Government hungry for an answer after hikoi feed

Who could blame Parekura Horomia and Shane Jones for succumbing to the tempting allure of a Big Mac, medium or large fries, Chicken McNuggets or even - if they were feeling especially virtuous - a Crispy Chicken Snack Wrap?

However, the next time the two MPs spot a McDonald's while engaged in the deadly serious pursuit of representing the Labour Party on a protest march, they may since have been persuaded to keep walking no matter how much their stomachs might be rumbling.

For rumbling stomachs saw them rumbled on Monday when they were spied taking a brief excursion from the Super City hikoi to replenish themselves under the Golden Arches. And weren't National MPs just lovin' it in Parliament yesterday. Better that the pair had taken the good advice of Ronald McDonald: "If you are hungry, for a quick snack try a fresh piece of fruit."

For they were ribbed mercilessly as Jones attempted to use question time to deepen the wedge between Act and the Maori Party over whether there should be Maori seats on the Auckland Council.

This is the first time that the two parties which give the National minority Government a majority in Parliament have been so publicly at odds. Until National can arbitrate a compromise, there is rich opportunity for Labour to make mischief.

However, effective Opposition means leaving no gaps in one's defences. Jones and Horomia's sortie into McDonald's, which could be painted by opponents as wagging on the job or not being totally staunch in their protest, provided such an opening by enabling ministers to turn the question back on the questioner.

Treaty Negotiations Minister Chris Finlayson was the first to exploit this in replying to a question from the Maori Party's Te Ururoa Flavell asking whether the Government was willing to establish some kind of forum for the Crown and Auckland Maori to have a dialogue on council membership based on the Treaty's partnership principle.

Finlayson would not be drawn, saying only that the Government encouraged dialogue between all parties. "I suppose yesterday's hikoi was another form of dialogue between Maori and the Crown, although I note that the Hon Shane Jones and the Hon Parekura Horomia chose to conduct their dialogue over the counter at McDonald's."

When it was his turn to ask the questions, Jones did not help his or Labour's cause by completely fluffing one of them to Local Government Minister and Act leader Rodney Hide, who has gone out on a limb by being so trenchant in opposing separate Maori representation on the new council.

Jones twice broke the archaic, but basic rule of the House that "you" not be used when questioning a minister. As questions are addressed through the Speaker, "you" is taken as referring to Speaker Lockwood Smith - and the rules state the Speaker cannot be dragged into debate.

Trying again, Jones began "Mr Hide" when he meant to say "Mr Speaker". With fresh laughter engulfing the Government benches, Jones provoked more merriment by calling for order - exclusively the Speaker's job.

"The Hon Shane Jones, please concentrate," an increasingly exasperated Smith pleaded.

All in all, for Jones and Horomia, Monday's fast-food fix turned out to be not a very Happy Meal.