$800,000 for PR props

Written By: - Date published: 8:34 pm, May 5th, 2011 - 103 comments
Categories: leadership - Tags:

Looks like John Key’s need to look like a celebrity has cost the tax payer $800,000 – that’s the blow out in cost for his DPS entourage, a cost that includes $30,000 for sending officers to Hawaii.

So let’s get this straight. $500k for the people of Te Tai Tokerau to have a by-election is wasteful but $800k for John to big note is all good?

What a joke.

I can just see him humming this to himself while he pisses away our money:

103 comments on “$800,000 for PR props ”

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  1. higherstandard 1
    5 May 2011 at 8:46 pm

    Is he responsible for DPS?

    I suspect no one in Hawaii would have a clue who he is…… but on the topic of Te Tai Tokerau they should take some of the heat for these increased costs on the back of those two tards who tried to mug him on Waitangi day…. not to mention some of the disturbing stuff the dom post published regarding what those activist nutters were considering.

    • Eddie 1.1
      5 May 2011 at 9:31 pm

      “Is he responsible for DPS?”

      PMs clearly have some choice over how much DPS cover they have, otherwise other PMs would have taken DPS overseas and had conspicuous cover like Key does.

      Face it, he’s a little wannabe playing President with our money.

      • Bunji 1.1.1
        6 May 2011 at 9:24 am

        I like how he tried to deny any responsibility for his spending on One News last night. He’s the bloomin’ PM for goodness sake, of course he’s responsible for all government spending. No Truman-esque “The Buck Stops Here” sign in his office, evidently.

        Given that the right thought Helen was responsible for keeping track of her chauffeur’s speedometer, you’d think Key might just be responsible for how many big burly men he keeps around him in Hawaii. No-one over there is even going to know who he is without the DPS around to tell them…

  2. Pascal's bookie 2
    5 May 2011 at 8:52 pm

    And who else saw the look that crossed Collin’s face when Paddy Gower was repeating his question about the 11k petrol bill for her self drive car?

    He asked a couple of times if family members were using the car, and she responded cooly enough that her use was within the rules. Then he changed the question to ask if family members were using the car for work purposes, and she got the same answer out; but not before the inner lizard did a head check. For a split second I thought she was going to eat him right there on the tele.

    • rosy 2.1
      5 May 2011 at 9:06 pm

      Then he changed the question to ask if family members were using the car for work purposes

      hmmm, that seems very specific. I wonder if it’s just baiting or whether he has some evidence saved for a later day.

    • felix 2.2
      5 May 2011 at 9:11 pm

      Nah, she’s a big sook. Another couple of questions and there’d have been tears I reckon.

      Reckon “Paddy” knows exactly who’s driving that car to work though.

    • Eddie 2.3
      5 May 2011 at 9:42 pm

      not usually my field, but let’s do the maths

      $11,000 in two and a half years.

      Typical petrol price in that time, let’s say $1.80 per litre.

      Total litres purchased, about 6,000

      fuel efficiency of a Mazda 6 about 8.5l/100km

      total distance driven, about 70,000

      number of weeks, 120

      km per week, about 600

      hmmm. 600km per week.A hell of a lot.

      Clearly not Collins is not driving her self-drive that much each week, considering she’s in Wellington most of the time and the car’s at home in Clevedon.

      But what if hubbie works in Auckland CBD, about 45km away. Ten trips a week, that’s 450km.

      bingo.

      • jbc 2.3.1
        6 May 2011 at 1:38 am

        I have a Mazda 5 (the 1998cc people mover) which is supposedly 9.2 l/100km but I seem to use about 15 l/100km when solely city driving.

        I know this because I started recording fill-ups for the past few months as I thought it rather thirsty. Commuting is a killer for fuel economy so I’ve taken use public transport most of the time.

        It’s a pity more people don’t engage their brains when it comes to efficiency and consumption. Govt included. Makes it easy to forget when it’s not your money being spent I suppose.

        Just FYI.

        • Lanthanide 2.3.1.1
          6 May 2011 at 12:16 pm

          Ouch. My car is rated for 5.9L/100km, and I got that on my trip to Hamner. Haven’t really measured it around town, but doesn’t seem too far out.

  3. burt 3
    5 May 2011 at 9:04 pm

    $800,000 – that’s a familiar amount of money for a PM to use to promote themselves. I guess he didn’t steal it or he would be hailed as the greatest leader ever on this blog !

  4. felix 4
    5 May 2011 at 9:05 pm

    The bit at the end about Collins and her petrol bill, video here: http://www.3news.co.nz/Collins-taxpayer-funded-petrol-bills-top-11000/tabid/370/articleID/209944/Default.aspx

    So who’s gas are we actually paying for here? Judith’s husband’s? Her children’s? Her brother in law’s? Her cousin’s?

    And her answer, less convincing with every repetition until she almost cries (so tough, Crusher): “All my petrol is within the rules”

    Where have I heard that excuse before? And how well did that go?

    • burt 4.1
      5 May 2011 at 9:09 pm

      So have I got this right – she let the family use the car ? That’s sackable…. unless of course the family crash the car and drugs are found in it… then its… OK!

      • felix 4.1.1
        5 May 2011 at 9:13 pm

        burt you’re a mental.

        She let someone – not necessarily family either btw – spend 11 grand of public money on petrol.

        • burt 4.1.1.1
          5 May 2011 at 9:16 pm

          So will she do Labour MP and just pay it back or do you think that we should set a precedent and enforce the rules as written rather than allowing them to use the “rules were confusing” and “others were doing it too” baby excuses normally defended by the lovers of corruption?

          • felix 4.1.1.1.1
            5 May 2011 at 9:19 pm

            No burt, we should do what we did to your mate Rodney and run her out of town with arrows in her stupid back.

            • burt 4.1.1.1.1.1
              5 May 2011 at 9:22 pm

              I like this new standard of openness and accountability. It’s time the promise of 1999 was delivered on!

              • Armchair Critic …
                5 May 2011 at 9:24 pm

                Hey burt, save yourself the time and effort of actually typing, I’ve summarised all your comments into two sentences. All you need to do is copy and paste.
                1.Waaaah, Labour did it too
                2. Retrospective!

                • burt …
                  5 May 2011 at 9:29 pm

                  Yes retrospective validation of spending that Labour were advised would be illegal was pretty shabby and it is hard to understand how people defend it based solely on the fact Labour did it. But I don’t actually see how you and I can make an assessment of Key’s security requirement ?

                  Clearly felix can, he knows it’s not needed in Hawaii… but the rest of us would be talking out of our ass if we pretended to know what was valid and what wasn’t.

                  • IrishBill …
                    5 May 2011 at 9:32 pm

                    National good Labour bad eh Burt?

                  • Armchair Critic …
                    5 May 2011 at 9:40 pm

                    I hope Done Brash remembers to include the GST for his party’s advertising this time round.
                    Someone is responsible for setting and managing the DPS budget. Which Minister is responsible for DPS? Ultimately they are responsible for assessing Key’s security requirement, and as citizens were are all entitled to ask questions about how well this Minister is doing their job.

                    • burt …
                      5 May 2011 at 9:59 pm

                      I hope so too. But if he “forgets” lets hope Labour don’t validate the last 14 years of misappropriations to kill off a court case for their leader and let Brash off the hook – again !

                • felix …
                  5 May 2011 at 9:35 pm

                  Shhhhh Armchair Critic, burt doesn’t know that National is in govt now and we don’t want to shock him.

                  I think you got away with it but if he gets suspicious just complain about all the lesbian taxes.

                  • Armchair Critic …
                    5 May 2011 at 9:42 pm

                    That swishing noise was a whole lot of stuff going over burt’s head.

                    • Samuel Hill …
                      6 May 2011 at 1:02 am

                      This is as bad as Bill English’s housing allowance. Sack them both.

    • Carol 4.2
      5 May 2011 at 9:23 pm

      Hmmm… at the end of the vid, Gower misrepresents the questions in Question Time today about Key’s chopper ride. Gower says Key was repeatedly queried on what was so important that he needed to take the chopper. In fact, the questions were, would Key have arrived in time for his security meeting if he had travelled by car.

    • Vicky32 4.3
      6 May 2011 at 2:22 am

      I just feel bound to point out that despite the fact that the American terms ‘gas’ and ‘gasoline’ have taken over from the word petrol in New Zealand, it’s just wrong. Not morally wrong, and not just linguistically wrong – but physically, factually and scientifically wrong.
      The stuff you put in your car is not a gas, and does not become a gas until some way into the combustion cycle. My annoyance with persistent Americanisms and the fact that they have almost completely taken over from New Zealand English are not as much because of national pride, but because a good half of them are ambiguous and inaccurate!
      F’r instance I saw a headline here or on Frogblog about families suffering because of high gas prices. I ended up wondering whether the issue was heating/cooking etc costs, or transport? I am still wondering – the unnecessary ambiguity annoyed me so much I decided not to read it.

      • jbc 4.3.1
        6 May 2011 at 2:34 am

        I think that ‘gas’ is simply short for gasoline and not literally referring to a state of matter. In that case it is not factually and scientifically wrong, but perhaps just irritating for some.

        Just like ‘liquid’ assets and a ‘solid’ argument. Not referring to states of matter.

        • Vicky32 4.3.1.1
          6 May 2011 at 2:49 am

          I did mention the word gasoline. But my question remains… what does it mean? (I think it was originally a brand name?) Why should we in New Zealand use the word? We had a perfectly good word already (petrol). One of the reasons why I can’t regard retail sales as a profession, shop-keepers as professionals, is the degree of ignorance that is responsible for such abominations as a New Zealand product being named “Colorsteel” and seeing shop displays that advertise ‘flavors’, ‘color’ film and ‘tires’, which to me is a verb and does not mean the rubber things that go on car wheels. The new buzzword/phrase is “different than”. I was amazed to hear the OAP Don Brash say “different than” last night! I know he didn’t grow up with the electronic baby-sitter, which is the excuse I tell myself every time I hear someone aged between 15-25 using not just American lexis but also the ghastly fake California accent all of today’s teens seem obliged to do… (I did it when I was 17, as my family had just got TV, and was laughed to scorn by parents, schoolmates and school teachers. It reminds of John Key on the radio on Tuesday morning giving his estimate of NZ’s new ‘threat assessment’ after the news about OBL… I thought Key’s “me-too-ism” strikes again. Why does what was becoming anadult, independent culture in the 1980s, have to jump back into the cradle again, with a cry of “me tooooooooooooooooooooo!”

          • Lanthanide 4.3.1.1.1
            6 May 2011 at 12:19 pm

            For someone so caught up on grammar, you should really use paragraphs. I didn’t bother reading the 2nd half of your diatribe.

            • Vicky32 4.3.1.1.1.1
              6 May 2011 at 3:50 pm

              Oh well, that’s me told! 😛
              However, I did use paragraphs. Then I hit ‘submit’ and the result is what you see. By calling it a ‘diatribe’ you are indicating clearly that you are bitterly angry and offended. I simply ask ‘why’?

              [lprent: The wysiwyg editor sometimes does that for no reason that I can see. It is on my list of things to fix when I can free some time. ]

  5. Rich 5
    5 May 2011 at 9:05 pm

    Look, a bro’s got to have a posse, man.

    How’s he gonna get on Pimp My Ride or Cribs without a bunch of heavy dudes packin heat. Oh, and the hos.

    If anyone’s feeling smart, they should OIA the cost of the new DPS issue firearms.

  6. Drakula 6
    5 May 2011 at 9:15 pm

    HS apparentley Key owns a condo in Hawaii, he has owned it for some time and spends his holidays there. Very patriotic; don’t you think?

    • burt 6.1
      5 May 2011 at 9:18 pm

      unbelievable ! He’s got a condo in Hawaii… I mean if he has 5 rental properties and takes European ski holidays then that’s cool – but a condo in Hawaii – nasty.

      • Jum 6.1.1
        5 May 2011 at 9:43 pm

        Yeah, burt,

        Difference is the woman with the rentals earned hers by working for New Zealand; Key stole his by working a speculative run on the NZ dollar, then comes over here to steal what’s left before he buggers off back to his masters in America, leaving New Zealand open for destruction by more money launderers like him.

  7. felix 7
    5 May 2011 at 9:17 pm

    Agree with what hs said – Key doesn’t need DPS in Hawaii any more than you or I would.

    • Tanz 7.1
      5 May 2011 at 9:22 pm

      Jealous, are we? Tired of Coromandel holidays? Hoola in Hawaii, and Key is very very famous.

      • Eddie 7.1.1
        5 May 2011 at 9:28 pm

        don’t be a fuckwit, Tanz. people can criticise another’s behaviour without secretly wishing it was them.

        and key is not ‘very, very famous’ he’s such a lightweight he couldn’t even introduce himself to Elton John. Nobody knows who he is overseas, let alone could be bothered killing him.

        • Tanz 7.1.1.1
          5 May 2011 at 9:35 pm

          I thought it was gracious of Key not to introduce himself to Elton John. It wouldn’t have been appropriate, given the event, and why should Elton be interested in politicians anyway. Elton is rather formidable, being so mega-famous. Key held back on that occasion, and it was warranted.

          I think leaders/celebrities/politicians, etc these days need security anywhere, because the village is global, and it is better to be safe than sorry.

          Key has a condo there cause he can. Wouildn’t you? Who can blame him.

          • Eddie 7.1.1.1.1
            5 May 2011 at 9:50 pm

            “hey has a condo there cause he can. Wouildn’t you? Who can blame him.”

            No I wouldn’t, as it happens.

            I wouldn’t own a $2 million condo that I visit once or twice a year when there are people in this world that could really be helped by a fraction of that.

            It’s a bit like asking why I don’t get beggars in the teeth ’cause I can’. My choices are defined my my morals, as well as my physical and financial means.

            And Key said he didn’t introduce himself to Elton John because he was too shy. That’s right, a leader of 4.3 million people doesn’t get that he is meant to have some dignatis. Instead he blushes like a schoolgirl when he sees a guy who sings songs.

            • Tanz 7.1.1.1.1.1
              5 May 2011 at 10:00 pm

              Key having a condo over in Hawaii is not hurting anyone though, it’s his business, and if he wasn’t PM, no one would care.

              It was nice that Key was shy, too shy to say hello to Elton. Sometimes less is more.

              As for the money, the $800,000, is this amount proven? Still, it only buys a nice house/bach, these days. And that would be chickenfeed to a president.

              • felix …
                5 May 2011 at 10:10 pm

                So if it’s his business, why are we paying for bodyguards to stay there with him? Going to Hawaii isn’t part of his job, is it?

                As you say, it’s his business – not ours.

                • rosy …
                  5 May 2011 at 10:15 pm

                  Just as taking his kid to the car races and then going to dinner at the golf club. That was his business too (day-off stuff), but we still paid for it.

              • Tanz …
                5 May 2011 at 10:14 pm

                I believe in the US, that sort of money is considered a slush fund, but that would be nickel and dime stuff to them, of course!

                Been reading Absolute Power, by David Baldacci, sorry, that’s a bit off topic.

              • travellerev …
                6 May 2011 at 8:32 am

                Maybe that’s why the US is $14 trillion in debt and counting.

        • Jum 7.1.1.2
          5 May 2011 at 9:45 pm

          Yes, it was priceless, Eddie, seeing Gillard and Key come through the abbey door but only Gillard and Australia was mentioned, nothing at all about the jolly greenstone washed gnome.

      • felix 7.1.2
        5 May 2011 at 9:28 pm

        I don’t understand what you mean. I was saying that Key doesn’t need DPS in Hawaii.

        What?

    • Treetop 7.2
      6 May 2011 at 2:29 pm

      Every senario has to be thought through when it comes to the PMs security. Were the PM to go swimming in Hawaii and a great white just happened to be passing by, then they could all have fish and chips for dinner!

  8. seeker 8
    5 May 2011 at 9:28 pm

    @Pascal’s Bookie 8.52pm

    She (Judith) certainly had her answer ready for him(Paddy) and kept repeating it like a mantra, just like Bill English today in Parliament when being questioned by Pete Hodgson about the PM’s use of a helicopter to a ‘security meeting’

    http://blog.labour.org.nz/index.php/2011/05/05/chopper-key-it-wasnt-the-flight-it-was-the-cover-up/

    I was mesmerised, not just by the number of times the same answer was given, but by the number of times Ms.Collins called Patrick Gower, “Paddy”. Is he called this by all -or just inner lizards? I have never heard him called this before. “Patrick” just doesn’t look like “Paddy” to little ol’me in the outer ‘tv viewer’s’ circle.

    Great observation PB.

    • Eddie 8.1
      5 May 2011 at 9:53 pm

      They call him Paddy. But Collins was clearly using a nickname to try to disarm him.

  9. ianmac 9
    5 May 2011 at 9:43 pm

    Remember Election night 2008 and giggling Key made his way into the hall filled with his supporters but with several darksuited heavies leading the way in case some of those pesky Nat Supporters touched him. Like a gangster in a dark movie.

  10. mickysavage 10
    5 May 2011 at 9:45 pm

    Gee this thread has been busy.

    Helen did not need DPS overseas, she preferred to climb mountains. What sort of wimp is this John Key person?

    And Collins?

    You mean she has been bludging on the people’s credit card?

    This is the trouble with the tories. They think that a Ministerial wage is a sacrifice rather than a privilege.

    • ianmac 10.1
      5 May 2011 at 10:17 pm

      About a year ago the question of Collin’s car expenses came up. The journalist asked the same questions and Collins gave the same answers. Within the rules. I remember her reptillian stare at the questioner and he seemed to crumble. Certain degree of arrogance in that woman. It might be her downfall yet.

      • mickysavage 10.1.1
        5 May 2011 at 10:23 pm

        Aye

        I have been to Auckland Law Society gatherings where she would walk in, size up who was good for her career, talk to them and ignore everyone else. Her reputation amongst lawyers is, well, poor. She is not very bright and brittle and making very important decisions …

        • Tanz 10.1.1.1
          5 May 2011 at 10:27 pm

          Nonsense. Only the best make it into Parliament, and I bet Judith was/is a great lawyer, a true blue Tory (meant in the nicest possible way). Good on her.

      • infused 10.1.2
        6 May 2011 at 6:33 pm

        It’s not arrogance. He was simply baiting her. It was a good response. I was surprised she didn’t say “get the fuck out of my way”. Looked like she wanted to.

  11. ianmac 11
    5 May 2011 at 9:47 pm

    There were some VIP people at the Wedding. Did you see a phalanx of dark suits protecting each one? Nah! But even in the halls of Parliament John has to be guarded. Watch next time he walks along to talk to dangerous journalists..

    • g_man 11.1
      6 May 2011 at 2:08 pm

      Well, remembering that John Key was attacked at Waitangi by the Popata brothers in 2009, and a certain MP said he would do what he could to help them because they were his nephews. Further stating, “I’ve been impressed by the sincerity and the passion that they bring to the activities that they are involved in … Sure, sometimes that passion spills over, and sometimes that leads to actions that society might frown upon, but with my record, who am I to criticise? I can recall with distinct clarity putting myself outside the norm and often outside the law to promote ideas and beliefs that we were passionate about when we were young (once upon a time!), and I don’t regret any of it – not for one second.”

      And then, earlier this year at Waitangi, Wikitana Popata yelled through a loudhailer, calling him “the enemy”, later saying, “Now is the time to intensify the struggle. He [Key] is the one responsible for stealing our foreshore and our land” …

      … and the same MP praised his actions, pretty much saying that he wasn’t allowed to do it himself because he had been told he had to be polite on the marae.

      To be honest, with someone like Hone Harawira around Parliament, I wouldn’t blame anyone for wanting protection.

      • ianmac 11.1.1
        6 May 2011 at 2:48 pm

        Diddums. Perhaps you and your mate Key need a woman to protect you.

        • g_man 11.1.1.1
          6 May 2011 at 2:53 pm

          So you have no problem with a current sitting MP supporting violent protest against the leader of our country, whoever it is?

          Says a lot …

          • Jum 11.1.1.1.1
            6 May 2011 at 9:04 pm

            I didn’t see you leaping up and down telling Helen Clark she should get the amount of protection JKeyll has, given the numbers of misogynistic g-men in this country.

            Like it was said so clearly this morning, no other Prime Minister has had bullyboys protecting him or her in Parliament; I’ve been there. There’s more than enough scare security around not to have to worry about that.

            Still, given JKeyll is killing the future of New Zealanders, by selling them off to American business, (you know them, g-man – JKeyll’s masters…) I’m not surprised people are beginning to get angry.

            What a joke JKeyll is.

      • Pascal's bookie 11.1.2
        6 May 2011 at 6:48 pm

        There was also that fantasist with a record of play acting Frederick Forsyth novel characters. Specifically, assassins.

  12. Irascible 12
    5 May 2011 at 10:57 pm

    The bill for extravagant spending by the Key led NACToid government keeps mounting as each example of self-aggrandisement is revealed.
    Key: $2000.00 for a helicopter flight back to Auckland for an unspecified security meeting. $7000+ for the air force to fly him to a Bellusconi moment in Hamilton then back to a golf club dinner plus other flights to karaeoke at a music festival and now $800,000 for security cover because he chooses to live in Hawaii as his electorate’s name gives him a rash each time he visits.
    McCully over $75,000 to fly eight people to Vanuatu because he was too lazy to browse the inter-net to find the regular commercial services there.
    Added to the heated seated BMWs and other photo-opportunity speeding to cars, helicopters and other rorts and this lot look as though they should being hounded to pay back a tonne of irresponsibly used taxpayers’ money.
    Where are the incensed newspaper 7 mediaworks talkback jocks now???

  13. seeker 13
    5 May 2011 at 11:31 pm

    @ Tanz

    “Only the best make it into Parliament”

    If only! Just look at the poor specimens on the National and Act benches and include the latest addition from Botany. What a weak and ‘unaspirational’ world you must live in Tanz if you think these self-serving, unaccountable, shallow thinking, evasive and often untruthful beings are the “best” New Zealand has to offer!

    • Tanz 13.1
      6 May 2011 at 11:40 am

      They are my favourite Parliamentairians, the Acts and the Nats. That’s why the lead the government, they were voted in by pretty much a landslide, and it’s staying that way. In fact, the gap is widening! Tories rule, Ok. And the majority LOVES them, going by the ever-glowing golden dipped polls! The Midas Touch, has Key!!! Wow. The country is glowing, his magic rubbing off.

      • Colonial Viper 13.1.1
        6 May 2011 at 11:43 am

        If that were really true Key and his handlers wouldn’t be sweating bullets over this election, which they are.

        Key in particular knows that his time is running out and that the right wing want him gone next term, no matter who is in Government.

        • Jum 13.1.1.1
          6 May 2011 at 9:12 pm

          Yes, Colonial Viper, JKeyll does know his time is short and he’s grateful; he’s bored with it already, ya know.

          He just needs enough time to put his hand on his chest and say ‘I promised I would resign if the Super age was increased’ just after Bill English, having had it signed off by the Joker, announces it along with the SOE sales.

          Already our Kiwi land is being sold to Germany, Harvard university is already in control of some land, and given their Professors have been involved with Haarp, I would have to wonder what they are doing in New Zealand, with all those lovely valuable minerals living under that pristine white snow down South of New Zealand…

          The one indisputable fact of life in New Zealand is that National and Act with the hangers-on Maori Party and United Future never have done, are doing, or will do anything that benefits all New Zealanders.

          Greedy and selfish people gravitate to the right.

      • felix 13.1.2
        6 May 2011 at 1:37 pm

        Landslide, Tanz?

        Hardly. Only a couple of seats’ worth in it.

        • Tanz 13.1.2.1
          6 May 2011 at 3:37 pm

          Wait for November this year, it will be a landslide, circa 2002. National this time sill be smiling, not crying. Governing alone?

          • Jum 13.1.2.1.1
            6 May 2011 at 9:14 pm

            If National governs alone tanz, then greed and selfishness have won; New Zealand will then be renamed little america.

            I can only imagine you either live outside of New Zealand so don’t really care, or you are a crosby/textor groupie or you will make money out of other New Zealanders’ misery.

            Says a lot about you, just as much as the state of New Zealand today makes a criminal out of JKeyll.

            Sad that JKeyll could lose his sidekick Hide, but not until Hide’s completely destroyed Auckland’s chances of retaining its assets in Auckland residents’ hands. Obviously, Brash wasn’t listening when he struck the deal with JKeyll to win the lead in National after JKeyll went back home to America.

            ‘Keep Hide in so he continues to get the shit flung at him and not at JKeyll or Brash’. But, tanz, anyone with half a brain knows now that Brash really is no gentleman.

  14. Lanthanide 14
    6 May 2011 at 12:13 am

    In Key’s defence, he has had a number of high profile visitors to NZ lately, as well as trips overseas, all of which will be coming out of that budget.

    He’s had Prince William here twice, Julia Gillard, and trips to Europe hob-nobbing around the place. He probably had the security team with him when he toured CHCH after both quakes, as well.

    • Colonial Viper 14.1
      6 May 2011 at 12:19 am

      Yeah but going to Christchurch – what’s the threat assessment, seriously?

      Primary threat is going to be from another big earthquake – what use are guys with suits and guns when that happens?

      And there is no doubt that VIPs and Key need close protection – but what’s up with the $800K blow out?

      Wait until the fraking RWC happens and the VIPs pour in. More tax payer funds going to look after rich pricks while ordinary NZ’ers do it cold and hungry and are told that using a food bank is a “lifestyle choice”.

    • Luxated 14.2
      6 May 2011 at 12:34 am

      Considering both William and Julia would have brought M16(or whoever covers it in the UK)/AFP with them as a matter of course I wouldn’t have thought the DPS overhead would have been that high. A few standard police officers would probably cover most of the extra workload.

  15. dad4justice 15
    6 May 2011 at 5:28 am

    I suggest Key the Coward have plenty of overpaid bully boys surrounding him the next time he goes spurting more crap to heartbroken West Coast miners families. This creep Key should learn about karma and shut his pathetic mouth about things he cannot deliver!!

    • travellerev 15.1
      6 May 2011 at 8:35 am

      Wow! Are you saying the average Kiwi is waking up to his sneaky creepiness???

      • Tanz 15.1.1
        6 May 2011 at 1:26 pm

        What creepiness? Open, honest, transparent, blokeish and a hit with voters.

        • todd 15.1.1.1
          7 May 2011 at 10:27 pm

          Anybody who has a nickname like “the smiling assassin” has a certain amount of creepiness about him. The whole smile and waive routine, which lacks any substance while buying the media off and hiding a butcher’s knife to gut the country, can definitely be termed as sneaky. What is really creepy about Shonkey is that he’s been caught out repeatedly lying, while his apparent public opinion rating continues to be high in the polls. Something just doesn’t add up there.

          His dubious investments and association with Merrill Lynch can also be termed creepy, in a stalking killer kind of way. Any “your my mate, here’s a beer and slap another beneficiary on the barbecue” persona that he manages to pull off is totally undermined by his obvious sleazy snake style. His persona reeks of medication. The speech impediment makes him sound like a drunk, or should I say that like Piggy Muldoon he is often inebriated. In either case these are undesirable in a prime minister.

          To use the words “open” or “honest” to describe Shonkey or National who are just moneymakers and elitists, when Shonkey lied about the BMW’s, the NZSAS torture claims and his ability to choose to use the DPS or not (just to name a few of his lies), shows that you are highly deluded Tanz. While National has removed the Christchurch unemployed from the stats, removed public protections, destroyed workers rights and rammed through more legislation under urgency than ever before, to use the word “transparent” is even worse. Could I propose that you open your eyes Tanz.

          Nationals policy ideas should certainly be viewed as creepy by those who they adversely affect. Being that National is about to rape New Zealand if they get a second term; creep is about the best word to describe John Key. Nationals first term, was just about luring their victims into the vehicle. It’ll be your fault for voting for them New Zealand… Which is a typical National blame-the-victim mentality. As for a hit with the voters, I think you’ve grossly overestimated the worst of a bad bunch of reprobates.

    • Jum 15.2
      6 May 2011 at 9:28 pm

      That’s odd dad 4 justice. I thought you’d love Key, given he’s made the lives of women (those other humans that you hate with such a passion you blog about it on men’s sites) inequitable, unequal and unsafe with the refuges being underfunded and women and children (I didn’t think you would hate children too – maybe just the girls) now forced to look elsewhere if the funding doesn’t get allocated to them because overworked staff have to beg for money from this fxxking government.

      • dad4justice 15.2.1
        7 May 2011 at 7:48 am

        Jum you orrible ole nasty witch, my two daughters are loved by their dad. Go eat a bat you demented bitch!

        Oh great stuff this comment is awaiting for moderation.haha. No wonder sewer rats lurk around this shit hole.

        • Jum 15.2.1.1
          7 May 2011 at 9:51 am

          LOL. Pick on Helen Clark, whom I admire, and get what you get boy. I never forget or forgive. I also remember posting on Colin Espiner’s blog just after election 2008 saying I hoped I was wrong about Key. I wasn’t. You were.

          The thing that worries me is that in your previous comment calling Key a coward suggests that you want him to get more vicious with the women of New Zealand and the workers of this country. I hope I am wrong about you. I doubt it.

  16. mickysavage 16
    6 May 2011 at 9:39 am

    Hmmm $800k more for Key’s bodyguards, $700k less for Womens Refuges.
     
    Says it all really.

  17. felix 17
    6 May 2011 at 1:40 pm

    I like CV’s take.

    Lifestyle choice.

  18. Treetop 18
    6 May 2011 at 1:53 pm

    1) Is there not a cheaper way to provide protection for the PM?

    2) Are the cops the best shot compared to an SAS dude or a regular military dude?

  19. Tanz 19
    6 May 2011 at 2:38 pm

    Do any of you agree with Garth George this week? Even he is having a go at Key, which is unusal, Key apparently out of the country more than he is at his desk. Not taking the tough choices, etc. How come you lefties never agree with the wise Garth George?

    • Jum 19.1
      6 May 2011 at 9:24 pm

      Garth George, tanz is a rightwing wanker/misogynist/godbotherer, but without the compassion, the intelligence or the writing skills to hold anyone’s trust.

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