Disaster tourism

Written By: - Date published: 11:45 am, October 8th, 2010 - 28 comments
Categories: Minister for Overseas Holidays - Tags: , , ,

Christchurch is such a disaster that it required the suspension of democracy across the country for 18 months.

But everything’s OK enough for Key to take a week in Hawaii.

And the Social Development Minister is still able to go off on a ‘study’ holiday in the US for a few weeks.

And Gerry Brownlee, who needed all those powers to rush through laws, has spare time to intervene in The Hobbit dispute.

And the 3 top Christchurch City Council executives who had last week off, including the CEO who needed a week to go to the NRL final.

Funny kind of disaster, where senior ministers and executives can still take time off. Maybe we could have kept our democracy after all?

28 comments on “Disaster tourism ”

  1. Draco T Bastard 1

    It’s indicative of just how much we need “leaders”.

  2. bobo 2

    That was kept quiet I didn’t know Key was off to Hawaii for a week? not smart timing when the Paul Henry / Indian international incident gets more serious by the day . Man NZ must really suck he needs to get out of here pronto, does he ever use his Omaha holiday home or is it too close those pesky pleb kiwis, much better to be surrounded by obese sweaty americans in Hawaiian shirts..

  3. SHG 3

    When I hear the term “disaster tourism” I see Chris Carter overseas somewhere, wearing a colourful shirt, desperately searching for a TV crew.

  4. ianmac 4

    You realise that posing for cameras is very very tiring job. One needs a good long rest to compose face muscles for the next round doesn’t one.
    And anyway it was always the workers on the ground who do the real work. (You forgot to add Henry for the list of those on vacation.)

  5. Fisiani 5

    John Key has a wife and children and wants to spend quality time with them.
    Go ahead. Beat it up and get into a lather. Priceless

    • Maynard J 5.1

      I’ll be charitable and assume you didn’t miss the point deliberately, and haven’t got the comprehension skills to determine that the author is suggesting if people can go on holiday, Key’s government didn’t need to pass the CERRA.

      It is not a criticism of the holiday in of itself.

      Of course you can comprehend that, and are just executing some Troll 101…

  6. Fisiani 6

    John Key is the only Prime Minister with school aged children to hold office in NZ. True or false?

    • Armchair Critic 6.1

      I expect David Lange had school aged children while he was PM.
      Can you elucidate your point? It seems you are suggesting that the CERRA is okay because the PM has children, and that’s nonsense.

      • bbfloyd 6.1.1

        no A.C. fisi is just saying what we all think, but are afraid to say it. and doing a passable impersonation of a pseudo intellectual at the same time.. brilliant multitasker don’t you think?

    • Zorr 6.2

      John Key had school age children when he applied for the job? True or false?

      He “applied” for the top job, he should have known the expectations and that it would come with demands. Currently, he seems to be making a run on the George W Bush title for Highest %age Of Time Spent On Holiday

  7. Ed 7

    Didn’t Key just get back in time for Breakfast with his mate Paul on Monday? Is he really off home again, or is this double-counting?

  8. Fisiani 8

    Criticising a caring husband and father for spending quality time with his wife and children is par for the course on this partizan vituperative blog. When John Key retires from the post of PM in 2017 widely recognised and respected as the greatest PM in our history I hope that his family life is a successful as his political life.

    • Armchair Critic 8.1

      Um, no, the criticism has been that he has gone on holiday (again) after legislating undemocratic emergency powers to help respond to what he called “a disaster”. No mention of his family until you came along.
      I’m sure there are thousands of voters in Canterbury who would like to have another holiday in Hawai’i right now, spend quality time with their families etc., but can’t because they have no choice but to face up to their jobs (if they have one), houses (whatever state they are in) and lives.
      I’m also sure Mr Key will have learned that responsibility is not something to be run away from well before 2017.

    • bbfloyd 8.2

      scaping the bottom of the barrel again fisi? you really are that stupid?

  9. Fisiani 9

    So you agree that John Key has interrupted his family holiday during the school holidays to address problems. A very obliging and noble PM. You would no doubt expect him to be heaving rubble in Rolleston.
    How apt to choose the moniker Armchair Critic.

    • Armchair Critic 9.1

      So you agree that John Key has interrupted his family holiday during the school holidays to address problems.
      No
      A very obliging and noble PM.
      No
      You would no doubt expect him to be heaving rubble in Rolleston.
      No, but it would be nice if he could find something useful to do. After all, it is a disaster and draconian powers are needed.
      How apt to choose the moniker Armchair Critic.
      Thanks. Don’t read too much into it.

    • bbfloyd 9.2

      i really look forward to you next bout of self evisceration fisi. not sure the disinfectant is working too well though. i can still smell you.

    • mcflock 9.3

      I love the way that “addressing” (or a lenient interpretation thereof) national issues if they occur on your holidays is somehow above and beyond the bare minimum requirement for a Prime Minister.

  10. Irascible 10

    The criticism of Key has been that he is no more than a smiling, waving, scuttling and running figure head for a NACT government that has devoted itself to reducing the take home wage of the NZ worker, reducing the support mechanisms necessary for a strong economy – education for example, and the destruction of our international reputation as a principled government.
    Key’s penchant for taking frequent overseas holidays or scuttling away when things get tough for him has been well recorded.
    No criticism of him being a family man just criticism of him as an unprincipled politician.

  11. Aron Watson 11

    Well of course he’s in Hawaii, it’s the school holidays. Unlike all those DPB mothers about to be kicked off welfare, and made to work through *all* school holidays, with *high* child care costs.

  12. Maynard J 12

    Jesus Fisi, I just threw up in my mouth a little.

    Are you sure you aren’t a little angry at Bronagh for getting between you and your noble, caring, obliging, successful, respected hero?

    That could be you in Hawaii, bro, if she didn’t take him away from you.

    • mcflock 12.1

      He IS in Hawaii – Fisi schedules his holidays so as to be near his benevolent god-king.

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