Helen Clark appeared stern as she told journalists at the news conference that she would deal with the Peters issue fairly and with dignity. Photo / Richard Robinson
It was over in less than 10 minutes.
In stark contrast to the months of wrangling from Winston Peters, Helen Clark swiftly swept in and out of SkyCity late yesterday afternoon - in those few brief moments in between delivering the news that the Foreign Minister had stood
aside.
Clark fronted alone. Peters was conspicuous by his absence.
The Prime Minister had come directly from a meeting with the NZ First leader at a private home in upmarket Parnell and arrived at the casino just before 6pm as if she was there to say what needed to be said.
About 20 journalists had been waiting for Clark to pull up outside the Grand Hotel but were shuffled across the road and into a ground floor conference room in the casino building.
Within minutes, the clatter of footsteps from Clark and her entourage sounded. While her minders stayed at the back, the PM strode to the front.
She spoke into the bank of microphones staunchly on message, as communications experts say, reinforcing three times in the short period that Peters offered his "total co-operation" during their chat.
Clark was stern, yes, but she spoke in the same measured manner that has become so familiar from the nation's leader over the past nine years.
There was little to suggest even the pressure of having a major political power broker under investigation was getting to her. She laid out the situation matter-of-factly in an address that lasted just under a minute.
Having to "deal with" such issues was part of her job, and Clark had a desire to do so fairly and with dignity.
"It will still be my hope that this matter can be addressed very quickly," she said.
With that, she was off out the door again and into a waiting car.
