Editorial: The truth about lying

Mark Dawson, Editor of Wanganui Chronicle

A couple of weeks ago, at the time of the Budget, I exhorted politicans to tell the truth.

The case in point was Finance Minister Steven Joyce dolling out tax cuts and largesse to all and sundry, and I suggested he should admit his generosity was - in part at least - in the hope that people would vote National at September's election.

After the events of this week, I should modify my "tell the truth" request to "stop lying".

Clutha-Southland MP Todd Barclay made secret recordings of his electorate agent who was in an employment dispute with him.

When questioned about such recordings, he denied having made any ... that was until Tuesday when Prime Minister Bill English pulled the rug from under his young MP.

Barclay was forced to admit he had made recordings and apologised for "misleading" statements. "Misleading" is a cowardly choice of words - why did he not apologise for "lying"?

Why did he not say: "I lied to cover my backside"? To do so would have been honest; it would have been a first step on the road to redemption.

Bill English's honesty is also in question. He repeatedly said he could not remember who told him about the recordings, yet he had earlier told police that Barclay had told him about them.

And, of course, he sat there silently listening to Barclay deny the existence of any such recordings when he knew they were very real. Could this be lying by association?

The saga shows that you suffer less damage if you front up and admit what you've done straight away. Deception, evasion - and lying - are usually found out and only land you deeper in the mire. This is what we teach our kids when they are barely out of nappies.

And so Barclay has been found out - thanks to the much-maligned mainstream media.

The work of journalists has again held those in power to account and revealed the truth to the New Zealand public. Shame the media get such a bad press.