Hide Rodney: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Hide Rodney: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:625;Page:19870] 
2.  
RODNEY HIDE (Leader—ACT) 
 to the  
Prime Minister 
: What did she mean when she said in relation to John Tamihere that she is “capable of infinite forgiveness”? 
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN (Deputy Prime Minister) 
 on behalf of the 
 Prime Minister 
: The Prime Minister meant what she said which is that she is capable of infinite forgiveness but she does like to see reciprocation. 
Rodney Hide 
: In making that statement had John Tamihere disclosed to her his involvement in the scam that has seen his former chief financial officer and electorate chairman Mike Tolich admit to the Serious Fraud Office that he had paid kickbacks to obtain pokie-machine moneys; and has she sought from John Tamihere a full disclosure of the scam for which the Serious Fraud Office is laying charges? 
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN 
: That matter has been the subject of an investigation which decided that no charges were to lie against Mr Tamihere. 
Rodney Hide 
: I raise a point of order Madam Speaker. My question asked whether Mr Tamihere had disclosed information to the Prime Minister. I cannot see how saying what everyone knows answers that question at all. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: The Minister addressed the question. 
Gerry Brownlee 
: What happened between Monday night when the Prime Minister was indicating that John Tamihere’s political career was all but over and Tuesday morning when he suddenly became a well-liked valuable political asset who puts in 150 percent on a good day? 
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN 
: Mr Tamihere came to the caucus and apologised for his statements. 
John Carter 
: Does the infinite forgiveness mean that the new standard she has set for her Government allows an alleged rapist a convicted forger a habitual drink-driver and a self-confessed liar to be tolerated in her caucus; if so how low a standard will she set in her naked desperation to retain office? 
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN 
: The Prime Minister indicated that much depends upon Mr Tamihere’s future actions but I thought that member would have learnt that sometimes forgiveness in a leader can be quite important. 
Rodney Hide 
: Does the Prime Minister or the Deputy Prime Minister Michael Cullen know anything at all about the kickbacks that were paid to obtain money from pokie machines and how John Tamihere might have advantaged in that way trusts for which he was associated? 
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN 
: I am aware that the Deputy Prime Minister has read the report on those matters. 
Rodney Hide 
: Did those reports explain John Tamihere’s involvement in those schemes and what were those reports? 
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN 
: As the member is aware charges have been laid against one person in relation to those matters. It would be inappropriate to— 
Rodney Hide 
: No two. 
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN 
: Yes. It would be inappropriate to comment further which might influence the outcome of the court hearings on those matters. 
Rodney Hide 
: I raise a point of order Madam Speaker. Again I beg your indulgence for the sake of question time. I asked a specific question. The Minister said he has seen some reports and I asked him what the reports were. He did not address that in his answer. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: The Minister addressed the question. He referred specifically to the reports.