Opinion: Something is rotten in the state of beehive.

First up, great that the Prime Minister has asked the cabinet office to review all of Stuart Nash’s communications with his cash donors but beyond appalling that the PM is using that as a smokescreen to hide behind and avoid accountability now.

"The advice I’ve had from the cabinet office is that will take two months and I will await the outcome of that review before making any further decisions or comment on it," Hipkins said in Parliament.

And zero assurances all communications will be reviewed - nor an explanation of this very questionable erasing of possible evidence…

"Has he asked Stuart Nash why his Facebook account appears to have been deleted last night?" Luxon asked.

Hipkins responded in a single word... "No." 

A sound of 'ohhhhh' echoed out following the PM's response.

Forestry, fishing, tourism - Nash has been minister of industries with very powerful lobbies. And he takes cash from them. And then what? 

"I will await the outcome of that review before making any further comment on the matter," said Hipkins.

And here’s where the rot really starts to stink. When was the Prime Minister’s office first made aware of the email which saw Nash sacked - the one where he divulged confidential cabinet information to cash donors with a vested interest in the information? 

"I did ask this morning... ah last night for review to identify whether the office had in any way been aware of that communication prior to that," said Hipkins.

"My understanding is that in 2021, Stuart Nash's then ministerial office consulted the office of the then Prime Minister, on an Offical Information Act (OIA) request release, where that email had been identified as part of that release and was identified as being outside the scope of the review…

"Neither the Prime Minister of the time, nor the PM's chief of staff of the time was made aware of that."

"Disgrace!" "Boo!" "Cover-up!" can be heard in outbursts from the opposition.

Nicola Willis shouting out in the background there seems right. This does have the hallmarks of a cover-up. 

Jacinda Ardern’s Office knew - it looks like they colluded with Nash’s office to keep that offending email - that smoking gun - a secret from the public. 

And what, no one told the former PM or her chief of staff? No one alerted this new Prime Minister even after he put Nash on his third and final warning? 

And then the Prime Minister - without a hint of irony - declares that everything is hunky dory, Stuart Nash is squeaky clean, has done everything by the book... Whaaat? 

"I can confirm that all Stuart Nash's donations, to the best of my knowledge, have been publicly declared and transparently," said Hipkins.

"Any conflicts of interest that he had were registered with the Cabinet Office, using the usual process."

Right. The same Stuart Nash who gave the Prime Minister assurances that there were no other skeletons in his closet after those first three strikes. 

Something is very rotten. And just cause Hipkins has cut out the source of the rot, I’m not feeling particularly assured that the government’s going to get to the bottom of how deep that rot goes.

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Religion... it can be fairly profitable to be fair! So why should all churches get charity (ie. tax free) status? Should all of them be taxed, or maybe just some of them?

Or maybe we should stick to the status quo...? Who will land on which side of the debate today?

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Police have yet to determine a motive for the shooter behind the school shooting in Nashville, Tennessee.

They have revealed that the shooter legally purchased seven guns over recent years.

Six people were killed including three children, the shooter was then killed by Police.

Russ Pulley is the District 25 Councillor in Nashville, the area that covers Covenant school and he joins us.

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It’s time for Pae Korero - and today our super smart opinion makers are Today FM host of Polly, Polly Gillespie and Executive Director of Auckland Pride, Max Tweedie.

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Each week we are joined by brilliant clinical psychologist Karen Nimmo who offers us all a chance for self reflection and therapy.

We call this segment 4 Minute Therapy, and this week our subject is "Why am I struggling to control my anger at the moment?".

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Government policies designed to crack down on gangs passed into law last night under urgency, giving police new warrant and search powers, the ability to seize weapons from gang members, and an expanded range of offences where police can seize assets.

But there has been a chorus of complaints - from the Privacy Commissioner to civil rights and legal groups and even Treasury - that the legislation’s being hastily conceived and that means human rights issues haven’t been properly addressed.

Justice Minister Kiritapu Allan joins us.

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20,000 secondary school teachers are striking again today, with the PPTA saying there has been positive movement on negotiations with the Government… though clearly not positive enough.

And - this could cause further animosity - Today FM can reveal that an email has been sent to teachers trying to recoup money already paid to teachers who went on strike last week. They were paid on the day of the last strike and the Ministry of Education is now trying to get that money back.

Paul Stevens is a visual arts teacher at Rangitoto College and the Auckland representative of the PPTA and he joins us with more.

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Police in Nashville, Tennessee are still searching for a motive in Monday’s elementary school shooting that left three children and three adults dead. Authorities say the alleged shooter - 28-year-old Audrey Hale - was a former student of the Covenant School and that she may have harbored resentment at having attended the institution. 

Toni Waterman joins us now from outside the school. 

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