10. Hon PETE HODGSON (Labour—Dunedin North) Link to this
to the Minister of Internal Affairs
Can he confirm that as Minister of Internal Affairs he has met all the requirements of a Minister of the Crown as set out under “Conduct, public duty, and personal interests” in Part 2 of the Cabinet Manual?
Why, when I asked him last Thursday whether he was aware of issues surrounding WSBC—a company described by the director of the New Zealand Serious Fraud Office as “an associated entity”—did he advise the House: “I know nothing of these matters.”, when, in fact, the publication TGIF Edition had questioned him on those same matters and published the Minister’s remarks, in quotes, on 13 February—7 weeks ago?
Hon Dr RICHARD WORTH Link to this
The member is misquoting what I said. The question to me was: “Is the Minister aware that WSBC, a company that the director of the New Zealand Serious Fraud Office described as “an associated entity”, was thrown out of the Cook Islands last week, and that last Friday the Minister of Finance for the Cook Islands issued a press statement praising the role of the Pacific anti - money-laundering programme; and how does that reflect on his judgment?”. I answered: “I do not know of those matters. That is a different company. The company I was involved with was WSD Global”—I then said “Risks” but meant “Markets”—“Ltd, which is a New Zealand company.” There are a number of factual errors in what the member said, and, in fact, I challenge him to repeat those comments outside the House, as he has been invited to do by the media. [ Interruption]
Mr SPEAKERDid the Minister when he wrote to the Hon Murray McCully on 23 December last year regarding his forthcoming trip to India, acknowledge or even allude to his shareholding in New Zealand Aviation, or in WSD Global Markets Ltd, or in the Indian Overseas Group; if he did not, why did he not?
Who was the Acting Minister of Internal Affairs when he was away from New Zealand between 24 February and 2 March, and why can I not find any public announcement of a portfolio change for that period, as is the norm?
Hon Dr RICHARD WORTH Link to this
I understand that someone was appointed in my stead. I believe it was the Hon Kate Wilkinson, and I do not know why the member cannot find that.