature and utterly insensitive at such a momentous and significant occasion.
Our parliament is now inflicted with the bizarre actions of Meka Whaitiri, who by any measure has transgressed the “waka-jumping” law and disrupted the proportionality of Parliament. Ignoring the delicious fact that it was the Ardern Government’s party-protecting law which very much appears to have been rorted by Whaitiri and Labour Speaker Adrian Rurawhe, there are sinister, underlying implications that Whaiteri’s waka-jump could only have succeeded because of the iwi connections between herself and Rurawhe.
Once we demanded of our parliamentarians that above all, they acted honourably, and in past times many resignations were forced for far lesser reasons. Our country’s very substance and reputation are now at stake as never before – so, will propriety be upheld, or will we just bewail its loss, yet again?
Jim Cable
