Merepeka Raukawa-Tait: I have some sympathy for Banks

Merepeka Raukawa-Tait has some sympathy for John Banks, pictured after the judge's guilty verdict last week. Photo/File

I'm sure it was Merv Wellington, shortly after he left parliament, who said "nothing disappears from public memory as quickly as a former Member of Parliament".

In John Banks' case who knows? Reinvention takes place all the time. And not just after a brush with the law. As a wealthy businessman he could pop up again in any number of different guises. Then again he might return to what he once did, as so many former MPs have, and become a radio talkback host.

John Tamihere, Willie Jackson, Michael Laws, Rodney Hyde and Pam Corkery all had stints at talkback hosting since they left parliament. The only one still going strong is Willie Jackson with his own talkback show on Radio Live.

The others had varying degrees of success at the job. John Banks used to say his show was where "listeners would hear the truth. A show for honest New Zealanders".

It's understandable former MPs lean towards talkback hosting. They can continue to pontificate, offer their musings, lambast those who don't share their opinions and generally be overbearing.

Many of the callers give as good as they get too. I would often listen to JT and Willie co-hosting, usually when driving, and crack up at some of their jokes and opinions. They could be quite irreverent.

Since Thursday talkback callers have been out in full force. They seem to take great delight in putting the boot into John Banks. As soon as the judge gave his verdict, guilty of knowingly filing a false electoral return, the number of talkback callers went into overdrive.

Being dishonest isn't rated highly and neither should it be. But listening to the callers it seemed that John Banks being found guilty was an opportunity to tell the world, or whoever might be listening, what was wrong with the country, parliament and our prime minister too of course.

John Banks was even blamed for the number of Asians buying homes in New Zealand and taking the skilled jobs.

Bad driving habits, unaffordable house prices and low wages were his fault too. The callers seemed to see John Banks as being responsible for, or at least by being a member of parliament, everything that is wrong with New Zealand. He must be the devil incarnate.

I feel sorry for John Banks. There are few of us who haven't made a stupid mistake or done something dumb in the past. We shouldn't lie about it but come clean as soon as possible. If we do get caught out, away from preying eyes, we can attempt to make amends.

Try to put things right. Say we're sorry and ask for forgiveness. Little of this compassion will be available to John Banks if talkback callers are anything to go by.

The higher up you are, the more delight we take when you fall. We demand our extract pound of flesh. This is an ugly side to human nature.

We do hold our politicians, local and central government, to higher standards of account. This is as it should be. But when they are found wanting and justice needs to be served, and is done, let that be the end of it. Being all righteous and sanctimonious and wanting to grind the offender into the dirt comes very close to dancing around the stake with flames and sparks flying.

The talkback callers, while supposedly calling to give their views on the verdict, appeared to be in full blame mode for their unhappy lot. Perhaps holding a mirror in front of themselves might be a better place to start. Be grateful for what they do have and cut a fellow human being some slack.

Merepeka lives in Rotorua. She writes, speaks and broadcasts to thwart the spread of political correctness.