The sun goes down on my anger

Something happened today I feel deeply about and I depart from my usual style of entry.

In the wake of Philip Smith's escape from New Zealand to Chile, our Prime Minister made the sickest of jokes about a pedophile and murderer. I have no political axe to grind. I feel deeply for the victims and today's perpetuation of blunders by John Key.

I care that Philip Smith's victims are delivered more pain from our Prime Minister and virtually no one in the media has done more than report the facts. I don't care what politcal party he comes from. I care about the wall of silence that has surrounded his bizarre comment and the lack of anyone standing up on the victims behalf.

I expect fair and balanced reporting. I want anyone in a position of power and authority in NZ to be subjected to the same level of accountability, scrutiny and questioning by the media, regardless of who they are and which political party they represent.

Smith's victims live with consequences of child molestation, murder and now incompetence by at least 3 government departments. How can our Prime Minister be so out of touch?

We all put our foot in it and make mistakes. More important is what we do to put it right. An apology is not unreserved when the Prime Minister offers to personally apologise to the victims "if they ask for one". The right thing to do is apologise personally. Without being asked. Now.

Prime Minister, I want protection from crazed individuals lurking out there. Firstly though I want competence dealing with the crazed individuals already known to the state.

A weakness in tracking passports and names across different government departments was reported to the NZ government in 2012. Forget niceties like changing our flag and spend the 25 million to ensure such a weakness can never be exploited again.

And for your dinner tonight Prime Minister, I suggest humble pie.