Back in the not-so-dark days of 2014 MP Judith Collins found herself embroiled in a scandal involving alleged nepotism. This is how Newshub saw it at the time, deeming it so important as to be “breaking news”:
Judith Collins went on a taxpayer-funded visit to China last year. In her public role as Justice Minister, she was there to talk about our system.
But she was also welcomed into a New Zealand export company that her husband has a private interest in.
[…] Ms Collins’ husband, David Wong-Tung, is one of three directors of Oravida – a milk and food export company.
[…] Ms Collins also opened the company’s Auckland headquarters last year, with Mr Wong-Tung standing behind her. She says it is not an issue that she was effectively promoting the company where her husband is a director.
[…] The Cabinet manual, effectively a minister’s bible, states “a conflict may arise if people close to a minister, such as a minister’s family […] might derive, or be perceived as deriving, some personal, financial, or other benefit from a decision or action by the minister”.
It goes on: “When accepting an invitation, a minister should inform the organisation that it may not use any photos taken of the minister at the event in a way that could be perceived as an endorsement by the minister.”
Note how in the above case Newshub saw it fit to quote the cabinet manual which, if you’re like me, is saying Collins was in breach.
Fast forward to today and we have another scandal involving alleged nepotism; this time involving Maori MP, Nanaia Mahuta. Here’s Newshub’s take on that similar scandal:
The Ministry for the Environment is reviewing its internal process in the wake of allegations of conflicts of interest involving Minister Nanaia Mahuta and her family members being given public service jobs.
Opposition parties have accused Mahuta of a lack of transparency, but one former National Minister said his old party has a history of giving family members of ministers public sector jobs – so why the double standard?
Mahuta’s whanau is big, influential and dedicated to Maoridom, which means a lot of declaring conflicts of interest as a Government minister.
“It’s very hard in the Maori world because everybody’s connected, related, friends. It’s a small world, so we have to be extra careful,” said Minister for Maori Development Willie Jackson.
There are some who contend Mahuta hasn’t been careful enough.
[…] The Ministry said Mahuta’s husband Gannin Ormsby, his nephew Tamoko and wife Waimirirangi were selected for their expertise, and ministers aren’t involved in the selection process.
“Are we really saying the Mahuta family are the only people with those skills? Or is this just sheer, old-fashioned nepotism,” ACT leader David Seymour said.
[…] Mahuta’s office said that was flagged and managed appropriately.
“What is happening to this Maori whanau? I think it’s racism and it’s double standards,” political commentator Shane te Pou said.
Te Pou said the same processes have been followed as were in similar circumstances under former Prime Minister John Key.
[…] In 2013, then Minister Paula Bennett appointed Amy Adams’ sister Belinda Milnes as Families Commissioner.
In 2015, when Bill English was Finance Minister, his brother Conor was appointed an advisor to the Reserve Bank.
And National MP Mark Mitchell recently gave his sister a job in his electorate office.
[…] Former National Minister Chris Finlayson was more forthcoming – he appointed the late Wira Gardiner as chair of Te Papa.
“His wife Hekia Parata was one of my colleagues, first in caucus and then in Cabinet, and so these sorts of appointments are not unknown,” Finlayson said.
[…] New Zealand is a small place – Te Ao Maori is smaller. These conflicts come up and as long as they’re dealt with by the book – which seems that way for Mahuta – no issue.
Note how it’s presented as merely a review by the Ministry for the Environment. We have accusations of lack of transparency and nepotism, but these are quickly countered with accusations of double standards and racism, along with excuses that New Zealand is a small place and ‘everybody does it’.
The excuse of New Zealand being a small place doesn’t wash, and neither does ‘everybody does it’. Are we really expected to believe that the only people who could be found to fill the jobs were Mahuta’s rellies? As for ‘everybody does it’, even if that were true it’s still no excuse (it just means nepotism is rampant in this Government).
The last paragraph is especially telling, as it is not Newshub quoting anyone. It’s Newshub directly giving us its opinion – telling us to move on: nothing to see here. It’s blatant propaganda.
And the media wonder why we don’t trust them.