Buzz from the Beehive
It looks like Marama Davidson must revile white sis males – or some other group of our population – three more times before she gets the heave-ho as one of Chris Hipkins’ ministers.
That’s the conclusion to be drawn from the PM’s treatment of Stuart Nash, whose sacking – which has made headlines around the country today – is recorded on the Beehive website.
Other ministerial announcements struggle for media attention against news of Nash’s ministerial career being terminated, although some of them deserve more attention than they have been given.
Standard kerbside recycling part of new era for waste system
The Government today announced far-reaching changes to the way we make, use, recycle and dispose of waste, ushering in a new era for New Zealand’s waste system.
New laws will crack down on gang profits and criminal assets
New legislation passed by the Government today will make it harder for gangs and their leaders to benefit financially from crime that causes considerable harm in our communities.
Tax incentive to boost housing passes third reading
Legislation to enable more build-to-rent developments has passed its third reading in Parliament, so this type of rental will be able to claim interest deductibility in perpetuity where it meets the requirements.
Law levels playing field for low-emissions commuting
A law passed by Parliament today exempts employers from paying fringe benefit tax on certain low emission commuting options they provide or subsidise for their staff.
40 years of Closer Economic Relations with Australia
Today marks the 40th anniversary of Closer Economic Relations (CER), our gold standard free trade agreement between New Zealand and Australia.
The headline on Hipkins’ statement was coy about the reasons for the sacking of Stuart Nash..
So was the first paragraph.
It said:
Stuart Nash dismissed from Cabinet
This evening I have advised the Governor-General to dismiss Stuart Nash from all his ministerial portfolios.
That’s all you can see on the Beehive website homepage.
Open up this item, however, and you learn that late yesterday afternoon the PM was made aware by a news outlet of an email Stuart Nash sent in March 2020 to two contacts regarding a commercial rent relief package that Cabinet had considered.
In the email Nash had set out both his opposition to the decision Cabinet reached and the position that other Cabinet members took.
This is a clear breach of collective responsibility and Cabinet confidentiality.
Stuart Nash has fundamentally breached my trust and the trust of his Cabinet colleagues and his conduct is inexcusable.
Hipkins names the two recipients of the email and describes them as donors: Troy Bowker and Greg Loveridge, via GRL Holdings Ltd, have both donated to Stuart Nash.
They are also commercial property owners who had an interest in the Cabinet decision.
That crosses a line that is totally unacceptable to me.
I expect Ministers to uphold the highest ethical standards and his actions raise perceptions of influence which cannot stand.
Hipkins points out that in recent weeks he had sought and been given assurances from Nash that there were no other instances or allegations of misconduct he should be aware of.
While Stuart was on a final warning, I want to be clear that this incident would have resulted in his dismissal in its own right. I consider the matter to be a very serious one.
Three other ministers will carry bigger workloads as a consequence.
Megan Woods will be Acting Minister for Economic Development and Acting Minister of Forestry, and David Parker will be Acting Minister for Oceans and Fisheries.
Meka Whaitiri will lead the Hawke’s Bay Cyclone response until further notice.
Nash perhaps kept the PM too busy to pay much attention to Greens co-leader Marama Davidson.
But while she has apologised to him for saying “white cis men” cause most violence in the world, she told Parliament yesterday she would not be apologising to anyone else.
According to a TV one account of proceedings, National’s Louise Upston asked whether Davidson would apologise.
Davidson replied “no”.
ACT Party MP Karen Chhour was no more successful when she asked if Davidson accepted her words about “white cis men” were “offensive and highly inappropriate to victims of family and sexual violence”.
“Will she apologise today to them, for making a mockery of such a serious issue?”
Davidson said only that she “clarified” what she intended to say.
It looks like we will have to bide our time to see if she transgresses on three more occasions.
Point of Order 
Can’t wait. She really is not worth the money, is she? Has Mārama Davidson ever made a useful contribution to the running of the country? Someone? Anyone?
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