Compare and contrast

Two stories from today's Dominion-Post: Number one:Compromised official gets top job:

Months after former Mental Health Commission head Selwyn Katene resigned amid allegations of dishonestly misusing taxpayer funding, he got another top taxpayer-funded job.

Dr Katene resigned suddenly from his $150,000 job in December 2008 when a whistleblower alleged he made multiple claims for travel, accommodation and meals when he was on personal business. An investigation found that Dr Katene used taxpayer money totalling $1501.80 for personal use and the misuse was possibly dishonest.

[...]

Soon after his resignation, Dr Katene was appointed director of Manu Ao – an inter-university Maori academy launched by Associate Education Minister Pita Sharpleslast year with $2.5m of taxpayer funding.

Number two: Pansy Wong investigation finds minor breach:

National MP Pansy Wong and her husband have been told to repay $237.06 each for breaching the rules on Parliament's international travel perk.

The ruling follows an investigation ordered by Speaker Lockwood Smith after Wong resigned as a minister following revelations she had witnessed a business deal signed by her husband, Sammy, during a trip to China in late 2008.

[...]

[Wong] hoped the findings would enable her to return to Cabinet and said she was looking forward to returning to Parliament.

So, steal $1,500 as a public servant, and you should never work again. Steal $500 by the same method as an MP, and you simply have to repay the money and expect to be back in Cabinet. The message is clear: its one rule for politicians, and one for everyone else.