He declared a "perception" of a conflict, he said, because he had lobbied for the project, Manea Footprints of Kupe, when he was an Opposition MP and knew its main proponent, the late Whetu Naera. In 2014 the project had wanted to appoint him its chairman, an idea he calls "wishful thinking". He says he neither has nor ever has had any other interest in the project.
That assurance should settle the question of personal interest. Many, though, are more concerned about his and his party's political interest. He and his leader, Winston Peters, stood in Northland electorates at the last election and on current polling NZ First will need to win an electorate next time to remain in Parliament.
There is a perception Northland is doing very well out of the regional growth fund. In fact, as we reported on March 1, Northland is one of three regions dominating the grants. The others, Tairawhiti on the East Coast ($157 million), and the West Coast of the South Island ($138 million) exceed Northland's not quite $100 million so far.
Northland ought to be among the highest recipients. It has one of the worst unemployment rates in the country.
Jones of course does not discourage the perception in Northland that the region stands to gain from a Minister of Regional Economic Development with local knowledge and connections in the North. But if he stands to gain politically, he also stands to lose if too many projects are as poorly planned as the forestry venture that had to mulch pine seedlings last year.
The minister should be less concerned with "perception" than reality. If he has no real conflict of interest he should not declare one.