Len Brown’s vision derailed
The National-led government has finally shown some respect to taxpayers with its refusal to pay for new Auckland supercity mayor Len Brown’s extravagant rail promises.

Mr Brown wants to splurge about $5 billion of other people’s money on a series of rail projects that overseas experience suggests will be financially disastrous.

Te Atatu MP Chris Carter has joined a select group of sitting parliamentarians to be expelled from the Labour party.

The party’s council last night expelled Mr Carter, saying his "furtive, sneaky letter" criticising Phil Goff’s leadership and lack of remorse were damaging.

Some reports say he is the first MP to be expelled since John A Lee in 1940, though others such as John Kirk have been suspended.

The good

Rich List celebrates success

The annual popularity of the National Business Review Rich List suggests plenty of New Zealanders are uninfected by the dreaded Tall Poppy Syndrome.

Many New Zealanders view the wealthy with jealousy and contempt but for readers of the Rich List these people are to be admired and (hopefully) emulated.

Unlike older countries New Zealand has little in the way of inherited wealth, which means the vast majority of Rich Listers have built their fortune themselves, often from humble beginnings.

Troubled Labour MP Chris Carter has apologised for misuse of his ministerial credit card while a minister in the last Labour government.

"I unreservedly apologise to the New Zealand public," he said in a prepared statement this afternoon.

"This has been a very difficult time for me and it has been difficult to choose the right words to be said when under intense pressure from journalists."

Mr Carter was foreign affairs spokesman and, in the event of a change of government, would have been minister for foreign affairs.