Hide apologises to Key

THE PRESS

LETTING RIP: ACT leader Rodney Hide addresses the breakfast at Christchurch's Heartland Hotel Cotswold. "ACT did everything and we are hated,'' he told guests at his table.

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ACT leader Rodney Hide has apologised to John Key for unguarded comments criticising the prime minister at a breakfast function.

Mr Hide told a table full of guests that Mr Key had done nothing except bring up the idea of a national cycleway.

Not aware that a Press reporter was at the table, Mr Hide said Mr Key "doesn't do anything" and was highly regarded, while "ACT did everything and we are hated".

Mr Hide went to ground this morning after his comments were reported but in a statement just issued said he wanted to apologise to Mr Key and his cabinet colleagues.

"This was light hearted banter at an ACT party function and taken out of context," Mr Hide said.

"It is no secret that the ACT party wants National to move faster and further on a number of policy issues. That is just the reality of different political positions."

But he accepted that National had substantial political support and a strong mandate from New Zealanders for what is "a wide ranging and active programme of reform".

"I have the highest respect for the prime minister and I enjoy an excellent working relationship with him and his cabinet colleagues. I spoke with the prime minister shortly after hearing that my comments were to be reported and apologised to him for that."

A spokesman for Mr Key said: "We accept the apology and that is the end of the matter".

Hide told table guests before his formal speech that you could get a "s...load" done in government as long as "you set the agenda".

He had been amazed at how much he was able to achieve in the Cabinet because "you turn up with your papers" and "they are too busy with their own stuff they're not bothered".

Hide is a minister outside the Cabinet and does not regularly attend meetings.

His ability to make progress on the Auckland super-city plan had been an example of his achievements, he said, and he talked about getting rid of 700 bureaucrats and saving $66 million.

Asked after the breakfast if he would like to expand on his comments on Key, Hide said he made the comments off the record, thought he was among "friends" and did not know a reporter was present.

Reporting the comments would be unethical, he said.

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Ian   #1   08:00 pm Nov 05 2009

What a complete moron. Rodney Hide, opens up his huge mouth and shoves his foot in it. Was he that stupid to think that the media wouldn't be present at his "breakfast" function. I imagine he was trying to show those in atttendance that he isn't afraid of John Key or anyone else in government, when suddenly someone - probably one of his own people - informed him that there was a Press reporter in the audience. Hide panics as anxiety engulfs him. His derisive comments may spell the end of a political career, he opines to himself. So, what happens? Damage control, that's what happens. We saw it time and time again when George Bush was leading America into another endless war. Hide states he thought he was among friends and that his remarks were taken out of context - yeah right, "out of context". What is it with New Zealand politicians, why can't these public servants just shut their stupid mouths and work for the good of New Zealand. Key, thus far, has kept his mouth in check, it is a pity others don't follow his example.

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