Air NZ, Australia and Iraq

While I have enjoyed seeing the Government get so twisted about it, I have to say I don’t believe there was anything at all inappropriate about what Air New Zealand did.

Australia is our closest ally and friend.  Our troops are bonded together for eternity through the ANZAC traditions.  To suggest that Air NZ should refuse to take the Royal Australian Air Force as a client is almost offensive to our neighbours.  Hell we trade with China, sell meat to Iran, give aid to North Korea and somehow the Govt thinks Australia should be on our blacklist.

It doesn’t matter whether or not we agree with the Australian presence in Iraq (something which actually has a UN mandate).  Would anyone suggest Fonterra should refuse to sell milk to the Australian military?  Should we ban NZ lamb from being served to Australian soliders in Iraq.

The problem for Helen and Phil is Iraq has become a defining issue for the left.  It is such a symbol for them, that they can’t engage rationally on the issue.  Anything associated with Iraq is evil and must be stopped.

From all accounts Air New Zealand behaved impeccably by checking with MFAT, and at later dates giving them more precise details.

It has also transpired that security officials in the Dept of PM and Cabinet were aware of these flights.

MFAT Secretary Simon Murdoch has done the very honourable thing and has apologised for not informing Ministers.  And it is correct that enough alarm bells should have rung for a briefing note to go to the Minister.   My slightly more paranoid part of my brain wonders how Murdoch made such a basic mistake.  Murdoch is held in incredibly high esteem – some call him the most gifted civil servant of a generation. I almost wonder whether he did say something to Winston or his office, and he is just honourably taking the fall.  I could imagine Winston (who is not a member of the hysterical left when it comes to Iraq) shrugging it off as no big thing.  Having considered that theory though I reject it on the basis that Murdoch is too principled to lie, even for his Minister. He isn’t the sort of civil servant who would conveniently forget about a conversation.

I must give Peters some credit in this.  He has been the voice of calm and reason in wanting more facts before passing judgement, and in not putting the boot into his department just to score points.  And he was absolutely right to not throw Murdoch to the wolves – his loss would not be of benefit to anyone.

So 9/10 for Winston and 3/10 to Goff.  Very different to my normal ratings.