Jones u-turns on fisheries job

Following a chat with Helen Clark, new Labour MP Shane Jones will give up his Government-appointed job chairing a fisheries trust - but will take his time to allow for a proper "transition".

Mr Jones said this could take six months to a year, although it could happen earlier.

He refused to elaborate on why the timeframe was so elastic, but is likely to be giving himself room to hasten the process if he was given an associate ministerial portfolio outside Cabinet.

Earlier this week Mr Jones told the Herald he had no intention of giving up the chairmanship of Te Ohu Kaimoana, worth $70,000 a year.
The four-year appointment was made by Maori Affairs Minister Parekura Horomia last year.

There are no rules barring MPs continuing to hold directorships or similar positions in private organisations and it is considered up to the MP to decide whether or not it presents a conflict of interest.

National deputy leader Gerry Brownlee has said it was inappropriate for an MP to hold a directorship which was a Government appointment.

Mr Brownlee has also argued that, while not a statutory body, Te Ohu was set up by statute.

Involved in administering, allocating and transferring fishing assets to iwi organisations, it was a highly political role, Mr Brownlee said.

Labour's Maryan Street gave up her job as a Government appointee to the Crown Forestry Rental Trust when she became an MP, saying in her view it was inappropriate for her to hold the two roles.

Helen Clark avoided comment on Mr Jones for two days, but yesterday her spokesman said it was not an issue because "she does not expect him to be in the position for a long time".

It is understood she spoke to Mr Jones about the matter on Tuesday and it was agreed he was "in transition".

He said yesterday he was "in a transition from the world of Maori fisheries into the realm of parliamentary life".

Te Ohu was also in transition, he said, as there were "complex and tribally sensitive issues to be worked through with my fellow trustees" before he left. Mr Jones said he would discuss his retirement from the job with directors at a meeting this year, when plans for his successor would be drawn up.

Mr Jones was scathing about Mr Brownlee, saying he was "notorious for his anti-Maori stance. He is like a huhu grub trying to chomp on the limbs of the Maori family tree".

"National need to address their own issues such as the status of Colin King, Kaikoura MP, also a member of the Meat Board."

Mr King - not a Government appointment - said yesterday he planned to retire from his $35,000 a year directorship at the board's annual meeting in March, by which time new directors would have been elected.