Winston Peters' fans are nothing if not loyal. Despite repeated evidence of untruths and obfuscation, there are those in whose mind the New Zealand First leader can do no wrong. But how will they feel about the latest revelations of emails indicating that, as Foreign Affairs Minister, Peters pushed for his benefactorOwen Glenn to be appointed honourary consul to Monaco? Peters has said he made no such move _ that his only action was to hurry the ministry along in deciding whether such a post in Monaco was required. Pressed on the matter today, he changed the subject to includea wide-ranging monologue covering the ministry's ``tardy' decision-making over a similar appointment in the Ukraine, and the organisation of his trip to North Korea. Red herrings aside, though, the email correspondence seems clear. Documents which the Ombudsman had to force the Government to release under the Official Information Act indicate a clear trail of involvement by Peters, naming Owen Glenn and referring to him as the candidate of Peters' choice. Later emails referred to Peters' annoyance that the appointment was not being progressed more quickly. This, of course, was the same Owen Glenn who donated $100,000 to NZ First. Peters, who at first denied knowledge of that donation, was later found in contempt of Parliament for not disclosing it. Despite the fact that the Serious Fraud Office cleared the party of illegal actions over its donations anomalies, and the Electoral Commission ruled that the party secretary did not commit an offence when she filed an incorrect 2007 donations return, there remains the issue that Peters has not been honest with his supporters, nor with Parliament. How much more will his backers take? Coming just days before the election, will this latest Glenn issue raise doubts over the credibility of the New Zealand First leader? As for Prime Minister Helen Clark's expressed opinion that there was ``no issue' over Peters' influence in the Monaco consulate saga because no appointment had been made, that would seem to fly in the fact of Labour's own election slogan _ it's about trust. Once again, we have heard emphatic denials. Once again, documents reveal another story. It feels like we have been here before. Laura Franklin, editor
