New Zealand is one of the most wired countries on earth, and this is reflected in our government. If you go to the Beehive site, for example, every Minister has a big shiny link at the top of their contact details saying "Email me", suggesting that this is how they prefer to be contacted. So its a bit odd, when you email Tariana Turia, to get this in response:
This is an auto-reply to let you know that this email is unattended. If you would like response, you will need to resend your email to [staff member address] or post your request directly to Minister Turia in Parliament.This is just unacceptable. Ministerial email addresses are a formal address for service. Refusing to monitor them in this day and age is like refusing to answer your phone. Its not as if the Minister has to do it themselves - its normal for staff to read and respond to email, just as they read and respond to physical correspondence. Refusing to even get a minion to read what is presented as your preferred method of contact smacks of a Minister who wants to avoid the public.
