My Right

Foreign Affairs officials are said to be upset by the Government's use of the report of Dr Brash's meeting. So they should be. They have every right to expect that reports written on a classified basis will not be used for cheap political gain. In one swoop, Helen Clark has soiled an important tool of their trade. No matter how great the temptation for a Government on the backfoot, it had to be resisted. A Prime Minister should never put a party's interests ahead of principle.

When the Government is raking in $7.4 billion more than it needs it is time to look at tax reductions more generally. The promised relief in the coming Budget for low- and middle-income earners could, and should, take the form of income tax cuts, except that this Government seems to have a philosophical objection to them. It prefers to reimburse taxpayers through benefits and public service spending, which keeps state servants employed and wastes money on the way around.

Although Idiot is bang on in his analysis of the predicament that the middle class find themselves in, the "struggling middle class family" in question's problems are largely of their own making. At the end of the day they chose to have children that they couldn't afford...its no use whinging to Helen Clarke about it.

She elected not to have treatment and to be nursed by her daughter, an experienced intensive care nurse, so she could die at home.

In her book, To Die Like a Dog, Lesley Martin described how her mother asked her: "Don't let me lie there, not alive and not dead ... Please help me ... Be quick."

In the book, written as a screenplay, Martin quotes herself as saying: "I'll know ... I'll know when it's time ... I won't leave you like that ... I promise."

Hospice nurse Wiki Alward told the jury that Martin told her she gave her mother 60mg of morphine on the night of May 26-27, 1999.

Mrs Alward said Martin told her the morphine was not because her mother had increased pain but because "my mum had indicated she didn't want a slow painful death, and I did not want that either".

The Crown alleged Martin had refused help to care for her mother, as she wanted to be alone to administer the morphine.

The defence said Martin was stressed, under "intolerable pressure" and exhausted because of a lack of back-up, and that her book could not be relied on for evidence.

Maharey said a start had been made to improve the lot of families but "no one is saying we are finished yet in terms of trying to transfer the prosperity of the country into the pockets of middle-income families like this".

"I have heard the consistent call in my electorate – from Tirau to Tawa - to oppose the Bill and put forward their views to my colleagues. I have advised the Prime Minister, as directed by my constituency, of the clear opposition to the Bill from the people of Te Tai Hauauru.

I believe that in putting forward this view, I have done nothing wrong. However I do accept the doctrine of collective Cabinet responsibility.

The caucus has today given me and Nanaia Mahuta leave not to support the legislation. I appreciate the respect the Prime Minister has shown us, and the sincere efforts she and senior Ministers have made to accommodate the diverse opinions within the caucus."

A spokesman for Associate Maori Affairs Minister Tariana Turia said his minister, who walked out of an all day caucus at Premiere House earlier today, is not expected to make any further comment on her position in the Labour Party today.

The Prime Minister is presently holding a press conference concerning Ms Turia.

"“In his customary incoherent manner, Mr Peter has responded with a tirade of abuse, calling me a lapdog and making obscure remarks about worms and dogs,"” said Mr Dunne.

"“In the interests of conducting the politics of fact and not abuse, let me remind the country that during Mr Peters'’ disastrous rule as Treasurer and deputy Prime Minister, he

* had to sack one of his own party's ministers for refusing to follow the rules

* led an unprecedented walkout from a Cabinet meeting

* was himself sacked by his own party'’s Maori MP'’s because they had no faith in his leadership

* and spent millions of dollars of taxpayer money on a referendum on superannuation which turned into a referendum on his own performance. The final vote– 93% v 7% - was a resounding defeat for Mr Peters and his policies.

Mr Peters has also developed a reputation for getting involved in late-night brawls in Courtenay Place scarcely the mark of a man who claims he wishes to do nothing but good for the people of New Zealand.

Not only had the National Union of Public Employees raised its concerns with Ms Dyson, it had received a response from the minister. He said Miss Clark had promised to set new standards of openness, transparency and honesty but standards had never been so low.

She was also indirectly criticised three years ago when chief Employment Court judge Tom Goddard rejected her evidence of a meeting at which Social Services Minister Steve Maharey swore and criticised the way former Work and Income boss Christine Rankin dressed.

Justice Goddard said he preferred the evidence of Ms Rankin's witness. "There is definitely a pattern where, at the very least, you can say Ms Dyson is economical with the truth," Mr Carter said yesterday.

"We've taken a clear stance. We see it (the Government's plans) as straight theft and confiscation and we'll defend our lands as we see fit."

Monday's events had been amicable, he said. He contacted the exercise's organiser, Second Lieutenant Nick Hodge, who said he understood the group's concerns and would move the exercise to another location.