Careless second crack in fragile-as-glass Cabinet

Losing Clare Curran from Cabinet may have been a case of misfortune for Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.

Losing Meka Whaitiri less than a week later looks like carelessness.

Whaitiri has been stood down as a minister altogether while an investigation is conducted into an alleged altercation this week between the minister and a new staff member.

The Government’s reputation was brought into disrepute by both ministers: Curran for failing to declare a meeting for a second time, which led to a false answer to a parliamentary question for a second time.

That has now been compounded by the Whaitiri investigation. It is being described as an employment matter and the investigation is being conducted by Ministerial Services as the employer of the staffer concerned.

But if was not known before, Ardern will now be aware Whaitiri has had a high staff turnover in 10 months and is seen as difficult to work for. That does not suggest a bright future for the first-time minister.

The recruit at the centre of the allegation, in a media-adviser position, had been there less than a fortnight.

Ardern was swifter in her response with Whaitiri than Curran.

Ardern stood Whaitiri aside yesterday after being told of a “staffing matter” on Wednesday.

The Curran demotion took four days.

Ardern has been more economical on her commentary about the Whaitiri matter too because of privacy interests which, happily for Ardern, coincide with her political interests.

Like many new Prime Ministers, she came to office full of promises about setting higher standards.

She may insist she is meeting those standards when ministers pay the price.

But with a backbench itching with ambition, Ardern can afford to be fussier.