Clive Bibby: Cover ups and consequences

There is something going on in NZ politics at the moment and it has the capacity to destroy this government well before their popularity is tested at the general election in October. In fact new information coming to light almost on a daily basis exposes an administration frightened of it's own shadow, running around like headless chooks. It would be comical if it wasn't so serious.

And the reason for this chaos is as much as anything to do with the probability that senior members of cabinet, including the former Prime Minister, have been involved with attempts to cover up serious transgressions of others and the damaging effects of misplaced policy that is now a time bomb.

There is more.

While the country is focussed on the corridors of power and the hapless expulsion of the fall guy - Minister Stuart Nash, it is easy to overlook the lesser drama happening in the provinces which ironically also involves Nash in his former  capacity as Forestry Minister.

What is it about this bloke that he is the main catalyst for both areas of  responsibility that are causing the government so much bother just at a time when it looked as if PM Hipkins had saved his teammates from their self inflicted wounds.

The evidence is building and if exposed, as seems likely, the government will be seen as covering up two mistakes that have had  serious consequences for those who could not defend themselves.

They are:

I) the pursuit of an ideological driven policy designed to ensure the government achieved its GHG emissions reductions targets by 2050 is part of the reason why the recent Cyclones caused so much damage throughout the North Island East Coast. Government support for the expansion of the forestry estate beyond it's safe boundaries (a process that was out of control under the umbrella that is the carbon economy) makes it equally responsible for the carnage that resulted from the recent storms.

A "Clayton's" Inquiry into East Coast land use has been reluctantly set up with terms of reference that are intended to shield both Local and Central Government from blame for their part in the disaster- in other words, a cover up by another name.

2) Nash's expulsion from cabinet is designed to shield a number of current and even former senior cabinet members who are currently claiming ignorance of their colleague's contemptuous breaking of cabinet rules. And my guess is the cover up included those at the very top.

It beggars belief that St Jacinda was unaware of Nash's indiscreet clandestine activities. In the last year of her premiership as she was exposed as the "Empress with no clothes" her self determined departure under the guise that she had simply run out of puff just doesn't stack up.

Idealogues (especially those with a background of socialist obsessions) don't easily give up positions of absolute power that they craved since and before entering Parliament. Despite the thinly disguised disingenuous display of exhaustion during her resignation speech, most seasoned observers would have expected a more honest excuse for retirement that had more to do with her fear of a political wipeout at the polls - something for which she alone would have had to take full responsibility.

So, there you have it.

A government thrashing around seeking anything that might postpone the slaughter.

Unfortunately Stuart Nash has put paid to any chance of that happening.

Clive Bibby is a commentator, consultant, farmer and community leader, who lives in Tolaga Bay.