Smart approach in National’s probing of Prime Minister

From an Opposition party’s view point, National asked the cleverest of questions to Jacinda Ardern in the House today — because she had no choice but not to answer.

National leader Simon Bridges asked repeatedly if she had confidence that Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters has acted within the law at all times.

To answer “No” would have been unthinkable.

To answer “Yes” would have been untruthful when she has no way of knowing.

So instead of answering the questions, Ardern did in the House what she had done with reporters on her way into the House — answer a question she was not asked.

She vowed and declared it would not be proper for one political party, Labour, to inquire into the practices of another, New Zealand First.

She was leaving that to the independent agencies.

If in doubt, deflect.

Ardern could have told Parliament that NZ First leader and Deputy Prime Minister Peters had given her the private assurance that he believed his party’s donations vehicle, the NZ First Foundation, had acted entirely lawfully — as he has done publicly.

But if the Electoral Commission decides there are enough unsatisfactory answers from the foundation to refer the matter to the police such assurances would not only be worthless but they would be used as a political weapon against Coalition unity.

It would become an issue not just about donations, but whether Ardern could trust Peters.

She did, however, get her own hits against National and was one of several Government members to remind the Opposition about the Serious Fraud Office investigation after a complaint by ex-National MP Jami-Lee Ross to police.

The National Party had an uphill job not so much against the Government as against Speaker Trevor Mallard, who seemed in a particularly sensitive mood.

Mallard has likened National MPs to jungle animals in the past. On this occasion it was Australians.

Bridges grimaced after Mallard made him withdraw and apologise for an interjection.

Mallard said that Bridges’ facial expressions reminded him of Australian Wallabies’ coach Michael Cheika — “and it’s just inappropriate for Parliament”.

It is not clear what was motivating Mallard because he has developed a low tolerance of Bridges on most days.

But the politician in Mallard may have had a sense of dread.

Mallard was a pivotal background player in the 2008 donations scandal involving New Zealand First and an undeclared $100,000 donation from businessman Owen Glenn.

He knows more than most how damaging such sagas become once they take grip.

Mallard was with Helen Clark in Auckland the day in February 2008 that Glenn — Labour’s biggest donor at the time — privately told her that he had donated $100,000 to New Zealand First after Peters had asked him for it.

A week later, Peters held up his “No” sign at a press conference when asked about a donation from Glenn.

It took five months for Peters to acknowledge the donation, saying he had only found out about it from his lawyer, Brian Henry, who also runs the New Zealand First Foundation.

The politician in Mallard may have had a sense of dread.