Curran opens up about her ‘traumatic time’
Social media attacks directed at Clare Curran after her controversial resignation were ‘‘vile and personal’’, the former minister says.
Curran resigned last month as broadcasting minister citing ‘‘intolerable’’ pressure after questions over her use of a personal email account for government business. The Dunedin South MP told Stuff her demotion was ‘‘a traumatic time for myself and my family’’.
‘‘Families don’t choose political life but they bear the consequences of ongoing sustained public criticism and ridicule of their family member.
‘‘This can be really hard on them. This has been the toughest thing for me to deal with.’’
Curran was demoted from Cabinet in August when it emerged she had failed to declare a second meeting – an evening Beehive meeting – with technologist Derek Handley, in response to a question from the Opposition.
That meeting was set up using her personal Gmail account, which led to further questions in the days leading up to her resignation from her ministerial portfolio.
Curran said she was ‘‘astonished’’ over the support, mainly from Dunedinites, but also hundreds of emails, letters and cards from throughout the country. ‘‘A few days ago I was out for a walk when a man playing golf made an effort to stop me and say that Dunedin people had my back.’’ Curran deleted her Twitter account in the days after her resignation, but has since restarted the account. During her resignation statement to media, Curran pledged to stay on as Dunedin South MP. However, ‘‘due to the media coverage of my resignation as a minister’’, some constituents thought she had left Parliament.
‘‘I have done my best to reassure my constituents I am still very much their elected representative.’’
When asked what she would say to her constituents, Curran said she was elected to advocate for Dunedin South, ‘‘and the whole of Dunedin’s best interests’’. She stopped short of committing to contest the next election, saying ‘‘as all members of Parliament do, I’ll make that decision when it’s time’’.