In the NZ Herald of 23/7, an article under the headline “Uni Boss denies conflict of interest” relates to questions being raised about Vice Chancellor Neil Quigley’s role as Reserve Bank Chairman and his role at the university that has just confirmed $82 million dollars of government funding for a new medical school.
What I find highly ironical, in fact laughable, is Labour’s health spokeswoman, Dr Ayesha Verrall, claiming “…questions should be asked if the deal was a “you scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours” arrangement between Quigley and the Government, given Quigley’s role with the Reserve Bank.”
If a Labour politician raising questions about conflict of interest is not contradictory in the extreme, well I don’t know what is!
Does nepotism and conflicts of interest become any murkier, or is it obvious, than former Labour MP and minister, Nanaia Mahuta’s antics in 2022 which provoked serious allegations about government contracts awarded to family members and worryingly, manipulation of senior government appointments.
Mahuta’s husband Gannin Ormsby and two members of her extended family were appointed to a five-member working group researching the use of traditional Māori knowledge and its applications to waste management.
That’s right, traditional Māori knowledge and its applications to waste management!
The Ministry said they “identified the members of the group based on their expertise on waste minimisation and circular economy initiatives.” Yeah right!
Verrall piously submitted “Releasing the costings for the medical school and how it stacks up against alternative options is important.”
There were never any checks on expertise, costings comparisons and alternative options explored back in Mahuta’s days!
Give me a break Ayesha!
No Minister 