August 11, 2014
Bad timing and poor support ends MP’s career
Outgoing National list MP Claudette Hauiti says she felt a lack of support trying to come to terms with parliament's systems.
Ms Hauiti announced she was retiring from politics after being told she was dropping to the bottom of National's list for using a parliamentary credit card for private spending.
She says the fee for a change in an air ticket was incurred early in her time in parliament and immediately reimbursed by her, but the timing of the publication of MPs' expenses meant it might have become embarrassing to National in the election campaign.
She says there could be a lot more support for MPs who come into parliament mid-term.
"If you come in at the beginning of the term, you are in a large group and you are continuously being supported as a large group on how to get to know the rules and regulations. Unfortunately for some of the MPs coming in midway through the term, the offices aren't able to help as much as at the beginning of the term," Ms Hauiti says.
She appreciates that politics is a tough environment, but she's disappointed because she had been working hard and getting some leverage for iwi and individual Maori from the system.'
FOR THE FULL INTERVIEW WITH CLAUDETTE HAUITI CLICK ON THE LINK
https://secure.zeald.com/uma/play_podcast?podlink=MjA5NDc=
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