Speaker's yuletide letter offends Brash

Parliament's Speaker Jonathan Hunt has upset the National Party by referring in his Christmas newsletter to leader Don Brash as having "played the race card" and to his "flip-flop" on the Civil Union Bill.

Conversely, Prime Minister Helen Clark was described in the most admiring of terms - "one of our finest Prime Ministers".

As a Labour MP, it is not a surprise that Mr Hunt has the views he has on Dr Brash and Helen Clark.

But as Speaker, he is meant to be Parliament's impartial man, not the Government's man. Conveying such partisan views in a form letter could be considered indiscreet and ill-judged.

Mr Hunt, who was awarded New Zealand's top honour - the Order of New Zealand - at New Year, is to resign in the first week of March to become High Commissioner to London. He is the longest-serving MP, having entered Parliament in 1966.

Dr Brash described the comments as "extraordinary statements from someone who is supposed to be impartial".

While it was a letter to friends, it was a sufficiently large group for it not to be personalised, and began "Dear Friends".

He was not expecting an apology: "It's not so much me he owes an apology to; it is the public of New Zealand. He purports to be neutral and impartial.

"I think it is an inappropriate way to describe the Leader of the Opposition frankly."

Dr Brash believed Mr Hunt had "let himself down".

Mr Hunt seemed upset yesterday that his last few weeks as Speaker might be mired on controversy.

He said it was personal and private correspondence and circulated only to a close circle of friends, mainly overseas. He would not say how many people it went to.

Mr Hunt did not think the disclosure of the newsletter would make Dr Brash feel uncomfortable at all with him in the chair.

"I don't see how," Mr Hunt said. "I have a high respect for him. And what I said was what I thought but that doesn't mean to say we have to agree on everything.

"I've always had a high respect for him. In fact, I've had very good relations with him as Speaker, and in fact, I've gone out of my way to assist him."

Meanwhile Act leader Rodney Hide said he would not be congratulating Mr Hunt on his award when Parliament resumed after the summer break.

He said the award was "a joke" and there were now five Labour or former Labour MPs in what should be the 20 most remarkable living New Zealanders: Mr Hunt, Sonja Davies; Whetu Tirakatene-Sullivan, and former Prime Ministers Mike Moore and David Lange. There was only one National person, former Prime Minister Jim Bolger.

Helen Clark defended the award to Mr Hunt: "I think it would be mean-spirited to question that one."

Hunt's newsletter

* "From my position as Speaker I have observed the dominance that [Helen Clark] and her deputy, Michael Cullen, have in the House and the fact that the main Opposition party has not been effective.

* "Don Brash played the race card at a speech at Orewa earlier this year which gave his party an immediate push in the polls but since then, his popularity and influence has waned.

* "I was particularly disappointed with his 'flip-flop' over the Civil Union Bill."