Editorial: Charismatic MP in fight of his career

It is a rare politician whose popularity straddles the main divide of politics as John Tamihere has. As a Labour MP he holds a set of views so hard-nosed that National opponents often used to tell him he was in the wrong party. And although he represents a Maori electorate, his disagreements with tribal privilege have endeared him to the backlash, too. He is a charming and capable politician who conceivably could make it to the top. But right now all such hopes must be put on hold. An audit of the Waipareira Trust has disclosed several worrying issues surrounding his departure from the trust to enter Parliament five years ago.

Foremost among them is the $195,000 payment the trust made to him for his work as its chief executive. The question of whether he or the trust ought to have paid tax on that amount is the issue that caused him to stand aside from his ministerial posts last week while further inquiries are made. But the tax question seems not to be the most serious of the concerns to surface in the past few days. Most people receiving any sort of parting payout from their organisation would probably expect that the organisation had deducted any tax owed. The public is likely to be more disturbed to discover that Mr Tamihere received some such payment despite having publicly declared at the time that he would not accept a "golden handshake". Call it what he might, a parting cash gift of $195,000 is a golden handshake in anybody's language.

Even more disturbing is the comment by the trust chairman, Eynon Delamere, that the payment was not only in recognition of Mr Tamihere's service to the trust but also "for some things we wanted him to achieve in Parliament". Some parliamentary democracies allow elected representatives to accept retainers from interest groups; New Zealand does not. Mr Delamere's comment could have been ill-judged and quite unfair to Mr Tamihere, but the fact that it was made suggests somebody needs to be strongly acquainted with the probity expected of our elected representatives. The comment should be checked and thoroughly investigated by the Cabinet appointee who will inquire into the unpaid tax. Also under inquiry is an $18,648 contribution to Mr Tamihere's 1999 election campaign and a $22,000 bonus paid to him the year before.

For his part Mr Tamihere says the issues are an attempt to divert attention from problems besetting the trust. He has obliviously retained a close interest in the affairs of the body he ran for 10 years. He is critical of its governance since he departed and many of the investments it has made. Indeed, the audit that now embarrasses him appears to have been his initiative.

Political sabotage cannot be discounted as a motive for the results of the audit coming to light as they have in the hands of Act leader Rodney Hide. Mr Tamihere has been a forthright critic of tribal claims to foreshore and seabed and even more of the Maori Party Tariana Turia formed in the wake of the Government's determination to overrule the claims with legislation. He has made powerful enemies among his people and polls suggest that, like all members in Maori seats, he faces a serious challenge from the Maori Party at the next election.

But if political motives are behind the disclosure of the audit report, they cannot be ascribed to the auditor, Deloittes. If Mr Tamihere cannot offer a better response than he has provided so far, his position will be untenable. And the Government's majority will be shaken. Labour would need to enlist the support of yet another party, either the Maori Party, the Greens or NZ First, to retain the confidence of Parliament. But restoring a governing majority might be easier than replacing an MP of Mr Tamihere's promise.

Politics is an unforgiving business, and the Prime Minister is particularly quick to cast out those who come under suspicion. Mr Tamihere may yet have a bright political career ahead of him but if he is found to have fallen short of acceptable standards she should cast that career on the scrapheap.