KEY POINTS:
The Prime Minister has written an ominous note to Parliament's Speaker about sponsorship of the MPs' rugby team.
A newspaper article last week "raises issues", she wrote to Margaret Wilson, "which you may wish to consider and discuss with party leaders or their representatives. Team sponsorship may also raise ethical questions the Speaker may wish to consider".
So ends, probably, a harmless and charming tradition. What could be more in tune with this country than the pleasure that a few of its male MPs derive from an occasional game of rugby? What could be the harm in accepting sponsorship for their recent trip to France?
The sponsorship had been organised by a representative of Sky TV, as it has been for years. Sky TV has an obvious interest in rugby. So do some of the other sponsors: Air New Zealand, adidas, Lion Nathan, Visa, McDonald's and AMP. The French Government provided internal travel and accommodation.
Besides playing and accepting free tickets to the opening of the Rugby World Cup, the MPs attended receptions at the New Zealand Embassy and functions hosted by the French Parliament.
It is hard to see much harm in this. The All Blacks are celebrated in France. The French Government is making the most of the connection.
The commercial sponsors no doubt used the trip as they would any chance to get the ear of an MP.
Lobbying is a long way from corruption. If this trip was unethical, we have become too sanctimonious for words, or play.
