Key and Herald embarrassed as Liu statement changes

Written By: - Date published: 12:19 pm, June 25th, 2014 - 113 comments
Categories: election 2014, john key, Media, national, newspapers, same old national - Tags:

After a sustained week of media attacks on the Labour Party it now transpires that the NZ Herald and John Key claims about Donghua Liu’s donations to the party are, shall we say, inaccurate.

This has just been published on the Herald website:

Controversial businessman Donghua Liu has issued a new statement to the Herald confirming “close to” $100,000 in total payments to Labour and its MPs – including anonymous donations – but clarifying that the money was not for one bottle of wine.

Liu, to whom Labour gave permanent residency against official advice, says his earlier signed statement on the wine auction was “capable of two meanings” and after repeated inquiries from the Herald he says he wants to clarify what he spent the $100,000 on.

The signed statement obtained by the Herald on Sunday said that at a 2007 Labour Party fundraiser, he “successfully bid on bottles of wine including one bottle signed by the then Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon Helen Clark, with a contribution of close to $100,000”.

…

The previous sentence in the signed statement said dinner and a boat trip on the Yangtze River in 2007 with a group including Rick Barker, the Minister for Internal Affairs at the time, which Liu estimated to cost between $50,000 to $60,000.

Today, Liu said: “I did say I made a contribution of close to $100,000 and that is my closing comment in my statement…that is how much I believe I have donated in total to Labour and some of their MPs during their last term in Government.”

He said the figure was the total payments to Labour and its politicians which included the wine auctions, a $2000 donation to the Hawkes Bay Rowing Club, the Yangtze River trip and anonymous donations to MPs.

I must say that I have never heard of the Hawkes Bay Rowing Club branch of the Labour Party nor of the Yangtze Concrete Factory Branch of the Labour Party.  The payments to these entities account for about $60,000 which is most of the money.  The boat trip was clearly not a political donation to the Labour Party.  The degree of change in Mr Liu’s story is significant as is his lack of understanding of what the Labour Party actually is.

And the question must be who prepared Liu’s original statement and did they know it was, shall we say, inaccurate?  And why did the Herald accept the first statement at face value and did it seek any verification of the claims before bursting into print?

I trust that a few commentators including John Armstrong and Bryce Edwards will now reflect on their comments.  As Danyl McLaughlan has said this is a fucking joke.

Finally I must say how impressed I was by the recent Standarnista crowd sourcing effort to work out the details of the photographs and the possible location of the auction.

 

lprent: Rob Salmond has some commentary on this complete screwup by The NZ Herald journalists and editors in “Completely unravelling”  and “New Zealand Herald tries to cover its butt; gets shit on its hands“. Be warned. He starts to swear (although less than I did when reading the self-justifying waffle from the Herald story).

113 comments on “Key and Herald embarrassed as Liu statement changes ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. karol 1
    25 June 2014 at 12:27 pm

    Yep. It’s a fucking joke. The NZ Herald, John Key, et al, should withdraw and apologise.

    A series of small anonymous donations, that it seems, Labour Party MPs and others had no idea they came from Liu, are totally legal and do not suggest anything like cash for favours.

    Our donations regulations/laws do need improving – like removing the influence of big money on politics, and making things way more transparent.

    And this has diverted from the real evidence of Liu’s donations to and favours from national.

    • The Al1en 1.1
      25 June 2014 at 12:36 pm

      “this has diverted from the real evidence of Liu’s donations to and favours from national.”

      Or to try and legitimise the cabinet club’s cash for access.

    • Tom Gould 1.2
      25 June 2014 at 2:38 pm

      In order to salvage the credibility of the Herald it is necessary for Tim Murphy to resign. Will they hold themselves accountable? Will they be held to the same standard they hold other to?

  2. ghostwhowalksnz 2
    25 June 2014 at 12:35 pm

    Ive met Mr Liu, we were doing some work for a development project of his.

    Normally we dealt with his staff, as of course he doesnt speak English, and he was out of the country a lot. The meeting only came about because when it was time to get paid for the work, he wouldnt release the funds until he had been introduced to us.

    A canny move I thought , when you have to rely totally on intermedaries, some of which were associates rather than employees, you a least want to see the faces that go with the invoices.

    I cant imagine he would give a check for a very large amount ( our invoice was for a lot less than amounts talked about for labour) without seeing the principals behind it, a cabinet minister or higher.

    The funny thing about History repeating itself, it was the Oily Orcas father John Slater, who was accuse of ‘trousering donations’ to the National party when he was party president.

    His successor Michelle Boag found that the amounts claimed by donors ( that was the time John Key was buying his way into office) didnt match the money in party accounts.
    There was a big ruckus and Slater had to cough up the money he claimed as ‘expenses’

  3. Blue 3
    25 June 2014 at 12:40 pm

    The desperation from the Herald is palpable. Their record so far:

    • David Cunliffe signed a form letter 11 years ago asking for a timeframe to be given to Mr Liu.
    • Donghua Liu made a donation of $2,000 to the Hawkes Bay Rowing Club.
    • Rick Barker attended a function held by Mr Liu while he was on holiday in China.
    • Rick Barker and Mr Liu both say they had dinner in NZ at some point.

    Scandal of the century, clearly. How can Labour possibly criticise a corrupt Minister for interfering in a police investigation after these heinous crimes?

  4. Lanthanide 4
    25 June 2014 at 12:40 pm

    Time for a front-page apology by the Herald?

    • Tiger Mountain 4.1
      25 June 2014 at 1:13 pm

      Time for Mr Liu to “open the kimono” and show perhaps relevant transfers of funds with dates, or does he carry a bag with tens of thousands in readies with him and not seek receipts?

      He might well be only somewhat aware of what he has got himself into but the NZ Herald and the slippery Prime Minister should have been fully aware.

      • Ant 4.1.1
        25 June 2014 at 1:22 pm

        I’m thinking Liu never expected his statement to be leaked from National to the Herald. He probably wanted to fly under the radar as much as anyone in this story. I wouldn’t be surprised if he thought the statement he supplied was to internally help Williamson, not to be used in an attack against Labour.

        It seems like he has been sorely used by the Nats as well.

    • Vicky32 4.2
      25 June 2014 at 3:24 pm

      As if that will ever happen…
      🙁
      Vicky

  5. dimebag russell 5
    25 June 2014 at 12:41 pm

    dont hold your breath.

  7. J Mex 7
    25 June 2014 at 12:45 pm

    This is a shocker for The Herald.

    Not sure how a company trip down the Yangtze with special guest star Rick Barker counts as a Labour party donation.

    Farcical.

    P.S – ‘Up the Yangtze’ is a good documentary

    • seeker 7.1
      26 June 2014 at 2:01 am

      Well the Herald certainly seems to be “up the Yangtze” this time and in full view of its readership too.

  8. Sanctuary 8
    25 June 2014 at 12:50 pm

    It is telling that the Herald hasn’t enabled comments on the story. I guess you don’t need to be psychic to predict the reaction if they did…

  9. Fi 9
    25 June 2014 at 1:23 pm

    From the Sunday Star-Times, Oct 19, 2008, pA4

    John Key on dealings with Yang “Bill” Liu (not Donghau Liu)

    (Pansy) Wong confirmed she had written a letter of support for Liu this year, who was concerned about a delay in the processing of his citizenship bid.
    Key said he had no concerns about Wong’s actions.
    “She acted as is quite normal as a member of parliament.
    “There’s always a degree of trust there that you rely on the person’s word.”

    • Tiger Mountain 9.1
      25 June 2014 at 1:31 pm

      Key misspeaks worse/better than Dubya used to, a form of arms length ‘manglish’. His voters I suppose join the dots and feel they ‘get’ what he is saying. However his generalisations are extremely frustrating for those that operate on research, facts and law.

      • ianmac 9.1.1
        25 June 2014 at 3:22 pm

        Have you noticed that these days Mr Key is not using his mangled English nor his aw/shucks/loopy grin nearly as much as he used to. My guess is that that persona will not be used this Election and his steely unscrupulous self will be used. He didn’t get to control the mavericks in his party by being Mr Awshucks nice guy. Never smile at a crocodile.

  10. amirite 10
    25 June 2014 at 1:37 pm

    Sadly, the damage to Labour’s image has been done yet again, and does anyone seriously think that Herald will ever apologise? They may or may not print a tiny correction somewhere down the page no.15 and no one will notice. General public probably don’t usually read past the big headlines screaming “Liu donated $100,000 to Labour” and their perception has been formed accordingly.

  11. jaymam 11
    25 June 2014 at 1:42 pm

    I see the Herald’s new picture does not have any metadata. I think they must be reading The Standard!
    I have emailed lprent about image tracking. Maybe it went to the spam folder.

  12. blue leopard 12
    25 June 2014 at 1:44 pm

    ….”And TVNZ News, And TV3 News”

    Needs to be added to the title IMO

    • Vicky32 12.1
      25 June 2014 at 3:27 pm

      TV 3 News are IMO the worst…
      Vicky

      • blue leopard 12.1.1
        25 June 2014 at 5:20 pm

        Yes I agree…well, I have been of that opinion to date, however with the little number that TVNZ played over this one – I am questioning that opinion.

        I have to ask myself what is worse: A news programme you know is strongly biased, or one that you view as reasonably balanced and yet are capable of airing an item of unadulterated National Party spin like they did over this one?

        The trouble with TVNZ doing this is that more people are likely to believe it because they aired it because in general they don’t seem to go that ‘rabid’ on it.

        Mind you, I guess a lot of people are watching either program trusting what they are being told is reasonably related to reality – therefore on balance I guess TV3 still wins the most spin-infested-fact-free-news-program of the year award.

  13. finbar 13
    25 June 2014 at 1:53 pm

    Sounds like Liu,has got his chop sticks crossed when attending party fundraising Auctions.$100,000,sounds like the winning bid for a National Party auction, for one of the PMs labled private bin.

    What is getting to be of concern is Cunliffe,having to back track on statements.Yesterday again, back tracking on the Maui dolphin!s issue.Those responsible for his daily updates on present media issues, and statements by the opposition, should be one the ball researching our past involvement and our decisions if any, so Cunliffe,is on task and up to date.

  14. Saarbo 14
    25 June 2014 at 2:11 pm

    I guess this shows how loose NZ Herald is when reporting on the NZ Labour Party, its shocking that any reporter would publish on such dodgy evidence in a n(N)ational news paper.

  15. Wyndham, George 15
    25 June 2014 at 2:44 pm

    Cancel your subscription yo the NZ Herald.
    http://subscriptions.nzherald.co.nz

    Subscribe to the Labour Party
    https://www.labourparty.org.nz/civicrm/contribute/transact?reset=1&id=8

    • Tracey 15.1
      25 June 2014 at 3:03 pm

      cancelled mine ten years ago. I take their freebees and am sure to tell them by phone when they ring exactly why i wont pay for their rag

      • Anne 15.1.1
        25 June 2014 at 3:14 pm

        Cancelled mine after the disgraceful DEMOCRACY UNDER ATTACK campaign. If I want to read the print version, I go to cafes I know have copies available for customers to read.

        • Tracey 15.1.1.1
          25 June 2014 at 3:29 pm

          a few quiet from the right today… Grumpy etc… I doubt they feel embarrassment cos they would have to accept they jumped where slater led them… Without thinking….

      • halfcrown 15.1.2
        25 June 2014 at 6:38 pm

        ” I take their freebees”

        I would not even do that Tracey.

        As I have said on many occasion, have no need for the herald as we use good quality shit house paper that comes in rolls

    • Huginn 15.2
      25 June 2014 at 3:58 pm

      The Herald lost me in 2007 when they printed the appalling

      ‘Keep fatties and smokers out . . . ‘

      headline as a response to the death of Samoan mother Folole Muliaga, who died after her power was cut off and she could not use her breathing machine.

  16. Repateet 16
    25 June 2014 at 3:10 pm

    The Herald and Key are not embarrassed as Liu statement changes.

    The Herald will be going “Oh yeah, big deal move on,” and Key will be smiling smugly knowing he’s got away with another one.

    • ffloyd 16.1
      25 June 2014 at 3:43 pm

      You say that like you think it’s a good thing. Sad

      • Tracey 16.1.1
        25 June 2014 at 3:47 pm

        i thought it was sarcasm

        • ffloyd 16.1.1.1
          25 June 2014 at 4:23 pm

          You’re probably right Tracey. I don’t pick up nuances very well. Apologies Repartee.

          • ffloyd 16.1.1.1.1
            25 June 2014 at 4:26 pm

            Repateet !! Stupid Tablet. Does what it wants.

          • Repateet 16.1.1.1.2
            25 June 2014 at 8:18 pm

            Accepted.

            This week in the news was the story about some new programmes and strategies to deal with bullying in schools.
            It’s bizarre how news media can get all excited and try to pretend they have some social conscience about bullying when in reality they perpetrate, continue or allow it to happen.

            Not the bullying in schools, what has become the institutionalised political bullying by John Key. The bullying is being perpetrated on us all not just opposition political figures. We all suffer it. So often at night Key is on tv with sneering put downs of the other lot. Some interviewer saying “I didn’t ask you that, please just …”? No, never. The interminable relentless soundbites. Key may have been humping Obama’s leg, but many in the media like the Herald, Mike Hosking and John Armstrong are in turn humping Key’s.
            The Herald and their part in this latest Liu business would make good material for journalism courses. If there are journalism courses any more. When it comes to the Herald it would seem that accuracy and ethics are merely words in the dictionary.

    • Huginn 16.2
      25 June 2014 at 4:04 pm

      Repateet

      You’re absolutely right there. Key and the Herald are not embarrassed.

      The Herald can’t be embarrassed because it had no self respect to start off with.

  18. feijoa 18
    25 June 2014 at 3:49 pm

    It amazes me how we have ended up with the media having such power
    They are judge , jury and executioner

    • Wyndham, George 18.1
      25 June 2014 at 6:38 pm

      The MSM are rats cornered by high legacy cost structures and nimble low cost media entrants.

      This example of very low quality is what happens when journàlists have to effectively re-apply for their jobs every six months.

      It will get worse. And Key&Co know how to exploit it.

    • North 18.2
      25 June 2014 at 8:19 pm

      As if that composite ain’t wicked enough, most of them aren’t really the sharpest knives in the draw, frankly.

  19. Enough is Enough 19
    25 June 2014 at 3:52 pm

    Unfortunately Key will not be embarrassed at all.

    This was a deliberate hit and run exercise. Throw some shit then smile and walk away.

    Even today this false allegation against the great Labour Party is stealing headlines on a day when all the talk should be about Labour’s alternative budget (notwithstanding it being quite underwhelming).

    Key has managed to run the news cycle for a week, and even though his claims have now proven to be false in all respects, he has achieved his goal.

    • yeshe 19.1
      25 June 2014 at 5:18 pm

      Classic Crosby Textor. Key is not this smart, but they are. They own him 100% and at this rate, their masters will own all of what is left in NZ. 🙁

  20. Seti 20
    25 June 2014 at 3:57 pm

    So we have Cunliffe and Chris Carter writing letters on behalf of Donghua Liu; Rick Barker going to the trouble of visiting his cement factory in China; Damian O’Connor giving him residency against advice – and Labour get nothing from it.

    Seems like a raw deal. Or perhaps they generously do this for all immigrants.

  21. Charlieboy 21
    25 June 2014 at 3:57 pm

    We all smelled a big stinky rat and the MSM and anybody who played along with this story have been outed as Natz sympathisers or surrender monkeys at the very least.
    Think ot the fury in the Natz propaganda floor in the beehive.
    The beast won’t die easy, be prepared for more nasty tricks.
    Take back our country.

  22. ianmac 22
    25 June 2014 at 4:13 pm

    I have emailed Jared Savage saying that I was disappointed with his column. In particular was printing as fact that Mr Barker was given a $60,000 cruise. Mr Barker while on private holiday, was in fact invited to join a staff do. It may have cost 60thousand but it was not for Mr Barker.
    Jared could argue that he was just reporting what Mr Liu said. Poor reporting to just accept what cannot be true.
    And they leave the Labour Party to disprove it all. Bloody awful!

    • NZ Femme 22.1
      25 June 2014 at 4:44 pm

      An odd anomaly – Jared’s original story on wine-gate when the Barker Pic was revealed:

      “Businessman’s partner snapped receiving bottle of wine from minister after win in fundraising auction”

      http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11276071

      Today’s story immediately under the picture:

      “Rick Barker receiving a bottle of wine from Donghua Liu’s (top right) partner Juan Zhang.

      http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11281460

      Is Jared preparing to spin this differently again? Or is he unravelling and getting even sloppier?

      • karol 22.1.1
        25 June 2014 at 4:55 pm

        Good catch. And no mention of a fundraiser in the second caption.

      • ianmac 22.1.2
        25 June 2014 at 10:16 pm

        Missed your very observant comment NZ Femme. Just noticed the caption tonight of Mr Barker receiving a very large bottle of wine. Could that have been a gift? Very puzzling.

    • greywarbler 22.2
      25 June 2014 at 6:06 pm

      The chap who threw mud at the Royal Family got charged with an offence didn’t he?
      What can you charge media muck spreaders with? Purveyors of plain slander, childish naivety, sloppy and lazy reporting, lack of commitment to doing a good job, celebrity gossips, irresponsibility, free market journalism (cheap and not-very-cheerful with no depth, like the shoes I buy, and they have no soul either). What about the old-fashioned yellow press!

      Google – yellow press
      Yellow journalism, or the yellow press, is a type of journalism that presents little or no legitimate well-researched news and instead uses eye-catching headlines to sell more newspapers. Techniques may include exaggerations of news events, scandal-mongering, or sensationalism.
      Yellow journalism – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
      en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yellow_journalism

      About.com –
      http://history1800s.about.com/od/1800sglossary/g/Yellow-Journalism.htm
      Yellow Journalism was a term used to describe a particular style of reckless and provocative newspaper that became prominent in the 1890s. A famous circulation war between two New York City newspapers prompted each paper to print increasingly sensationalistic headlines. And ultimately the newspapers may have influenced the United States government to enter the Spanish-American War.

    • the pigman 22.3
      25 June 2014 at 6:13 pm

      Good on you ianmac.

      But bad news: Jared Savage doesn’t give a fuck. He will run the “perimeter guard” defense if or when his reporting comes under scrutiny.

      Much better that you, and indeed all Standardistas, express your disappointment here: http://www.presscouncil.org.nz/complain.php

      • ianmac 22.3.1
        25 June 2014 at 8:26 pm

        Took a while to find and complain to the Herald particularly over the $50-60,000 river dinner; This being an invitation to Mr Barker while he was on holiday to join a staff do, was central to the major part of the amended claim by Mr Liu, and the write up was unfair, unreasonable and largely untrue.
        I also filled in the form for the Press Council but can’t send this until I get a response from The Herald.
        I hope others take the time to do so.

        • the pigman 22.3.1.1
          25 June 2014 at 9:44 pm

          On it! See that Zet has a post up about this. Someone has to hold these pricks to account.

  23. bad12 23
    25 June 2014 at 4:39 pm

    Yes, ”this is a fucking joke”, i commented in Open Mike the other day that as this little sordid saga of Lies unfolded the Herald would start printing retractions/stories which alluded to the ”meaning” of things in the original statement from Liu being ”lost” in translation,

    And here we have it, the Utter Bullshit of Liu’s first statement, IF it were a real statement in the first place, is now being exposed,

    The Herald nor Slippery the Prime Minister will be embarrassed by such backsliding, they ALL knew the contents of the original (supposed) statement from Liu right from the get go, they all, including the Prime minister, for want of a better word, knew that the contents of this (supposed) statement were SHIT,

    The Damage, as the Herald and the Prime Minister, must have known, has been done to Labour and that was the sole intention of the Herald in printing such abhorrent bullshit as a ”factual political scandal” along with the Prime Minister’s equally abhorrent allusion to ”knowing” of six figure donations from Liu to Labour that obviously have not occurred,

    The story will continue to unwind, look for the 50,000 dollar boat trip to have cost Liu all up 5 grand at the most, the book a cheapskates 50 bucks and the bottle of wine a miserable hundy,(and i aint talking grand there)…

  24. Jack 24
    25 June 2014 at 4:47 pm

    The PM will be laughing about this ruckus he has helped stir up it takes peoples minds off the real deal the upcoming election, snake in the grass type politics.

    • karol 24.1
      25 June 2014 at 5:06 pm

      Gotta love how righties celebrate their lack of ethics, and disregard for democracy.

    • marty mars 24.2
      25 June 2014 at 5:26 pm

      He didn’t sound like he was laughing on the radio – slurring his words so quick was he to get them out. King key don’t want this to carry on – nothing to see here, move along – labour’s problem da dah da dah.

  25. Graham 25
    25 June 2014 at 5:01 pm

    The damage was done on Sunday
    You gotta love john key
    If he was the leader of labour you guys would admire his polictal skill

    • One Anonymous Bloke 25.1
      25 June 2014 at 5:10 pm

      Nah, but we love how right wingers abandon all pretence of ethics and reveal that personal responsibility means behaving like low-life trash, eh Graham.

  26. Kiwiri 26
    25 June 2014 at 5:08 pm

    I feel like puking in continuing the scrutiny but here it goes, out of necessity …

    Has the media questioned the claim involving Barker about the $50,000-$60,000 boat trip and dinner?

    What did the cost include or comprise, and how many nights and days was this trip along the world’s third-longest river?

    A quick internet check shows one of the most expensive booking for 5 days/4 nights is only about (?US)$1,500:
    http://www.yangtze-river-cruises.com/ships.html?gclid=CJ2-8cGflL8CFQkAvAodskQAwg

    • Anne 26.1
      25 June 2014 at 8:04 pm

      Last week, – Thursday or Friday – Rick Barker was interviewed on RNZ. I think it was Checkpoint but can’t be certain.

      This is my ‘paraphrase’ of what I recall him saying:

      He met up with Liu while in China and Liu invited him to dinner. When he arrived at the venue he discovered it was on a boat. He than talked about the realisation it was actually “some sort of staff function and he felt very out of place”. The impression I got was that it was an off the cuff invitation… “I’m having a dinner party tonight, would you like to come” type of thing. Barker mentioned nothing about a cruise, so my suspicion is the boat had docked overnight and Barker was invited along for dinner – while in port.

      I might add his tone of voice came across as genuine and truthful. At the time he was clearly angry and confused at the claims that were being made – unlike Judith Collins who – when confronted with another Chinese dinner she attended – was measured and emotionless as though she was concentrating on a predetermined script.

      • Kiwiri 26.1.1
        25 June 2014 at 8:24 pm

        Cheers. Barker has indicated there were about 200 people that included staff & partners. He was straight up in the clip at the url pasted at 31.1.1 below.

        So, ball park figure, let’s say: Liu spent a total of NZD 60,000 on 200 people (his staff and their partners) for the cruise, and that would make it $300 per person for the cruise.

        Still a fair bit of money by their standards there, I should say from my memory of what I spent when I visited a few cities in China a few years ago.

        However, I still doubt it would even be that much per person for an evening cruise which sounded like what was arranged for Barker.

        I believe Barker when he said it was not quite what he expected when he turned up. That event Liu arranged did sound like it blindsided Barker and was not a “cash for access” kind of National/Cabinet Club(s) deal.

  27. chris73 27
    25 June 2014 at 5:18 pm

    I haven’t seen this much spinning since I was last at Les Mills, Comical Ali must have lost a massive amount of weight

    • marty mars 27.1
      25 June 2014 at 5:29 pm

      lol I know, key be very dizzy now.

    • framu 27.2
      26 June 2014 at 8:05 am

      yes so much spinning that the MSM are quickly changing their tune and the PMs furiously back peddling and trying to extract himself from the lies and rumors he spread in league with whaleoil

      were all used to you being a bit of a knob chris – but really?

  28. Jrobin 28
    25 June 2014 at 5:28 pm

    Right whingers you mean OAB. Whether this has damaged Cunliffe time will tell. If explaining is losing then Key and the Herald are having to do quite a bit. Think of how much worse this would be if they weren’t a pack of liars and some of this had stuck. Will the gullible swinging voter be as trusting next time Key makes a slur, maybe not.

  29. ianmac 29
    25 June 2014 at 5:46 pm

    National Radio on Checkpoint did try and engage Key as he had been talking it all up last week. But Mr Key was evasive and dismissive. Funny that.

  30. Jack 30
    25 June 2014 at 6:08 pm

    Politics in NZ has unfortunately become a sick joke our forebears came to NZ from the likes of Scotland & Ireland to make new lives for themselves and their families, to get away from the oppression forced upon them from British domination and control.

    We have a similar situation occurring here in NZ with the takeover of the country by the merchant bankers and the 1-10% ers, the rest of us are just SH** and are being treated as such by the current Government and the MSM.

    Our once proud country is being undermined by the MSM and is rotten to the core. ie the fish rots from the head.

  31. The Al1en 31
    25 June 2014 at 6:10 pm

    Best bit of TV labour have had for a while on one news in the Parkin piece.
    And JK doesn’t know the details, so I’m not too far away from having him say he forgets who told him about the $100,000 ‘donations’.

    No link, but suspect it will be on the tvnz website.

  32. bad12 32
    25 June 2014 at 6:37 pm

    i would have to assume that TV3’s Tova O’Brien has the scripts for Her pieces on 3 News written for Her by a team of editorial staff in a fit of collective dishonesty,i doubt one so young has the maturity to make up such bullshit on Her own,

    Tonight’s slimy Lies from that television channel, ”it has yet to be seen who is right” in relation to the supposed donations made to Labour by the self admitted corrupt Donghua Liu,

    Well NO Tova, it’s called JUSTICE natural or otherwise and where right or wrong is alleged it is for those who have made the Accusation of wrongdoing to provide when called upon PROOF of such wrongdoing,

    The Scum at the editorial desk of the TV3 Kangaroo Court are just that for their continual inferences, SCUM…

  33. dimebag russell 33
    25 June 2014 at 6:39 pm

    he said he has known abut it for months and now he has forgotten the details.
    does he have dementia?
    (yes he does).
    and congratulations to the Standard for pressing this issue till the media were forced to take notice.

  34. Vicky32 34
    25 June 2014 at 6:40 pm

    She and Brooke Sabin are Dumb and Dumber. She infuriates me.
    Vicky

  35. Vicky32 35
    25 June 2014 at 6:46 pm

    Oh, is Sabin someone’s relative? I didn’t know…
    For nearly a year, my TV didn’t work and the only channel I could get was TV3! Thankfully that’s changed, so I must get out of the habit…
    🙂
    Vicky

  36. felix 36
    25 June 2014 at 6:46 pm

    Questions:

    1. How many hours/people/resources/dollars/opportunities has Labour expended this week looking for records of and responding to questions about $100k bottles of wine that never existed?
    2. Is there anything more pressing that might have made better use of those resources? Any elections coming up?
    3. Would “fuck off that’s bullshit” be a better response to such accusations in the future?
    4. Will Labour figure this out by September?
    • mickysavage 36.1
      25 June 2014 at 7:06 pm

      My guess:

      1. Heaps.
      2. Pretty well everything the party does.
      3. A few expletives have been said today.
      4. Easier said than done.

      Interesting that views of this post are really high but comments are low. The RWNJs are obviously not interested in defending the indefensible.

      • BM 36.1.1
        25 June 2014 at 7:13 pm

        Not that I consider myself a nut job, but what’s there to defend?

        The issue seems to be with Mr Liu and his lack of accurate recall.

        Out of interest are there any donations Mr Liu made that Labour can account for?

        • Kaplan 36.1.1.1
          25 June 2014 at 7:52 pm

          “The issue seems to be with Mr Liu and his lack of accurate recall.”
          Yeah , the Herald reporting those lies inaccuracies without fact checking them is totally not an issue.

          • felix 36.1.1.1.1
            25 June 2014 at 8:58 pm

            And John Key spreading the lies in parliament, lies that he knew about long before the Herald did, is totally ok.

        • felix 36.1.1.2
          25 June 2014 at 9:02 pm

          “The issue seems to be with Mr Liu”

          I’d say the issue is with everyone who peddled the lie that Liu gave Labour -what was it, $150,000?

          That includes you, buddy.

      • BM 36.1.2
        25 June 2014 at 8:12 pm

        I’ll take that as a no then.

        • felix 36.1.2.1
          25 June 2014 at 8:52 pm

          Donations from Mr Liu to Labour?

          No BM, that was a bullshit story made up by Key and Slater. Mr Liu donated $2000 to a boat club.

          Or something. Keep up.

  37. greywarbler 37
    25 June 2014 at 6:55 pm

    felix
    You are succinct. Labour sucks in this Liu case.. They need some terse verse. To be robust and not be so bloody defensive. They might even swear occasionally. If they sound less milk and water and more like Jones boy enjoying a beer, people who appreciate their Party having strength and even a bit of mongrel to defend themselves would sit up and take notice.

    • Colonial Viper 37.1
      25 June 2014 at 7:16 pm

      Won’t a few more heartfelt mea culpas and other assorted apologetic looks win the voters over /sarc

      The thing about connecting with frontline working NZ is not “swearing” and “sexism” as so many in the, ahem, Thorndon Bubble, seem to think. Its simply about saying it how you see it, straight out and totally unvarnished. And when Cunliffe does that instead of having his pressors cowardly wordsmithed by his PR types (see No Right Turn) he fucking wins the internets AND the TV channels.

      EDIT e.g. “As far as Liu’s claims of a $150K bottle of wine are concerned, that’s being thoroughly checked out by the Party but my first impression is that its a load of bullshit. And if it turns out to be true, I hope he got a $150K hangover out of it.”

      BOOOOOM!

      • BM 37.1.1
        25 June 2014 at 7:24 pm

        You’d connect a lot better if you drop the working class bullshit and talked to people as people instead of as a category.

  38. Mike the Savage One 38
    25 June 2014 at 7:34 pm

    I am glad that this has occurred, that Donghua Liu was forced to concede that his initial story, based on a statement from early May, was not true and correct. He has backed off earlier claims, qualified the whole donations, and has seen a need to try and get himself out of the mess.

    What is left as a major question, and deserves an answer, is how and why John Key knew of this letter signed by Liu, over a month old, and from whom he knew about it, and why made comments, as if there was some truth to it all. John Key has knowledge about stuff, that smells suspicious, like a back-room strategists’ smear campaign agenda, but he now wants nothing to do with it all, and says it is a matter between the Labour Party and Mr Liu.

    Also the Herald on Sunday journalists that published the rumours and false claims, without any evidence, have much egg on their faces. I am pleased that David Parker did make a mention on the poor journalism, that has been evident, in a media announcement with David Cunliffe, which was also shown on the TV One news tonight.

    Yes, the media, at least some in it, have a lot to answer to in this also, and perhaps this new development will finally get some of the biased, “gung-ho” media hacks motivated to give all this, and their past behaviour, some good and serious consideration, and lets them reflect on how they do their job, and realise the duties they have as the 4th estate.

    • Kiwiri 38.1
      25 June 2014 at 7:56 pm

      Next time that John Key and the Natz attempt a smear, Labour can say:

      “please do not be too quick to jump to concLiusions” ….

      or “I hope you, media, are not in colLiusion with smearers”

      p.s. Rodel: want some more puns?

    • Ed 38.2
      25 June 2014 at 8:22 pm

      Key has accepted that Liu gave equally to each government, and said that made it hundreds of thousands Labour had to explain. So he still has to explain where Liu’s “hundreds of thousands” donations to National show in electoral returns.

      • veutoviper 38.2.1
        25 June 2014 at 8:44 pm

        Exactly, Ed. Liu is still claiming that his overall donations to Labour are of the order of $100K.

        And Liu has not retracted his statement that he donated about equivalent amounts to LAbour and to National. Yet the only donation we know about to National/ declared by National is $22,000 in 2012. So where is the other $78,000 or thereabouts?

        And remember that the electoral finance act amendments in late 2008 mean that the rules for declaring donations etc are much tighter than they were prior to National coming into office.

  39. Rodel 39
    25 June 2014 at 7:37 pm

    Loved David Cunliffe’s remark on TV tonight ,that John Keys’ allegations are ….”liudicrius”.
    Bit of humour wins votes I’m sure.
    Any other puns?

  40. Rodel 40
    25 June 2014 at 7:45 pm

    I have a bottle of wine in my possession. Sav Blanc…and signed by Helen Clark. (This is true).
    Any Tory can buy it and proceeds will go to David Cunliffe’s campaign.. reserve price $100,000.
    An offers?
    Will even provide an affadavit.

    • Kiwiri 40.1
      25 June 2014 at 7:53 pm

      Would it be possible to leave out the affidavit and instead provide a statement, with a copy that I will drop off at NZ Herald, for an additional $50,000? This could be a Liucrative deal for you.

    • North 40.2
      25 June 2014 at 8:01 pm

      Brilliant Rodel ! Careful those Tory burglars re the wine. Hang on………it’s two affidavits going rate i’nit ?

    • dimebag russell 40.3
      25 June 2014 at 8:08 pm

      I’ll take a dozen.

  41. ianmac 41
    25 June 2014 at 8:36 pm

    That could become a new saying for all sorts of situations. “That is liudicrous Mr Key!”
    Must practice thanks. So could Guyon. “”No No. Your answer is luidicrous Mr Key.”

  42. yeshe 42
    25 June 2014 at 9:35 pm

    has liu been sentenced yet in his domestic violence cases ? thx …

  43. Roy 43
    26 June 2014 at 3:48 pm

    I’m not sure about the headline of this piece. I don’t think Key does embarrassment.

  44. NZJester 44
    26 June 2014 at 4:40 pm

    National have successful put it in a lot of peoples minds that Labour is the one that has been selling Cash for Access and hiding their donations with all these Donghua Liu stories when all the evidence has proved the claims wrong. National are like the sneaky guy at the back of a crowded lift who has farted. To avoid embarrassment and suspicion that they are the guilty party when any of the people in front have turn around to see who did it they have looked at the person next to them, sniffed and given a facial expression to give them the impression it was that other person. No mater how much that person now denies it as far as some of the people in the lift are concerned it was they who farted and not the real culprit next to them.