CLARK PLAYS WINSTON LIKE A PUPPET

You can hate her politics but she is the mistress of political management.

This from the Herald
A Serious Fraud Office (SFO) investigation into New Zealand First has cleared the party of fraud, but party leader Winston Peters isn't going to get his ministerial portfolios back before the election.
He stood down as minister of foreign affairs, and other portfolios, when the SFO announced in August it was going to investigate donations to his party.
Prime Minister Helen Clark took them over, and she said tonight she would continue to hold them because other inquiries were still being carried out and the election was close.
"We are all seeking a fresh mandate at the general election," Miss Clark said.
Mr Peters said the investigation had been a waste of time.