17 Jul 2018

Niue MP resigns in protest over lack of transparency

12:22 pm on 17 July 2018

A former Niue finance minister has resigned from the Public Accounts Committee over what he says are government agencies failing to provide transparent accounting records.

The New Zealand visitors are welcomed to Niue with a Takalo, a traditional war dance.

The New Zealand visitors are welcomed to Niue with a Takalo, a traditional war dance. Photo: Pool photo / New Zealand Herald / Michael Craig

The MP Terry Coe directed his concerns particularly at the chief executive of State Owned Enterprises (SOEs), Wayne Harris-Daw.

"They have put it in but they are so vague you can't clarify anything that is in there and it doesn't show the assets that they have bought and the assets that are broken down and not working," Mr Coe said.

"So it's really that transparency of where all the money has been spent and really should be coming into the treasury accounts," he said.

The SOEs had only submitted documents on an annual basis instead of every three months as was previously the practice, Mr Coe said.

This did not give MPs information on the actual financial state of the enterprises, he said.

In the Public Accounts Committee, Mr Coe said he was often shut down by three cabinet ministers who dominated proceedings.

By resigning he was able to make his points more freely, Mr Coe said.

Mr Harris-Daw has not replied to a request for comment from RNZ Pacific.