Kiwis want a different political environment: PM

AUCKLAND: New Zealand’s political environment needs to change, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says.

Speaking to reporters yesterday after a bruising week for the National Party, Ms Ardern said New Zealanders wanted a different political environment.

‘‘We want politics to be a place that good people want to come and serve, and where people who vote have confidence in the system that serves them. We all have a responsibility to change the nature of politics in New Zealand,’’ she said.

‘‘I talk about kindness a lot. I don’t just mean in the way we deliver our policies and our services. I mean the way we do business as well and the nature of our political environment. So, yes, I do think things need to be different.

‘‘We do want a different political environment and I think New Zealanders want that too.’’

Ms Ardern declined to comment on reports that a woman allegedly harassed by MP JamiLee Ross signed a confidentiality agreement, saying ‘‘those are ultimately matters for the National Party and for the National Party to answer.’’

Asked whether there should be an investigation into ‘‘cashforcandidate’’ allegations levelled at National after Mr Ross released a recording of a discussion between him and leader Simon Bridges, she said: ‘‘It is all incumbent on each of us as political parties to make sure that we maintain the law and act appropriately.’’

Ms Ardern said a select committee could potentially look at whether electoral laws were robust enough.

The taped conversation between Bridges and Ross opened National up to accusations of a cashforcandidates policy, prompting the Green Party to call for sweeping changes to political donations.

The conversation about a $100,000 donation to the National Party, following a dinner with Yikun Zhang and Colin Zheng, also traversed how to include another Chinese MP in the caucus.

‘‘Now there’s no catch or anything to it. You may recall at the dinner they did discuss candidacy, and another Chinese candidate,’’ Mr Ross said in the recording, also noting that Mr Zheng had signed up for candidates’ college.

Mr Bridges then talks about getting rid of some current MPs to make way for new ones, adding that it is ‘‘bloody hard, you’ve only got so much space . . . Two Chinese [MPs] would be nice’’.

Mr Bridges said yesterday he did not believe they discussed candidacy at the dinner and he denied National Party list places were for sale.

But Green Party coleader Marama Davidson said the recording suggested National list positions could be bought.

She called for sweeping changes, including removing anonymity for donations over $1000, capping individual donations at $35,000, banning overseas donations and increasing public money for campaigning.

But New Zealand First leader Winston Peters disagreed.

‘‘I don’t believe the taxpayer should be funding political parties to the degree that the Green Party says. The reality is, if you’ve got a consumer demand politically, people out there will back you,’’ he said. — NZME