Random impertinent questions

Written By: - Date published: 8:52 am, October 21st, 2013 - 66 comments
Categories: local government - Tags:

Who says the ‘threatening texts’ in the Brown/Slater/Palino came from Brown’s camp? Didn’t the threatening text push Chuang into the affidavit, after weeks of being pressured by Palino advisor, Wewege? Doesn’t that make those texts awful useful for Slater/Palino? Do you believe Palino knew nothing of the affair, as he claims? If the purpose of the affidavit had been to present it to Brown quietly and get him to resign, wouldn’t that be blackmail?

66 comments on “Random impertinent questions ”

  1. Dom 1

    Exactly, who’s to say that someone like Stephen Cook did not send the messages?

    You only have to look at his history to see that he is a disgusting no-morals scumbag who could potentially stoop to such levels.

    A sacked and disgraced ex-journalist who was allegedly selling P in the toilets and mates with the Head Hunters – look at the scumbag and disgraced lawyer he hired to represent in him in his employment case, Chris Comeskey, the same one who always rep’d the HH’s.

    Look at what he did to Debbie Gerbich, arguably pushing her to suicide.

    “The New Zealand Herald revealed the identity of Mrs Gerbich on Sunday 31 March after she gave a rival newspaper access to the videotape made in 2001. The Sunday News had published information revealing the existence of the videotape but did not reveal her identity. Mrs Gerbich was reported by the Sunday News to have been devastated after her name was subsequently published by the New Zealand Herald. Mrs Gerbich claimed to have received intimidating emails from New Zealand Herald journalist Steven Cook after she refused to speak with them. Two emails sent from Steven Cooks email account were presented and read out to a reporter on the New Zealand current affairs program Close Up, one of them stated;

    “We can play this one of two ways; either with your co-operation or without. We have made enquiries today into your background and have turned up several interesting leads. And I suggest it’s in your interests to discuss those with me.” “If you think you can continue to hide in the shadows, you’re sadly mistaken.”

    I wouldn’t be surprised if Cook has been using threats to leverage Bevan to leak and now to shut up, given that he has came out claiming she was interested in starring in his new porno sites.

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/9304633/Reporter-offers-Chuang-porn-star-role

    ” He claims he is “in discussions” with Chuang, who has “taken a very keen interest in it”.

    He also claimed to have naked images of Chuang, but would not say if they had been supplied by her or a third party. He was taking legal advice on the use of the images.

    Chuang said yesterday Cook had suggested to her that she star in a porn movie “re-enactment” of the Len Brown affair, and offered her $50,000 or $25,000 for “soft porn”.

    She said she rejected the offer. She says Cook also suggested she sell her story to a women’s magazine for $5000. “

    • Ray 1.1

      Nothing new that Cook is a sleaze and it is great that certain bloggers make sure everybody does not forget that (it is called attack the messenger, it is just above smear the victim in the handbook))

      But who had the most to loose if all this came out before the election?
      Follow the money

      • Anne 1.1.1

        Comment by Whaleoil yesterday on Kiwiblog.

        And now we have the murky involvement of Hamish Price, no wonder the focus turned to John Palino and Luigi Wewege and my father…Hamish is the unnamed National party source…a man closely connected to Michelle Boag and someone who hates Me, my father and anyone connected to us.

        if Bevan Chuang thought that she was manipulated by Luigi Wewege then she ain’t seen nothing yet as the Boag/Price machine ramps up the smears.

        There is a good chance that we now know the identity of the mystery texter now too…and then the pieces all fit together.

        (my bold and typos corrected)

        http://www.kiwiblog.co.nz/2013/10/truth_is_stranger_than_fiction.html#comments

        Arguably conclusive that it came from his own side of the political fence. Good on you ‘mystery textor’, you tried to warn them.

        • karol 1.1.1.1

          Hmmm…. so WO is claiming Hamish Price is now “representing” Chuang. He has been discussed in relation to the Palino campaign:

          National Party campaigner and volunteer Hamish Price said that he was approached to write Palino’s campaign policy, but it was only four months out from the election and such a big job that he couldn’t have done it as a volunteer.

          Price did not rate political strategist Luigi Wewege or others involved in the Palino campaign.

          “People who weren’t wanted elsewhere, or had zero campaign experience. No significant current National Party figures went near the campaign, as it was generally known to be entirely dysfunctional.”

          However, campaign manager and former National Party president John Slater hit back and said Palino had been consistent with what he had said all week.

          He said Price was persona non grata after being denied a job with the Palino tea

          Price critical of Wewege here:

          A National Party activist warned John Palino Wewege was “toxic” and he should not go anywhere near him.

          Hamish Price said he warned Palino against the idea of Wewege writing policy.

          “I said Luigi has a reputation for having issues with women, young women in particular.

          “That has been evident in the National Party: he was pulled aside and spoken to about it, his behaviour didn’t change and he was shunted out as a result.”

        • Tiger Mountain 1.1.1.2

          As a rare Kiwibluuurgh! visitor Anne, I was quite taken aback to find various comments labelled “hidden due to low comment rating”, helpfully (grudgingly?) a link to view is provided though. Farrar pretends a degree of bafflement but is really running interference as usual.

          Pallino presents as the kind of guy that carries cash around in brown paper bags.
          “free to drink martinis and watch the sun rise” as Bob Dylan sang and so many Mayors the world over practice. More to play out on this one yet–Mayor Hulse?

      • Flashing Light 1.1.2

        Problem with that analysis, Ray, is that we’re in a zero sum game, in which one side’s loss is the other sides gain. So we might just as well ask “who had the most to gain if all this came out before the election? Follow the money.”

        Absent some sort of confession from the person who sent the text (or some technical wizadry that can link the number used to someone’s credit card, or similar), we’re left speculating … and there’s enough “facts” to “confirm” whatever predisposition anyone brings to that task.

        • Pascal's bookie 1.1.2.1

          Exactly so.

          It’s highly unlikely that we’ll ever know, for sure, who sent the texts, so it comes down to a judgement about who was most likely to have doen it. And past behaviour is pretty bloody relevant to making that judgement.

          I wonder what Aaron Gilmore would have to say about the sort of messages he was recieving for thsoe few days when he was considereing his options, and writing his valedictory speech.

          Anyone can go and read the sorts of things Whale was implying on his blog at the time.

      • Dom 1.1.3

        Follow what money? There is no money trail to follow. The Anonymous texts could be from anyone. All that is out there is innuendo and claims of “Browns” people, or “PR” teams, with no substance. What a croc.

        I suggest you follow the EVIDENCE. That’s what those of us who have worked within law enforcement use before we can accuse someone of something and before they can be found guilty of anything.

        The only evidence so far shows that Bevan was pressured by Palino’s team – ie. the facebook messages from Wewege. These tried to get her to come out before the election was over, these tried to get her to obtain messages from Brown, she stated she texted him repeatedly but he did not contact her back – so again, who has the most to lose – Palino, Wewege & Slater!

        Her statement regarding Palino and potential blackmail/releasing the info appears credible when everything else she has said has stacked up, eg. Brown Affair, Wewege Affair.

        She then commented for Cook and Slater to stop harassing her. Both of whom have a consistent history of harassing and borderline blackmail.

        She may be naive and power hungry, but she doesn’t come across as a liar.

        • bad12 1.1.3.1

          Oh i think you are being far to kind to Ms Chuang, far from calling Her names i have a certain grudging respect for Her and coming from what some might describe as the ‘low’ end of society find that Her actions would fit well among the ‘culture’ of poverty inherent here in the vein of those actions not being totally ‘unusual’,

          Having said all of that tho, you can gauge the true character of Ms Chuang by simply disregarding who She chose to share a bed with and look at Her actions surrounding Her employment,

          Made redundant from one job Ms Chuang happily and illegally accessed information on the work computer system and passed it on to a third party, having been convicted and fined for such criminal behavior Ms Chuang then went on to apply for another position which She was employed at after failing to disclose Her previous conviction,

          Of course when the second employer found out about Her conviction for Her actions with the first, She was sacked for not disclosing that conviction,

          Therein lies the true character of Ms Chuang, as i said i quite like Her,(from what can be inferred by all the publicity), in my little movie scenario, thankfully confined to my own mind, i have a visualized scene where Ms Chunag adds a note to Her diary along the lines of ”God the things a girl has to do in this sleaze-ball town just to get a job”…

          • Chooky 1.1.3.1.1

            bad12 …appreciate your character analysis

            …however was Auckland always a “sleaze-ball town”? I don’t think so…so what has made it this way?

            …..and working class New Zealand women often struggled to get jobs and careers legitimately based on their own education and abilities ( far from sleeping around for favours and acting like a t..t…..and indulging in dubious ‘criminal’ activities to crawl to positions of influence )

            ….this is what the feminist movement was all about … ie equal pay for equal work; equal opportunity; dignity and economic independence… (despite the Catholic Church trying its best to denying NZ women these simple human rights)

            …So do I have a “grudging respect” for Ms Chaung?….nah

            • bad12 1.1.3.1.1.1

              Chooky, aha, but me being a bloke and all that i don’t have the baggage of having to run everything through the filter of ‘feminist correctness’ though we can hardly offer the same defence to Ms Chuang,(shame on you girl for letting the sister’s down),

              Still in my reality i get along fine with young woman such as Ms Chuang mostly i think because it doesn’t take them long to realize that i know them for what they are at heart, ruthless,

              It’s why She has my grudging respect…

              • Chooky

                I take your point…however i would have more respect for a woman/or man who makes their own way based on their own abilities and fairness for the other contenders for the jobs and not cheating or p…….ting themselves.

                btw….I have never been one for “the filter of ‘feminist correctness’ ” just equality and fair play …I am not a prude and realise affairs happen and I make allowances for human frailty and lust….however the further one gets into the details of this the more it stinks imo… (eg the gambling casino convention centre )

                • bad12

                  Lolz, Ms Chuang would seem to be the ‘perfect’ product of Neo-liberalism where anything goes and the only sin is getting caught…

                  • Chooky

                    Yes multi- story brothel in the heart of Auckland does seem to be an apt symbol and monument to Neo-liberalism and Auckland under good Catholic family man Mayor Len Brown

                    …doesnt do much for ordinary Auckland working women however

          • Ant 1.1.3.1.2

            She seems to have the unfortunate combination of political ambition and stupidity, so it makes total sense that she was a tory candidate for the local body elections 😎

        • Tom Gould 1.1.3.2

          Getting a bit messy for the Tories, so they now need a scapegoat and it looks like Luigi fits the bill. So he’s it. All the Tories are pointing the bone at him now. The rogue loner up to no good. Foreigner who doesn’t get how the game is played over here. Evil manipulator of naïve local Tories with only the best of intentions. But wait, didn’t they …

  2. bad12 3

    Blubber Boy should just face the fact, He thought He was firing the silver bullet into the heart of the Brown Mayoralty and now has to deal with the fact that all’s that emanated from the barrell of His smoking gun was a little flag that said ‘Bang’,

    A mere party joke and as He continues to try and add fuel to a fire which is and will continue to burn the ‘right’, exposing to everyone the deep schisms within National’s rank and file the party joke will fast turn into Blubber Boy himself,

    The insertion of the ‘Boag camp’ into this little farce will ensure that as it staggers along with revelation and counter-revelation it is Slippery’s National Government diligently holding it’s collective nasal protuberance in an effort to stay far far in the distance is splashed from within the puddle of s**t in which Blubber Boy and now the ‘Boag camp’ have chosen to wallow…

  3. Sable 4

    Who cares, they are all idiots.

  4. greywarbler 5

    Farrago is a good word for this. As I said before we spot a pair of scanty panties and reason flies out the window. Everybody talking about how they didn’t know, but someone else did, and accusations who leaked and what.

    Time will settle the dirt, next step is to separate the participants by pouring buckets of water on them, then Len can get some work done, the others can stop mud wrestling. Some bright spark can make a nice amount of money making the first of a series of NZ farces about our goings on, sexual or otherwise. Have a look at French farces for ideas. And we can have one about the French and their petty dejeuner – they sure made a meal of us!We have a rich field of promise for a sharp agile and ironic gaze.

    What about the court martial over a sexual liaison between a Navy bigwig and somebody else. Attempts to hide it, lie about it, threats made about it. Possible jail sentence, demotion. What next. Thank goodness some men and women still like each other so we can have some babies to carry on our poor benighted species. There’s hope that we will reach our exalted human potential soon. And there should be more thought about moral hazards. If the rules make something rigidly forbidden with rigid life-changing punishment and that something is not vile or dangerous or against human rights or destructive then there is over-reaction. There should be a consequence that is not harsh.

    But for things that are vile or dangerous or against human rights or destructive, we are moving closer to needing a return to the death penalty And one thing that will bring such opprobrium will be firebugs. We cannot afford the lives, time, resources we invest in our lives and property to be put wiped out by people who are internally and externally destructive. They are factually out of their mind whether they can be diagnosed under present psychological opinion as insane or not. They are destroyers who can’t be allowed to live, in fact can’t be trusted because of the possibility of them renewing their obssession and requiring expensive and extensive surveillance whether in jail or released. It is a false idea that killing anyone judicially is a bad thing for humanity. They must be tried, but past record and behaviour must also be considered before the verdict, and then if found liable for the fires, humanely put down.

    Now that will be something serious to argue and worry about, forget about people loving each other, or at least going through the motions. They might come to this in Australia as they face severe crises from natural fires without the madness of firebug behaviour.

    • Treetop 5.1

      What is at the top of the pile?

      The small stuff which snowballs or the ugly stuff which has snowballed?

  5. Tracey 6

    This gave me my biggest chuckle of the day. What a hoot.

    “I suggest you follow the EVIDENCE. That’s what those of us who have worked within law enforcement use before we can accuse someone of something and before they can be found guilty of anything.”

    in addition this past week has shown us that while social media like blogs get the scoopy other media are still better at digging behind and below the story.

    I always suspected that right wingers eat their own.

    palino says hes honest cos hes an entrepreneur and tv presenter. In my book two reasons to consider him entirely motivated by self interest and ego. Meeting in a car park ffs.

  6. i still haven’t even seen the issue addressed..

    ..of whether the fact of sky-city casino providing free/on-call fuck-rooms for brown + lover..

    ..and the fact of the casino knowing of/easily able to prove browns’ ongoing/past indiscretions..

    ..if these two facts had any part to play in browns’ wholesale endorsement of the sky-city-casino pokie-deal..?

    ..on the surface..brown appears to have been (literally) in bed with sky-city…

    ..and that fact has a kinda stench about it..

    ..eh..?

    ..and hints of brown being ‘owned’ by sky-city..

    ..eh..?

    ..phillip ure..

    • Lanthanide 7.1

      “..of whether the fact of sky-city casino providing free/on-call fuck-rooms for brown + lover..

      ..and the fact of the casino knowing of/easily able to prove browns’ ongoing/past indiscretions..”

      If you’ve got any references for them, I’d like to see them.

      As far as I have heard, Len Brown personally paid for all expenses during his affair; he didn’t take gifts and he didn’t use council money.

      • phillip ure 7.1.1

        @lanthanide..

        ..there are reports of chuang referring to this ‘norm’..

        ..phillip ure..

        • Tim 7.1.1.1

          Not that long ago, Hillary Clinton tried to invent a RESET button.
          Didn’t seem to work that well. I’m thinking that piece of blubber and definition of ‘ugly’ is a desperately seeking Susan in search of a RESET right about now. (Elsewhere – it’s known as a slug, or even a Slator)

          Oh dear! How sad!,

          If I were them, I’d try pushing it harder. The alternatives for the gnats really aren’t that pretty. (not that it’s going to work – but it’d be nice if they actually made an effort, although I’m picking an amply laden arse going by the name of Judith, and plied with Bellamy’s best offerings, is busy sitting on it).

      • thatguynz 7.1.2

        Kinda not really the point Lanth. As they say, knowledge is power so Skycity knowing that the mayor may or may not have entertained one or more sexual partners in their hotel would certainly be of use to a less scrupulous operator – irrespective of whether the room was comped or not.

        • Lanthanide 7.1.2.1

          Sure, I take the point, I’m just asking for evidence on the two statements phillip made. One is that the rooms were comped, and the second that SkyCity knew what was going on.

  7. aerobubble 8

    Random question.

    Banks faced the police, but on the old local government law, because even though Auckland is a huge billion dollar entity, it still under the same laws as a small west coast council. and that’s the rib, Banks was running for Mayor not for Parliament.

    So that got me thinking, Browns not the first Mayor to have a mistress? Get up to questionable practices, he just happens to be Mayor of Auckland rather than say Laws or Parker who would not be such high profile.

    For to suggest that a Mayor got a freebie with his Mistress would not be a crime take to court anywhere else. It would have been seen for what it is, the outing itself would be punishment enough to the career.

    Now the hilarious, first I thought Slater was a moron, outing this right after an election when nobody wanted to spend up for a new one. But it turns out that NZ law is so fracked that instead of the wife taking up the seat vacated by the disgraced or dead Mayor, the second place contender is. Who thought that up, are they trying to destabilize government? If there is an incentive to knock the Mayor off, low life people invariable attempt to. It would have been astonishing had Brown stood down and the Americian take charge, the outrage could have possibly knocked any chance Key had of re-election, which isn’t much I gather.

    • Lanthanide 8.1

      ?

      Is it the case the second-place winner takes the job, because I haven’t seen that anywhere?

      Wouldn’t it be the deputy mayor, as least temporarily until a new election was called?

      Furthermore, remember that Parliament is sovereign, and in an unusual case such as this, could easily pass legislation for new elections, regardless of what existing law said, to avoid an unpalatable outcome such as the 2nd-place winner getting the job.

      • aerobubble 8.1.1

        They seriously considered this possible on Q&A, starting with Boag on the panel. sorry, if they are wrong it would not suprise me, it is after all a rightwing biased TV political show.

        Yes, it could be the deputy… …but wait… …doesn’t the deputy get elected by the council when it sits? As for the wife, in the US the spouse of a congress person takes their seat.

        Only a dumb law would incentivize the ousting of a duly elected winner.

        • Lanthanide 8.1.1.1

          Len hasn’t actually been sworn in yet, which might be where this potential “runner-up wins the race” stuff is coming from.

          For example, if the winner of a mayoral election were to die before being sworn in, going with the runner-up might be a reasonable action to take.

          • karol 8.1.1.1.1

            Graeme Edgeler has said such things trigger a by election.

          • aerobubble 8.1.1.1.2

            No, I don’t agree, if the runner up gets a quarter of the votes while the winner takes over 50%, then they don’t have a mandate and the way the auckland council is, the obvious solution would be for the council to elect an acting Mayor from their number and not have the second place even in the building (EVER). Since the winner must win the majority of the votes.

        • Chris 8.1.1.2

          Boag got it wrong.

          I read a post from Graeme Edgler (sp) that said if the mayor elect cannot take up office before the swearing in that a new election must be held.

          I will try to find the link and post shortly

          • Chris 8.1.1.2.1

            http://publicaddress.net/legalbeagle/

            Re Mayoral resignations

          • Treetop 8.1.1.2.2

            Boag also said on Q & A that all gifts have to be declared e.g. gift of a room compliments of Sky City.

            • Lanthanide 8.1.1.2.2.1

              Yes, and Len would have known this, hence why he would have paid for everything himself.

              • Treetop

                It has been reported that at times the room was free.

                I heard what Brown said earlier in the day that he paid.

                Two versions which one is right?

                Skycity would probably back Brown and not Chuang because Skycity have the most to gain. (They would want Brown on their side).

                Were Brown smart he would not have used a room at Skycity, because then they would have something over him. Possibly thought that he would not be detected in a busy hotel.

                It has got to the stage where so much is being said (he said, she said and alliances) that it is hard to know who is telling the actual truth.

                As I said the other day, had Chuang been elected, those trying to out Brown would also out Chuang. I have a lot of understanding for her as she has been manipulated the most.

                • McFlock

                  well, I guess that’s what an investigation is for.

                  • Treetop

                    I really do not think that an investigation is going to cut it, unless it is backed up with evidence.

                    Looked for an article on the use of hotel rooms, who tells the best spin wins.

                    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?_id=1&object=11141904

                    Three different hotels are named, but I still stand by saying “Were Brown smart he would not have used a room at Skycity,…”

                    • McFlock

                      I really do not think that an investigation is going to cut it, unless it is backed up with evidence.

                      Yes, that is what distinguishes an investigation from bulldust.
                      For example, they might ask Brown to sign a release for the private info re:billing from the relevant hotels, if that were an issue. Not something I would expect to be on public record (although the junior slater wouldn’t be above forging one to make brown look bad, in my opinion).

                • wtl

                  It has been reported that at times the room was free.

                  What exactly is the source for this? Because I have not seen any credible information that this is the case, and it mainly seems to be something being spread by nutty right wing bloggers and commenters.

                  Both Bevan Chuang and Len Brown have stated the the rooms were paid for.

                  • Treetop

                    The link you have supplied is the link I supplied. Problem with the link from me.

                    Paragraph 2
                    “However she believed that some of the rooms he booked for the pair were offered free of charge by hotel managers.”

                    To clear this up verification will need to be provided.

                    Paragraph 5
                    “A spokes woman for the Hilton said the hotel would not give complimentary rooms to Mr Brown, while spokes woman for SkyCity and the Langham hotels would not comment on guests for privacy reasons.”

                    It just takes one room to be a gift which has not been declared to be misleading.

                    The thing that I am most interested in is what was said in July this year, the only time Chuang and Brown were intimate this year and the relationship had soured by this time.

                    Was some sort of deal struck between them?

  8. Natwest 9

    You can “spin” it however you like, but it will not deflect away from the FACT – loser Len has been running one up a staff member for the past 2 years (and she won’t be the only one – it will all come out eventually). Conflict of interest – job promotion for jollies. He’s nothing but a dirty little, lying piece of scum. I feel so sorry for his wife and daughters – what an embarrasing humiliation for his family. If he had once ounce of dignity he would resign immediately.

    • bad12 9.1

      Sorry to burst your bubble there Shatwest but Ms Chuang was not a Council employee for two years, Len Brown won the Mayoralty and is going no place and even should He resign the ‘polls’ show that He would simply be elected by the people of Auckland again,

      Far from loser Len as you put it, more like Landslide Len as far as the wing-nuts in Auckland are concerned,

      Your slander of Brown by insinuating that He has been involved in other relationships while the Mayor is noted, if you have no proof of such you should shut your hole…

    • Chris 9.2

      How come you can in one breath call Len Brown “He’s nothing but a dirty little, lying piece of scum”

      and

      In the next breath you are ” I feel so sorry for his wife and daughters – what an embarrasing humiliation for his family.”

      How do you justify your ranting which is definitely rubbing the salt in the wounds of Len’s family.

      Surely if you felt sorry for someone you would go out of your way to keep schtum instead of repeating the vitriole

  9. i am also confused by contending experts..

    ..mccarten on telly yesterday morn claimed the timing of this was because if brown could be forced to resign in the week before election and swearing in..

    ..that palino would get the gong…

    ..(seems to make sense..eh..?..and fits the conspiracy-theories like a glove..

    ..yet hooten on nat-rad..(backed by williams..)..

    ..said mccarten has got it wrong..and that that section of the law only applies to councillors..should one drop off the twig/whatever during that gap..

    ..if it is a mayor..this law does not apply…a bye-election is held..

    ..and of the two..hootens’ take hangs together best for me..

    ..as it would seem mccarten possibly only read half of the law..

    ..and hooten raises the hilarious possibility…

    ..that the/any rightwing conspirators made that same law miss-reading mistake mccarten clearly did..

    ..and that their whole plan (if you believe chuangs’ relating of palinos’ timing-urgings to her in that car-park..late that nite..and why wouldn’t we/you..?..)

    ..their whole plan was a total monumental-clusterfuck/screw-up..

    ..from day/square one..

    ..all predicated on someones’ miss-reading of a law..

    ..and i hafta confess..

    ..i find that possiblity fucken hilarious..

    ..and i so so hope that is the way it is..

    ..eh..?

    ..the humour to be wrung from this..

    ..would give us all a well-needed feelgood-shot..

    ..(well..most of us..anyway..)

    ..and if so…

    ..plse plse tell us who the face-palming idiot was who came up with this wheeze of an idea/plan..?

    ..in the first place..?

    ..and no..the idiots who played along..get no credit..

    ..eh..?

    ..we need to know who to direct our laughs at..

    ..eh..?

    ..phillip ure..

  10. Pascal's bookie 11

    Russell Brown has seen the Chuang affidavit the Herald has been basing its stories on:

    http://publicaddress.net/hardnews/moving-right-along-1/

    There’s more in it than has been reported so far, which I suspect is partly because she directly attributes words to both Slater and Palino that could constitute grounds for a criminal prosecution. They have both denied its contents. Stephen Cook’s she-was-totally-up-for-it version of his interactions with Chuang is contradicted by her account of him demanding to know only the most salacious detals: how was Brown in bed? What’s his penis size? Journalists have been left with a situation in which no one can truly be regarded as reliable witness.

  11. Chooky 12

    To me Ad’s recent post is of concern

    …… ie why are so many highly placed executives of the Auckland Council resigning, resigned or possibly resigning….surely this indicates poor top governance, management or morale.

    (See post below)

    Ad 19
    20 October 2013 at 7:22 am

    ……..We need to get back to debating the agenda of the Council. At the moment, the Council will lose its Chief Executive within months, has lost its Head of Communications, head of Legal, and (if a successful CE candidate) their Chief Financial Officer. It is highly likely to lose more. Like it or not, the staff at Council are a whole lot more powerful than these politicians who meet very occasionally.

    We also currently have a Council with no Committee structure, no Committee delegations, and no functioning democracy at all. Five of the new Council are brand new and either have no Council experience or none playing at this level.

    This is for steering an entity far larger in its assets than Fonterra.

    We have a Unitary Plan preparing for public hearings which the Government has determining it will select the Commissioners for.

    We have Cabinet decisions coming down the pipeline that will currently greatly expand motorway investment and do very little for public transport.

    You people are obsessed with the media when the policy content and all the other players underneath the Council that will make it happen are far more at risk. Change your viewfinder quickly.

  12. captain hook 13

    wailoil scumblog slater is just jealous that len got to hide the sausage while he has to pay for it and even then they insist that the lights be turned off.

  13. Natwest 14

    ‘Excusers” and hypoctites to boot. Excussing Browns behaviour just endorses to him that it’s okay to abuse his position of office. Ironic how the left bayed for Worth and Gilmores blood when they stepped out of line, but it’s different when one of its own is in the firing line.

    • framu 14.1

      OK – this one has been dealt with already but

      1) point out where people are saying its fine len had an affair
      2) In richard worths case there was actual legal processes underway – as opposed to a bunch of media stories

      so far from what you paint it as – thats two comments in this one thread where youve thrown your weight around and generally put across the impression that your not that smart. Care to prove the perception incorrect?

      You do realise that lens affiar and the subsequent goings on are actually two distinct things and as such can be talked about separately dont you?

    • gobsmacked 14.2

      Six wrongs in three sentences. Well done.

      Reading homework – the case of Richard Worth, the left’s view of Brown, the definition of “abuse”, etc, etc. Enjoy.

    • bad12 14.3

      Shitnest, having an affair is not an abuse of office, we have moved on from Victorian era moral rigor and most of us consider what goes on in the bed of any particular politician highly un-note-worthy from a moral position,(although the comic dimensions of such may reach epic proportions)…

    • One Anonymous Knucklehead 14.4

      Poor wickle Natwest, the nasty smear campaign isn’t turning out the way they wanted.

      Diddums.

    • amirite 14.5

      Apart from the table, a couple of walls and a couch in the office being ábused’ I don”t think he held a gun to her head to get into her panties . Yes he was a stupid dickhead but by no means the first or the last politician to cheat on his wife with a younger model. And when I listen to the likes of Rodney Hide lecturing everyone on morality I just feel an urge to barf.

  14. gobsmacked 15

    This is quite funny … journo tries to keep story going, Twitter says “please shut up now”:

    https://twitter.com/BernardOrsman/status/392100166712307712

    Same on Radio Live – Grubby Garner says “Issues! Issues!”, and everyone else says “give it up, it’s over”. It’s not been Duncan’s finest hour, channeling Slater and Cook last week, giving them free hits, and now he looks pretty stupid. Shame.

  15. Ron 16

    Why on earth has no one asked what the cellphone number of the anonymous text is.
    Even if it was a throw away phone having the number would be interesting especially if its still hot.
    Reporter after reporter make big of the so called anonymous texts but never ask what the cell number is. Get the number put it out to the people and who knows we might just be able to track it.
    Is this just inability of our media journalists to think or do they have a reason fro not wanting us to know

  16. Philgwellington Wellington 17

    Xox
    Can’t we get JK and the GCSB, SIS, NSA, onto this and fill in the gaps in the story?

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • EV road user charges bill passes
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed the passing of legislation to move light electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) into the road user charges system from 1 April.  “It was always intended that EVs and PHEVs would be exempt from road user charges until they reached two ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    20 hours ago
  • Bill targets illegal, unregulated fishing in international waters
    New Zealand is strengthening its ability to combat illegal fishing outside its domestic waters and beef up regulation for its own commercial fishers in international waters through a Bill which had its first reading in Parliament today. The Fisheries (International Fishing and Other Matters) Amendment Bill 2023 sets out stronger ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    21 hours ago
  • Reserve Bank appointments
    Economists Carl Hansen and Professor Prasanna Gai have been appointed to the Reserve Bank Monetary Policy Committee, Finance Minister Nicola Willis announced today. The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) is the independent decision-making body that sets the Official Cash Rate which determines interest rates.  Carl Hansen, the executive director of Capital ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    22 hours ago
  • Stronger protections for apartment owners
    Apartment owners and buyers will soon have greater protections as further changes to the law on unit titles come into effect, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “The Unit Titles (Strengthening Body Corporate Governance and Other Matters) Amendment Act had already introduced some changes in December 2022 and May 2023, and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Travel focused on traditional partners and Middle East
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters will travel to Egypt and Europe from this weekend.    “This travel will focus on a range of New Zealand’s traditional diplomatic and security partnerships while enabling broad engagement on the urgent situation in Gaza,” Mr Peters says.   Mr Peters will attend the NATO Foreign ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Keep safe on our roads this Easter
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown is encouraging all road users to stay safe, plan their journeys ahead of time, and be patient with other drivers while travelling around this Easter long weekend. “Road safety is a responsibility we all share, and with increased traffic on our roads expected this Easter we ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Cost of living support for over 1.4 million Kiwis
    About 1.4 million New Zealanders will receive cost of living relief through increased government assistance from April 1 909,000 pensioners get a boost to Superannuation, including 5000 veterans 371,000 working-age beneficiaries will get higher payments 45,000 students will see an increase in their allowance Over a quarter of New Zealanders ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Tenancy reviews for social housing restart
    Ensuring social housing is being provided to those with the greatest needs is front of mind as the Government restarts social housing tenancy reviews, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says. “Our relentless focus on building a strong economy is to ensure we can deliver better public services such as social ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary plan halted
    The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary will not go ahead, with Cabinet deciding to stop work on the proposed reserve and remove the Bill that would have established it from Parliament’s order paper. “The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary Bill would have created a 620,000 sq km economic no-go zone,” Oceans and Fisheries Minister ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Cutting all that dam red tape
    Dam safety regulations are being amended so that smaller dams won’t be subject to excessive compliance costs, Minister for Building and Construction Chris Penk says. “The coalition Government is focused on reducing costs and removing unnecessary red tape so we can get the economy back on track.  “Dam safety regulations ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Drought support extended to parts of North Island
    The coalition Government is expanding the medium-scale adverse event classification to parts of the North Island as dry weather conditions persist, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced today. “I have made the decision to expand the medium-scale adverse event classification already in place for parts of the South Island to also cover the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Passage of major tax bill welcomed
    The passing of legislation giving effect to coalition Government tax commitments has been welcomed by Finance Minister Nicola Willis.  “The Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill will help place New Zealand on a more secure economic footing, improve outcomes for New Zealanders, and make our tax system ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Lifting economy through science, tertiary sectors
    Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Judith Collins and Tertiary Education and Skills Minister Penny Simmonds today announced plans to transform our science and university sectors to boost the economy. Two advisory groups, chaired by Professor Sir Peter Gluckman, will advise the Government on how these sectors can play a greater ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government announces Budget priorities
    The Budget will deliver urgently-needed tax relief to hard-working New Zealanders while putting the government’s finances back on a sustainable track, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says.  The Finance Minister made the comments at the release of the Budget Policy Statement setting out the Government’s Budget objectives. “The coalition Government intends ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government to consider accommodation solution
    The coalition Government will look at options to address a zoning issue that limits how much financial support Queenstown residents can get for accommodation. Cabinet has agreed on a response to the Petitions Committee, which had recommended the geographic information MSD uses to determine how much accommodation supplement can be ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government approves extension to Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care
    Cabinet has agreed to a short extension to the final reporting timeframe for the Royal Commission into Abuse in Care from 28 March 2024 to 26 June 2024, Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden says.                                         “The Royal Commission wrote to me on 16 February 2024, requesting that I consider an ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • $18m boost for Kiwis travelling to health treatment
    The coalition Government is delivering an $18 million boost to New Zealanders needing to travel for specialist health treatment, Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says.   “These changes are long overdue – the National Travel Assistance (NTA) scheme saw its last increase to mileage and accommodation rates way back in 2009.  ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • PM’s Prizes for Space to showcase sector’s talent
    The Government is recognising the innovative and rising talent in New Zealand’s growing space sector, with the Prime Minister and Space Minister Judith Collins announcing the new Prime Minister’s Prizes for Space today. “New Zealand has a growing reputation as a high-value partner for space missions and research. I am ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Concerns conveyed to China over cyber activity
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government.     “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity, attributed to groups sponsored by the Chinese Government, targeting democratic institutions in both New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Independent Reviewers appointed for School Property Inquiry
    Independent Reviewers appointed for School Property Inquiry Education Minister Erica Stanford today announced the appointment of three independent reviewers to lead the Ministerial Inquiry into the Ministry of Education’s School Property Function.  The Inquiry will be led by former Minister of Foreign Affairs Murray McCully. “There is a clear need ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Brynderwyns open for Easter
    State Highway 1 across the Brynderwyns will be open for Easter weekend, with work currently underway to ensure the resilience of this critical route being paused for Easter Weekend to allow holiday makers to travel north, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Today I visited the Brynderwyn Hills construction site, where ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Speech to the Infrastructure Funding & Financing Conference
    Introduction Good morning to you all, and thanks for having me bright and early today. I am absolutely delighted to be the Minister for Infrastructure alongside the Minister of Housing and Resource Management Reform. I know the Prime Minister sees the three roles as closely connected and he wants me ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Parliamentary network breached by the PRC
    New Zealand stands with the United Kingdom in its condemnation of People’s Republic of China (PRC) state-backed malicious cyber activity impacting its Electoral Commission and targeting Members of the UK Parliament. “The use of cyber-enabled espionage operations to interfere with democratic institutions and processes anywhere is unacceptable,” Minister Responsible for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • NZ to provide support for Solomon Islands election
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Defence Minister Judith Collins today announced New Zealand will provide logistics support for the upcoming Solomon Islands election. “We’re sending a team of New Zealand Defence Force personnel and two NH90 helicopters to provide logistics support for the election on 17 April, at the request ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • NZ-EU FTA gains Royal Assent for 1 May entry to force
    The European Union Free Trade Agreement Legislation Amendment Bill received Royal Assent today, completing the process for New Zealand’s ratification of its free trade agreement with the European Union.    “I am pleased to announce that today, in a small ceremony at the Beehive, New Zealand notified the European Union ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • COVID-19 inquiry attracts 11,000 submissions
    Public consultation on the terms of reference for the Royal Commission into COVID-19 Lessons has concluded, Internal Affairs Minister Hon Brooke van Velden says.  “I have been advised that there were over 11,000 submissions made through the Royal Commission’s online consultation portal.” Expanding the scope of the Royal Commission of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Families to receive up to $75 a week help with ECE fees
    Hardworking families are set to benefit from a new credit to help them meet their early childcare education (ECE) costs, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. From 1 July, parents and caregivers of young children will be supported to manage the rising cost of living with a partial reimbursement of their ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Unlocking a sustainable, low-emissions future
    A specialised Independent Technical Advisory Group (ITAG) tasked with preparing and publishing independent non-binding advice on the design of a "green" (sustainable finance) taxonomy rulebook is being established, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says.  “Comprising experts and market participants, the ITAG's primary goal is to deliver comprehensive recommendations to the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Chief of Army thanked for his service
    Defence Minister Judith Collins has thanked the Chief of Army, Major General John Boswell, DSD, for his service as he leaves the Army after 40 years. “I would like to thank Major General Boswell for his contribution to the Army and the wider New Zealand Defence Force, undertaking many different ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Minister to meet Australian counterparts and Manufacturing Industry Leaders
    25 March 2024 Minister to meet Australian counterparts and Manufacturing Industry Leaders Small Business, Manufacturing, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly will travel to Australia for a series of bi-lateral meetings and manufacturing visits. During the visit, Minister Bayly will meet with his Australian counterparts, Senator Tim Ayres, Ed ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Government commits nearly $3 million for period products in schools
    Government commits almost $3 million for period products in schools The Coalition Government has committed $2.9 million to ensure intermediate and secondary schools continue providing period products to those who need them, Minister of Education Erica Stanford announced today. “This is an issue of dignity and ensuring young women don’t ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Speech – Making it easier to build.
    Good morning, it’s great to be here.   First, I would like to acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of Building Surveyors and thank you for the opportunity to be here this morning.  I would like to use this opportunity to outline the Government’s ambitious plan and what we hope to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Pacific youth to shine from boost to Polyfest
    Minister for Pacific Peoples Dr Shane Reti has announced the Government’s commitment to the Auckland Secondary Schools Māori and Pacific Islands Cultural Festival, more commonly known as Polyfest. “The Ministry for Pacific Peoples is a longtime supporter of Polyfest and, as it celebrates 49 years in 2024, I’m proud to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • 2024 Ngarimu VC and 28th (Māori) Battalion Memorial Scholarships announced
    ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Speech to Breast Cancer Foundation – Insights Conference
    Before moving onto the substance of today’s address, I want to recognise the very significant and ongoing contribution the Breast Cancer Foundation makes to support the lives of New Zealand women and their families living with breast cancer. I very much enjoy working with you. I also want to recognise ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Kiwi research soars to International Space Station
    New Zealand has notched up a first with the launch of University of Canterbury research to the International Space Station, Science, Innovation and Technology and Space Minister Judith Collins says. The hardware, developed by Dr Sarah Kessans, is designed to operate autonomously in orbit, allowing scientists on Earth to study ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Speech to the New Zealand Planning Institute
    Introduction Thank you for inviting me to speak with you today and I’m sorry I can’t be there in person. Yesterday I started in Wellington for Breakfast TV, spoke to a property conference in Auckland, and finished the day speaking to local government in Christchurch, so it would have been ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Support for Northland emergency response centre
    The Coalition Government is contributing more than $1 million to support the establishment of an emergency multi-agency coordination centre in Northland. Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell announced the contribution today during a visit of the Whangārei site where the facility will be constructed.  “Northland has faced a number ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Celebrating 20 years of Whakaata Māori
    New Zealanders have enjoyed a broader range of voices telling the story of Aotearoa thanks to the creation of Whakaata Māori 20 years ago, says Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka. The minister spoke at a celebration marking the national indigenous media organisation’s 20th anniversary at their studio in Auckland on ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Some commercial fishery catch limits increased
    Commercial catch limits for some fisheries have been increased following a review showing stocks are healthy and abundant, Ocean and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The changes, along with some other catch limit changes and management settings, begin coming into effect from 1 April 2024. "Regular biannual reviews of fish ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-03-29T00:59:58+00:00