On May 1, 2014 the New Zealand Herald reported on a complaint that Denis O’Rourke had through Parliamentary Services employed his live in partner to be his assistant. He denied the allegation and at this time no further action is being taken about the complaint.
Today the Dominion Post has reported that National MP Claudette Hauiti has employed her partner to work for her as an issues assistant in her Electorate Office. From the article:
List MP Claudette Hauiti’s wife, Nadine Mau, was employed as an issues assistant in Hauiti’s electorate office in Auckland from April 7 until last Wednesday when she was sacked.
Under direction from Speaker David Carter, MPs are not allowed to employ their spouse or partner, either in or outside Parliament.
Hauiti said she was unaware of the prohibition on employing spouses when she contracted her wife to work in her office.
“I’m really disappointed that I didn’t know the rules, I’ve only been here a year and I should have kept up to speed with that and I didn’t.
“I made a really big mistake.”
I note that the intervention happened only after a Parliamentary Services Staff Member alerted speaker David Carter. Hauiti’s wife was fired on May 7 and the speaker advised on May 5. How she missed Denis O’Rourke’s very public difficulties has not been explained.
Crosby Textor will not be pleased. If you wanted a further example of how National is out of touch and only looking after themselves at the expense of ordinary Kiwis this is it.
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