Political appointments are being scrutinised after the resignation of KiwiRail director Scott O’Donnell due to conflicts of interest. 

Political analyst Bryce Edwards described the appointment as a “farce”, and the result of a broken system and “rotten governance.” 

O’Donnell is a major player in the trucking and transport sector, and some of the ten companies he’s involved in supply services to KiwiRail – though a management plan was put in place to mitigate that. 

While he doesn’t think there should be a rule against political appointments, Edwards told Kerre Woodham that there needs to be better processes and more scrutiny.  

He says at the moment, any government of the day can get away with whatever they want.  

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