Editorial: Too much information robs office of dignity

John Key. Photo / Kim Haughton

How does John Key get away with these things? To expose himself on radio to personal questions to which he can answer only yes or no is bound to endanger the dignity of his office. Thanks to an appearance on Hauraki's breakfast programme, we now know our Prime Minister has, among other things, stolen something and peed in a shower.

Though that is more than we want to know, it is less than we might learn.

If he is going to admit to criminal and social offences, it begs a number of questions.

What did he steal? Whose shower? Why? Let's not ask.

He did not seem at all embarrassed this week when the radio segment was screened on American television's popular satirical programme Last Week Tonight.

English host John Oliver - who already finds New Zealand a resource for ridicule - ought to come down here, the Prime Minister said, and witness one of his weekly post-Cabinet press conferences.

Like the one in which he mentioned he has had a vasectomy, perhaps?

That was years ago. It cost him no votes; nor will his latest revelations. Those who like him and vote for him will like him all the more for the enjoyment he clearly derives from the lighter side of his job.

Those with no time for him will be disgusted at what he has admitted and think it no part of his job to be answering questions such as these.

He is candid to a fault. He holds our highest elected office and he should treat it with more respect.

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