Words fail me. They really do. After spending half an hour last week promoting the idea of getting rid of the Queen as New Zealand’s Head of State, Du Plessis-Allan has turned her pathetic attention to New Zealand’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nanaia Mahuta. Du Plessis-Allan does not even know Mahuta’s title. She calls Mahuta “our Foreign Minister” – that will be a not so veiled insult, implying Mahuta is foreign – not really one of us. Truth is Mahuta is way more New Zealand than an import from white South Africa, who continues to promote “jaapie” poison.

The New Zealand Herald promotes Du Plessis-Allan’s views as, “opinions from our world-class journalists.” They must be taking the piss. World class journalist? You mean her that called the Pacific Islands leeches. World class clearly has a different meaning in Victoria St West.

Du Plessis-Allan has three problems with Nanaia Mahuta.

1. Mahuta does not travel enough, especially to the Pacific Islands.
2. Mahuta is neglecting her local government reforms.
3. Mahuta appointed family members to some government jobs.

Let’s look at each of these accusations.

Mahuta does not travel enough, especially to the Pacific Islands.

Du Plessis-Allan must be joking. Here she is telling us, “China’s move into the Pacific is a direct result of the West – including New Zealand – neglecting it.”It was only five minutes ago Du Plessis-Allan was hauled over the coals by the Broadcasting Standards Authority for referring to the Pacific Islands as, “It is not worth the expense of sending the PM to the Pacific Islands Forum in Nauru. The Pacific Islands wants money from us. The Pacific Islands are nothing but leeches on us”

Come-on, are the Pacific Island’s “not worth” visiting, or does Mahuta need to be, “fully focused on the rapidly changing Pacific situation.” Or is it that Mahuta has a better education than Du Plessis-Allan (MA, Hon) and is a Māori, Labour Minister of State. Perhaps qualities a far right and white South African would never credit as admirable? Her lot got out of South Africa for racist reasons. It looks like they are not going to change here.

Du Plessis-Allan spells out her double standard – in her own words. Is that what it takes to be “world class” at the New Zealand Herald.

Mahuta is neglecting her local government reforms.

You can bet your socks if Mahuta had been tripping up to the Pacific three times in the past month, Du Plessis-Allan would have had her “leeches” quotes at the ready. Mahuta would have been neglecting her work in New Zealand for islands that only “wanted our money”. Good God, even when Mahuta stays in New Zealand to work on the Three Waters reforms and the co-governance proposals, Mahuta is accused of neglecting both.

I notice Du Plessis-Allan calls the “co-governance proposals”, the “Māori co-governance proposals”. She does not understand that the word, “co” means two, Māori and Pakeha. But her view of life, some might call it racist, demands that anything involving a more democratic society is always down to the guys with the dark skins. Has South Africa’s shame has been exported here again?

Du Plessis-Allan goes on to assert that the Pacific, Three Waters and co-governance are causing the Prime Minister a problem. Why? Because, quote, “Mahuta has too much power. She is a kaumatua.” There it is again. Mahuta is brown and should be serving morning tea. You do wonder if Du Plessis-Allan is close to using her “leeches” quote as a description of the Māori caucus?

Mahuta appointed family members to some government jobs.

I want to get this exactly right.Here is Du Plessis-Allan’s quote from the New Zealand Herald.

“Then there’s the personal stuff. Act’s already raised questions in the House about the appointment of Mahuta’s family members to government jobs. At least one media outlet has run a story.”

We should all remember that this gem was written by Heather Du Plessis-Allan. That is the same Heather Du Plessis-Allan who is the third wife of Barry Soper. That is the same Barry Soper whose current job is political editor of the Newstalk ZB radio network. And we all know who’s got the prime evening slot on Newstalk ZB. Yes, it’s the same person that wrote, “Then there’s the personal stuff.” Well, Du Plessis-Allan certainly beats Mahuta in that game. She sleeps with one of her company’s bosses. The pot calling the kettle, “far right and white” perhaps?  

It would be wise for New Zealand to treat any utterance from Du Plessis-Allan with great caution. Her views are incoherent and have no place in the New Zealand we are trying to become. I’m not sure why people like Du Plessis-Allan are in New Zealand at all. Is South Africa one of those “leeches” places we’ve been told so much about?