PM confirms heads-up from Speaker before inquiry axed
New Zealanders are being treated to light shows of all kinds with stargazers celebrating the most spectacular natural aurora seen in years over the South Island and Wellington on Sunday night, just as Auckland’s Eden Park lights up with a multi-coloured display. Otago Museum director Dr Ian Griffin tweeted: “I am officially saying this night was the best night ever as an aurora chaser in Dunedin. It gets no better.” Christchurch stargazer Graham Fisher said: “We don’t normally see the aurora with a full moon, as the sky is so bright. Tonight’s was stunning, appearing while the sun was still setting, and with overhead Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has confirmed she spoke to Speaker Trevor Mallard last Friday before he announced the cancellation of the inquiry into leaked travel expenses, but says their conversation was to advise her of his decision.
“It was not a dialogue,” her spokesman said. “She did not have any input into the decision.”
She did not know who the leaker was and she did not have any conversation with the Speaker about who it might be, the spokesman said.
National is still angry that Mallard cancelled the inquiry on Friday, a day after confirming the inquiry, and a beams at times. What a night!” Griffin, who migrated to Dunedin from Britain five years ago, said he had never seen any aurora as dramatic as the one he saw from Hoopers Inlet on Otago Peninsula at 7.20pm on Sunday: “We were very, very privileged to see it.” Meanwhile, Eden Park has unveiled coloured lighting of its main stadium, supplied by Philips Lighting, that will change to support various charities and events such as Daffodil Day and the 125th anniversary of women’s suffrage.
— Simon Collins week after receiving a text from someone claiming to be the leaker.
The texter claimed to be a National MP and asked for the inquiry to be called off on mental health grounds.
National leader Simon Bridges, who also received the text, has suggested Mallard was influenced by Ardern’s public comments when she said it was an internal matter for National and should be dealt with sensitively.
Shadow leader of the House Gerry Brownlee said yesterday there had been no need for Mallard to advise the Prime Minister of his decision to cancel the inquiry.
Mallard had said he believed the leak came from National and the Prime Minister had said it should be dealt with sensitively, said Brownlee.
“On what basis do they make that statement? Do they know? And are they simply not telling us because of some commitments around parliamentary security and diplomatic protection security?”
Brownlee said the content of the text message was not conclusive proof that the person was a National MP.
RNZ revealed at 6am on Friday that the text had been sent the week
HWatch video of the Eden Park lights at nzherald.co.nz before, Bridges had a standup at about 9.30am and revealed he had referred the text to the police, Ardern made her comments about the National Party about 10am, Mallard spoke to Simon Bridges at 11.30am, Mallard spoke to the Prime Minister at 11.45am, and he issued his statement cancelling the inquiry about 12.45pm.
Brownlee said if Mallard knew who the person was who leaked the document and sent the texts, he should tell National.
Mallard has been asked for comment but he is on holiday abroad and after cancelling the inquiry on Friday said he would not be commenting further.