“At the other end of the scale, embattled Maori Party MP Hone Harawira scored a rare 0, along with the comment: “Has no respect for Parliament and shouldn’t be there.”"

(From here: http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/3134210/Lockwood-Smith-tops-in-Parliament )

I totally agree

In fact it would probably be easier to mention those who didn’t cheat the system. These ’scandals’ have come and gone through all parties since I have been alive.
I can only think of one politician, that would be our multi millionaire Prime Minister who is willing to dip into his own pocket to keep his image clean.

“Maori Party co-leader Pita Sharples attended a hui in Auckland today and later said the board was insufficient to represent Maori interests.
He said if the Maori Party decided to launch a public campaign for Maori seats, MP Hone Harawira would lead it…
…Dr Sharples told Radio New Zealand it was unlikely the cabinet would reverse its decision, and another option was for Maori to support a mayoral candidate who favoured dedicated seats for Maori.

It is some consolation that Dr. Pita Sharples has acknowledged that Cainet would most likely not reverse its decision, but my concern is the bit before that. It says, “if the Maori Party decides to launch a public campaign for Maori seats, MP Hone Harawira would lead it. Would it not just be sensible to keep Harawira out of these controversial issues for a bit. The last thing we need is another slipped racist comment and all this mess and unnecessary media focus again.

The link to this artile is: http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/3128894/Maori-Party-still-pushing-for-Maori-seats-on-council
and titled, ‘Maori Party still pushing for Maori seats on council’.

By the way, does anyone know how to put italics on the comments?

Think my point is more that people, and particularly the media through which most people gain their perceptions of politics, are afraid to ask the Maori Party tough questions. It’s a frustrating confusion that the Maori Party represents Maori, it doesn’t.

If your question were should it be? The fairness and balance, yes… the PC stuff… depends what you call PC.

It shows corruptness. I had hoped that, given this is taxpayer money, Parliament would have wielded a bigger stick than they have. Corrupt behaviour with taxpayer money is not just the concern of the Maori Party. It is the concern of Parliament. Pay attention, Lockwood. Having him contribute to the costs is a wet bus ticket.

And not the first time he has done it. He should not be there. He, Philip Field and Donna Awatere belong in the same basket.

No I would have been more sophisticated than Hone. I would have asked Bill English for his lawyers phone number, then arranged a sick note from his wife, all paid via the trust account to avoid any suggestion of impropriety.