Opinion: Winston must clean up Horan mess – right now

Thu, 29 Nov 2012 9:21a.m.

Political Editor

Here's a message to Winston Peters - do your job and clear up the mess around Brendan Horan.

It is simply not good enough that Horan is "stood down from Parliament" - or in other words, at his Mount Manganui home kicking back and enjoying the sun on full pay.

Yes, that MP's package of more than $140,000 plus all the perks is a nice little earner for the former professional lifeguard and weatherman - especially when you don't have to do anything for it. Lucky for some.

It is Winston Peters' responsibility to sort this out.

Yes, Horan has been caught up in a family feud over his mother's will.

That could be viewed as a personal issue - whereby Horan should be left to sort it out on his personal time and keep doing his job.

But by standing Horan down, Peters has elevated the issue to a public one.

Remember Peters was told about this two months ago - and has done absolutely nothing about it.

He says he's got no evidence from Horan's siblings proving the allegations about missing money from the mother - but neither has he got any evidence from Horan disproving it.

But Peters only acted to stand Horan down when the story broke on Sunday.

That's because he doesn't like the publicity - given Winston Peters' elderly constituency, he certainly does not want to be seen to be propping up an MP who has been dipping into his elderly mother's money.

Horan is Peters' responsibility: he came in off the NZ First list on Winston's coat-tails.

Peters' standing down of Horan and repeated refusal to express confidence in him was a serious blow for Horan.

It was very un-Winston - you would usually expect a spirited defence and attack on the media.

It has created doubt and uncertainty around Horan.

Peters must clear that up immediately - and that surely means Horan must get Peters incontrovertible proof he has done nothing wrong.

Brendan Horan's unusual Parliamentary contribution

Because he has been stood down by Winston, Brendan Horan can't make a contribution to Parliament - like the rendition of the national anthem below.

Horan's a real entertainer - so we have included a couple from his back-catalogue too:

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Comments

4/01/2013 7:24:23 p.m.

grace wrote:

sadly over the last 5 years you have turned into little more than a national party bitch . you and your mates gower are nationals bitches .

4/01/2013 7:21:57 p.m.

sara wrote:

peters dont do what you tell him boy .

4/12/2012 3:56:55 p.m.

alison wrote:

Whats happening down the winz offices? Something about beneficiarys getting help to make sure they are getting what they are entitled to. Would have thought that was msd job not beneficiary advocates and labour/green mps. How about some reporting on it Patrick?

3/12/2012 10:57:10 a.m.

David wrote:

Winston has asked for the facts bore he makes a decision, All New Zealanders are entiltled to the right to be presumed innocent until proven otherwise Mr Gower. You and your media collegues may not like that because it doesn't sell news papers or isn't sexy but we are not in the habit of running trials by media Mr Gower.

2/12/2012 8:43:37 a.m.

jackp wrote:

Wow, such shady journalism. When it comes to family, inheritence, executors, and watching your mother die, things can get quite ugly. I know, I've been through all that. This should be left to private matters not the opportunist news media who's only intent is to bring NZFirst down. There have been many issues regarding John Key's integrity and TV3 just glossed over them and keep repeating National's mantra that Key is ahead in the polls. Patrick Gower, I have lost a lot of respect for you.

1/12/2012 9:53:07 a.m.

Chris wrote:

I love the way you lefties deflect it back to National. All you looser lefties make me laugh - lets review the facts 1/ John Key is our most popular PM ever 2/ Shearer is our worst opposition leader 3/ Key ranks 50% popularity and Shearer 10 % [ margin of error area] 4/ Labour is deeply dysfunctional, deeply divided, full angry factions and totally leaderless - Shearer is a bumbling, mumbling idiot and deeply hated by the rank and file [yes, he does play the guitar well, I will admit] and Labour will remain on the backbenches for many years to come which is just great news for us normal thinking and hard working Kiwis - suck it up lefties while you watch your party self destruct.

1/12/2012 9:15:41 a.m.

one two three wrote:

These allegations sound like mana ormsby and peter horan are just 2 jelous brothes trying to ruin brendan horans career. I'm not an nz first supporter but i feel for the horan family and the loss of their mother being so public. leave the family alone. when are we going to see footage on tv of mana ormsby anyway? Sounds like he is too much of a coward to show his face it public!

30/11/2012 8:20:34 p.m.

salley ann wrote:

alosin is right here its about credibility if the press have not got the guts to bring national and key to account as they always let national and key go and provide them a smoke screen when its real bad . if you cant get tough on key and apply the pressure and sustain it then you have no credibility to try to o it to the other partys or party leaders . alison they think we are stupid .

30/11/2012 8:16:03 p.m.

salley ann wrote:

dont try it on with peters when you people dont have the guts or are simply told not to carry through with issues regarding key and his stench . peters is doing the right thing . if you can let national and key of on evreything i dont see why you have the right o try to get tough on other partys fair right and reasnable i would have thougt .

30/11/2012 9:19:59 a.m.

JUST SAYING wrote:

I am dismayed & upset that TV3 & the Media as a whole have lowered to gutter tabloid reporting. The most awful tv I have seen was putting Mrs Horan's grave on the television, have you no respect? Why would you suspend someone without pay because of rumour? I am not aware that any facts have been presented to support Mana Ormsby & Peter Horan's allegations. The NZ public should be worrying about real issues right now, child poverty, domestic violence & ongoing job losses. Leave the family & Mrs Horan's memory alone!! Shame on TV 3

Patrick Gower

Political Editor

Patrick is the 3 News Political Editor based in Wellington. Here he offers his commentary on New Zealand politics from his front-row seat in the Press Gallery. He has been a journalist for 15 years, covering stories in Afghanistan and on the US presidential election campaign trail, and was previously a political and investigative reporter for the New Zealand Herald.

Follow @patrickgowernz