KEY POINTS:
Local Government Minister Mark Burton was turned into mince meat in the House this afternoon in an extraordinary display by Labour's confidence and supply partner New Zealand First over, of all things, the inquiry into local government rates.
The inquiry was set up at the behest of New Zealand
First but the party clearly feels it was treated shabbily by Burton over the release of the report last week.
Brian Donnelly rattled through a series of questions highlighting the party's grievances about the way it had been treated by Burton.
He detailed all the things Burton could have done to acknowledge the party's role in the inquiry.
He said Burton could take lessons from Health Minister Pete Hodgson in how to treat a confidence and supply partner.
And he even suggested, rather fancifully, that he should resign. He is actually much more likely to be sacked in the upcoming reshuffle.
There is no serious suggestion that the episode has led to instability in the arrangements of Government. But it is a shot across Labour's bow by New Zealand First not to take it for granted.
The House has never been used before in such a way before. If it were used too often like that, it could lead to instability.
Burton tried to laugh it off. But he was humiliated, or at least he should have been.
Here's how Donnelly landed some of his blows to Burton:
* "Has he or his staff been briefed on the details of the Confidence and Supply Agreement with New Zealand First, in particular the part that says: That the relationship between New Zealand First and the government will be based on good faith and no surprises, and does he believe that his failure to provide a timely pre-public release briefing to New Zealand First, his failure to inform New Zealand First of the press conference until the day it was to take place, the failure of his staff to send a copy of the report when they had promised to do so and his complete exclusion of any reference to New Zealand First's role in securing the inquiry demonstrates acting in good faith with no surprises?"
* "Would the Minister consider taking lessons in how to treat confidence and supply partners from his fellow minister Pete Hodgson who, in stark contrast to the Minister's own actions, gave credit where credit was due at the recent announcement of free doctors visits for under sixes, including ensuring my colleague Barbara Stewart was at the official photo opportunity, having kept her fully informed and giving appropriate credit to New Zealand First in his press release, if not, why not?"
* "Does the Minister understand what the terms good faith and no surprises mean, and if his poor judgment in this matter jeopardises the otherwise constructive relationship between New Zealand First and the government, why does he not do the honourable thing and resign?"
Donnelly, or Excellency, as I now refer to him as the likely next High Commissioner to the Cook Islands was great. What a waste to pack him off to the Cooks. He clearly has the goods to take over from Winston Peters once he calls it a day.
