A Joint Arsehat award today.

1. Haami Piripi –
   For making a stupid statement. Come on, I share the sentiments, but lets be
   a little bit smarter eh.
2. Helen Clark –
   For not reading the legislation before mouthing off. In effect lying by
   omission.
   In the Herald today Helen Clark is reported as saying this
   “Maori Language Commission chief executive Haami Piripi needs to decide
   whether he is a public servant or a political activist, says Prime Minister
   Helen Clark.”

   BZZZT wrong, he isn’t a public servant.
   The Maori Language Commission was established under the Maori Language Act
   1987, to promote the use of Te Reo, and as a start of the Crown trying to
   live up to its treaty promises. And now the interesting bit.
   No member of the Commission or employee “shall be deemed to be employed in the service of Her Majesty for
   the purposes of the State Sector Act 1988” (Schedule 2, s. 8.).
   That is, he isnt a public servant, in fact its agaisnt the law to deem him
   as one.
   Nice one Helen, how about you or one of advisors read the legislation your
   party put in place.

Full text of the
act here