Former Labour cabinet minister Steve Maharey is now chair of Pharmac and ACC and writes columns for Stuff. Photo: supplied / CBB
Pharmac and ACC chair Steve Maharey could be let off the hook for writing columns alleged to be not politically impartial.
It comes just a week after Rob Campbell was sacked as chair of Te Whatu Ora and the Environmental Protection Authority, after the ministers responsible were no longer confident he could maintain the political impartiality needed for the role.
Campbell's downfall came after he wrote a LinkedIn post critical of National and its water infrastructure policy.
Former Labour Cabinet minister, Maharey writes columns for news website Stuff. They all include a disclaimer of his past life as a politician, and mention he is currently a "director", but do not mention where.
On Monday, the prime minister was read excerpts from some of Maharey's columns, and asked whether they were inappropriate.
"Indeed, it is hard not see the National Party in the same light as the Republicans in the US, Liberals in Australia or Conservatives in Britain. They seem more interested in the past than the future," Maharey wrote in January.
Last year, he also took aim at leader Christopher Luxon.
"National is not and never has been the party of change. More the party for administration. Its leader's "brand" rests on him being a good manager (of an airline)."
Chris Hipkins said by and large, Maharey did not write about political matters, but had identified there may be an issue with perceptions over his impartiality.
"Steve Maharey himself contacted my office this morning, as a result of some recent commentary on the matter. As a result of that he's reflecting on whether or not he should continue with his column."
It was that contrition which Hipkins said was the major difference between Maharey and Campbell.
"He is certainly open to making changes in that area. So I think that he accepts that it could be a problem. That is quite a contrast to what we were talking about last week, where the author of the relevant comments didn't believe that they were a problem," he said.
Hipkins said he expected the chairs of public entities should preserve the principle of impartiality, but he did not expect perfection.
"I think if there is a perception of a conflict, or there is a conflict, then people being open to having conversations about that is the right way forward."
Hipkins denied Maharey's status as a former Labour cabinet minister had saved him. The most likely outcome was Maharey would have to stop writing his column, he said.