Hipkins agrees to independent inquiry

Chris Hipkins has announced:

I have ordered a government inquiry under S6(3) of the Inquiries Act 2013 in relation to the e-mail sent by the Hon Stuart Nash in 2020 and its subsequent handling by the offices of Hon Stuart Nash and Rt Hon Jacinda Ardern.

I accept the assurances of those involved that genuine mistakes were made with no improper motives, but I also accept that it is important for the public to have confidence in how the Government operates. For this reason I have appointed former Prime Minister, the Rt Hon Sir Geoffrey Palmer, to conduct a government inquiry, to report to me by 31 May 2023.

I’m pleased to see the the PM has agreed to an independent inquiry, It simply wasn’t credible to keep claiming that there was nothing to be investigated.

I would have preferred it was a public inquiry, rather than a government inquiry, as a public inquiry’s report must be tabled in the House of Representatives while a government inquiry only goes to the commissioning Minister.

But I think it is inevitable that the report would be publicly released, so it isn’t a huge deal. I think the PM should get credit for his decision to have an independent inquiry.