Editorial: Back to square one, $26m later ...

Mark Dawson, Editor of Wanganui Chronicle

ONE doesn't like to say, "I told you so ..."

Hang on a minute - it can actually be rather nice to say it. So, Mr Key, I told you so ...

With requisite smugness, I would like to point out that back in November 2014 - in this very column - I wrote that despite the Prime Minister's best endeavours, the country was likely to decide not to change its flag and that $26 million would have been spent getting us nowhere.

My Madame Rosa-like clairvoyance did not extend to foreseeing the depths and divisiveness to which the flag referendum would take us, but I was basically on the money.

And please don't swallow that hogwash that it was money well spent because we have had "a wonderful national conversation" about "New Zealand's identity".

What we have been treated to is the over-extension of one man's ego, endless political point-scoring, and a classic example of the spendthrift nature of quasi-bureaucracy as the - oh my dear - "Flag Consideration Panel" stuffed wads of our dollars into their pockets for doing not very much.

At least we have been spared the millions of dollars it would have cost to change NZ flags around the country, around the world, on our passports, etc.

Also disappointing was the TV One news coverage of the decision - admittedly an interim decision which has the current flag fluttering with 56.6 per cent, and the challenging silver fern hanging limply at 43.2 per cent.

The over-excitable political reporter Katie Bradford said the result clearly showed an appetite for change. Excuse me, 56.6 per cent for the status quo clearly shows an appetite for no change.

From the travails of one National Party figure to the travails of another.

Whanganui MP Chester Borrows was involved in an incident on Tuesday in which he appears to have run over the foot of anti-TPP protester Tracy Treadwell.

Fortunately, Ms Treadwell does not appear to have been too seriously hurt in what was clearly an accident.

I would not seek to influence any police investigation or subsequent proceedings, but the Chronicle's video of the incident suggests failings on all sides.

Mr Borrows may wish he had brought his car to a halt until his path from the Collegiate Motor Inn carpark to Liverpool St had been more obviously clear, while those who put themselves in front of moving vehicles might be considered to be accepting some risk of collision.

And the police officers on duty might have moved a bit more sharply to clear a way for the MP's car to depart.

A regrettable occurrence but, hopefully, one with no lasting effects.