Editorial: The big questions in a week of politics

Mark Dawson, Editor, Wanganui Chronicle

Hard to avoid the big questions in politics ... no matter how hard you might try.

The obvious one is can new Labour leader Jacinda Ardern spark interest among the non-voting disaffected young by becoming the first New Zealand prime minister to give birth while in office.

As the first country to give women the vote, it would be another worthy notch on our gender equality belt.

I'm not up to speed on the creche facilities in Parliament but, on the day of the Big Latch On, we can surely say it would be no bad thing.

Another question: When is unanimous not unanimous?

Auditor-General Martin Matthews resigned on Thursday just as a report was due to be released concerning his tenure as head of the Ministry of Transport at a time when Joanne Harrison was defrauding it of approximately $720,000 of taxpayers' money.

Now the report will not be made public, with Speaker of the House David Carter saying yesterday that it would be shelved by "unanimous agreement" - which is strange considering that New Zealand First and United Future want it released.

And what about the public who might want to know how accountable Mr Matthews is?
And what about the Ministry of Transport staff who voiced their concerns about Harrison and subsequently lost their jobs?

Locally, one question has been answered.

The doughty Alan Davidson will pad up again for the Act Party for the September 23 election.

But what happened to Colin Anderson whom Act named as its Whanganui candidate in an official release on July 9?

A baffling non-appearance to match that of the Conservative Party's Whanganui candidate Kim MacIntyre in the 2014 election.

A final question: Where is the New Zealand First candidate whom the party promised would be unveiled last month?

Watch this space..