Political life in New Zealand is becoming a lot more publicised. Newbies have to prepare for exposure.
Best to do it before starring on Gotcha, the wretched website where ICT and cage-fighting meet to bloody reputations of the elected. The blows are beyond the Marquess of Queensberry rules but are the prevailing standard.
Whether Kiwis really need to know all about the past or your personal fallibilities is not the issue. Reality is, they can be told instantly - and they will be told in the blogosphere.
Old-timers may harrumph that it is too invasive and the personal is not public. Sorry, but that was before journalism and busybodies became churnalism and trolls.
Mates are important when you are forced to 'fess up or apologise. Not edifying but the beast must be fed. Best get it over and done swiftly. Kiwis do regrettable things but few of us are up to being publicly humiliated.
