When will the Nats learn that putting Pesata Sam Lotu-iiga (the person yet to resign as an Auckland City Councillor) up to ask Bill English (resident of Dipton -yeah right) questions on fiscal prudence should stop.
Once was a mistake, twice was silly, three times inept and four unbelievable.
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How can he appropriately serve the Maungakiekie electorate (where I used to reside and still own a house so it’s near to my heart) AND his ACC responsibilities AND his wider MP role? Answer: he can’t. Any other full time job would have required him to quit his old job…can’t imagine my employer being happy with me holding down other position…
Personally, I don’t have a problem with Sam Lotu-iiga continuing to be an Auckland City Councillor and an electorate MP, in fact the two roles are pretty compatible, in my view. It’s out in the open, and his electorate, both of them, don’t seem to mind, and he brings a Pacific voice to the Council. If he wants to stand for the super city next year, then the people will judge that decision in the usual way.
The roles are not compatible, because they both demand such a lot of work. You might think that one would reduce work in the other, but that isn’t what happens.
George D, while I accept that both roles “demand a lot of work” your position that they are not compatible is not convincing. There must be loads of overlap, and if the role is primarily to represent people’s views and help people out with their problems, that must deliver a synergy. In fact, it may be an advantage to local folks to have a local MP and a local City Councillor wrapped up in one.
Man, he must be raking in the dough!
I agree with Jennifer that having him on both could be an advantage. I hope he is doing both jobs justice and not doing them half a****. If people don’t like his performance then they can boot him out.
Of course there’s a lot of overlap. There is far less overlap and far more work involved in being a Minister and an electorate MP, or being a Party Leader and an electorate MP.
Ultimately it’s up to Mr Lotu-Iiga’s constituents to decide whether he’s doing a good job. They certainly were aware of the issue when he was standing for Parliament yet he still managed to turn a 6,000 Labour safe seat into a two thousand majority against one of Labour’s best and brightest.
With massive boundary changes in his favour Tim. And while one theory is that he is asking Bill the questions because other Nats are wary of being associated with Bill another is that he does it just to prove he is in Wellington doing his MP job sometimes.
The boundary changes might have accounted for 1500 votes Mr Mallard, but no more. It was a huge turnaround by any margin. I understand Ms Bennett faced massive boundary changes as well, but against her.