MPs respond to Key’s wage drop wish

Written By: - Date published: 12:41 pm, February 22nd, 2008 - 30 comments
Categories: john key, national, workers' rights - Tags: , ,

220Following revelations that John Key told a business audience “we would love to see wages drop“, I sent an email to all 91 MPs whose emails addresses are listed on their bio page on the Parliament website. The email read:

“John Key is quoted in the Bay Report, 20/12/07, saying “we would love to see wages to drop” Do you agree that wages should drop or do you disagree? Yours Sincerely, Steve Pierson”

Nearly 2 days later, 26 substantive replies have been received, a pretty good return. Thanks to all the MPs who replied, especially United Future all (both) of whom replied, the party leaders (Turia, Dunne, and Fitzsimmons) who replied, and the Greens who had a high ratio of replies and the most thoughtful ones.

And National’s various excuses. As anyone will tell you, a sure sign of a lie is that the excuse varies.

Tau Henare Not what he said, Labour are liars
Shane Arden Provides internal National lines on denial
Paula Bennett Key was referring to Australia, and he was misquoted
Nicky Wagner Questions existence of Bay Report, says Key misquoted
Jonathan Coleman Key never said that
Wayne Mapp See excuses in the Herald
Nick Smith Bay Report wrong

30 comments on “MPs respond to Key’s wage drop wish ”

  1. mike 1

    Gee Steve you are sure doing your best to keep this alive – why it hasn’t made the news or main stream media at all is a mystery, perhaps it’s just missing that sound bite such as “cash for honors” or “Glengate”.

  2. James Kearney 3

    This is getting huge traction in the community- I’ve received five different chain emails about this topic and it’s all over the blogs.

    This is a huge story that undermines Key’s credibility and it seriously makes me wonder whether the media have decided they want Key in and they’re not going to let him be damaged by a scandal of this scale.

    Colin Espiner says he’s waiting for ‘corroboration’. What a joke. It’s right there in black and white and Key’s had months to correct it.

  3. infused 4

    It’s not there in black and white, that’s the problem. There is nothing before or after the comment. However he should clarify what he means.

  4. gobsmacked 5

    John Key has just sent his reply:

    “I did not open this e-mail.”

  5. ghostwhowalks 6

    Remember Glenn himself made his first comments some time back.

    This one is a sleeper, which will bubble along ( notice how in times like these Bill English has to move Shar-Keys lips for him so he doesnt add some oxygen to the story)

    But the right wing noise machine keeps any Labour gaffes on the front pages for days

  6. Daveo 7

    Yeah you’re right ghost, I remember when this site and KBB were banging on about Key’s DVD fiasco for days before it got any media pickup. The righties were all over the comments section telling them to ‘give it up’ that ‘no media are interested’ and joking that they were becoming ‘the Coldplay blog’. Who’s laughing now?

  7. mike 8

    “This is getting huge traction in the community”
    JK I assume you are referring to the Union,PSA,Labour,Uni and Rainbow “community”.
    Like I said the mainstream NZer has not even heard about this beatup.

  8. DS 9

    “This is a huge story that undermines Key’s credibility and it seriously makes me wonder whether the media have decided they want Key in and they’re not going to let him be damaged by a scandal of this scale.”

    It’s do to with overall Grand Narrative: the media have type-cast Key as the “moderate” who will triumph over the “tired” and “scandal-ridden” Labour administration. Anything that reveals Key to be something other than a moderate is to be ignored by the media, or at least downplayed in favour of the latest beat-up involving Labour, since it violates this all-important narrative. Put simply, the media long ago decided that Key was going to win 2008, and are acting accordingly.

    The cynic in me also wonders if Labour “wasn’t supposed to win 2005” (Treasury’s post-election briefing papers seemed to indicate they expected a Tory win), and the Establishment is doing everything in its power to ensure that they are going to finish the job in 2008.

  9. Tim 10

    Did anyone from National actually say how they plan for wages to increase? I doubt it, because they don’t want wages to increase.

    Funny how the majority of the National responses will not say whether they believe wages should rise or fall and that only National MPs have this response.

    C’mon Mike, the “Union, PSA, Labour, Uni and Rainbow” communities?!? Yes, only gay public servants studying part time want wages to increase.

    The mainstream NZer should hear about Key’s comments and the mainstream NZer is entitled to an explanation, seeing as the mainstream NZer is a wage earner earning about $667 per week who wants wages to rise.

  10. Steve Pierson 11

    Tim. Of the Nats: 1 says wages should rise, two disagree with Key saying they should fall, 4 don’t address the question.

  11. Patrick 12

    Two National MPs actually admit their policy is that wages should fall? I would be very interested to know which, and how long it will take Bill, uh, I mean John, to demote them.

    Steve, if you get a chance I’m sure a few of us would appreciate too see some of the MPs replies.

  12. George 13

    I note one Nat questions the existence of the Bay Report. Does he think the paper is made up?

  13. Billy 14

    So Steve, you cannot as “will not say” Henare, Arden, Bennett et al?

  14. Billy 15

    Should be “counted”, not “cannot”. Twat.

  15. Matthew Pilott 16

    George – said MP mustn’t be the most net-savvy!

    This just in – Northern Advocate confirms existence of The Bay Report! 😉

    http://www.northernadvocate.co.nz/info/aboutthepaper/

  16. Matthew Pilott 17

    Mike & co – yeah I bet no one reads this online newspaper:

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/category/story.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=10493629

  17. ghostwhowalks 18

    Fancy that a Friday afternoon dump !
    Does it take 3 days for a paper to confirm they printed something 2 months back.

  18. Steve Pierson 19

    Billy. In their answers they never said whether they wanted wages up or down, they avoided the question. Typical tories, of course.

  19. gobsmacked 20

    Further evidence of John Key supporting lower wages:

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/4319160a13.html

  20. Hey Francis – I see you’re still up to your old tricks. When are you going to answer my very simple question: what do you think needs to be done to raise wages? (and “achieving my research unit trolling KPIs” doesn’t count…)

  21. Trolling again Mickey – how naughty of you.

  22. Steve – did you disclose your relationship with this website in your email?

  23. Matthew Pilott 25

    ‘sod, I think I see TDS’ problem. You asked him something on-topic (raising wages) and he thought it was trolling. Maybe it doesn’t count as trolling if he has a complete inability to recognise what the topic actually is.

    The more I think about it, the more it makes sense – the random link dropping, the tenuous connections (and that’s being generous) and the blatant trolling.

    Steve – I liked the email – not a lot of opportunity to wrangle out of it 🙂 Just watch out, the nats use an email as an invitation to add you to their mailing lists, you’ll end up with all sorts of shite coming through now!

  24. Steve Pierson 26

    gobsmacked. thanks for posting that link. did you noitce this quote from one fo the girls key talked to?

    “He’s nice and easy to talk to and tells you the truth — what you want to hear” – brilliant. Might have to use that.

  25. Edward 27

    In future, if you want to contact an MP their Parliamentary email address follows a paatern of firstname.lastname@parliament.govt.nz.

  26. burt 28

    Steve

    And National’s various excuses. As anyone will tell you, a sure sign of a lie is that the excuse varies.

    Like the changing excuses about Owen Glenn, ministerial positions, honorary consulate positions and just what was loaned and when…. Changing stories about NZ Firsts term deposits rolling over, did they receive money from Owen Glenn or did they not…

    I do agree with you, changing stories are usually a sign of bold faced porkies being told. Thanks for reminding us to look at the obvious factors when assessing the integrity of the current govt.

Links to post

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • PM announces changes to portfolios
    Paul Goldsmith will take on responsibility for the Media and Communications portfolio, while Louise Upston will pick up the Disability Issues portfolio, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. “Our Government is relentlessly focused on getting New Zealand back on track. As issues change in prominence, I plan to adjust Ministerial ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 hours ago
  • New catch limits for unique fishery areas
    Recreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    9 hours ago
  • Minister welcomes hydrogen milestone
    Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Urgent changes to system through first RMA Amendment Bill
    The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Overseas decommissioning models considered
    Overseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealand’s own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealand’s energy sector as it looks to strengthen ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Release of North Island Severe Weather Event Inquiry
    Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has today released the Report of the Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. “The report shows that New Zealand’s emergency management system is not fit-for-purpose and there are some significant gaps we need to address,” Mr Mitchell ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Justice Minister to attend Human Rights Council
    Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is today travelling to Europe where he’ll update the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Government’s work to restore law and order.  “Attending the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva provides us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Patterson reopens world’s largest wool scouring facility
    Associate Agriculture Minister, Mark Patterson, formally reopened the world’s largest wool processing facility today in Awatoto, Napier, following a $50 million rebuild and refurbishment project. “The reopening of this facility will significantly lift the economic opportunities available to New Zealand’s wool sector, which already accounts for 20 per cent of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Speech to the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective Summit, 18 April 2024
    Hon Andrew Bayly, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing  At the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective (SOREC) Summit, 18 April, Dunedin    Ngā mihi nui, Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Ko Whanganui aho    Good Afternoon and thank you for inviting me to open your summit today.    I am delighted ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government to introduce revised Three Strikes law
    The Government is delivering on its commitment to bring back the Three Strikes legislation, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced today. “Our Government is committed to restoring law and order and enforcing appropriate consequences on criminals. We are making it clear that repeat serious violent or sexual offending is not ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • New diplomatic appointments
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today announced four new diplomatic appointments for New Zealand’s overseas missions.   “Our diplomats have a vital role in maintaining and protecting New Zealand’s interests around the world,” Mr Peters says.    “I am pleased to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Humanitarian support for Ethiopia and Somalia
    New Zealand is contributing NZ$7 million to support communities affected by severe food insecurity and other urgent humanitarian needs in Ethiopia and Somalia, Foreign Minister Rt Hon Winston Peters announced today.   “Over 21 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance across Ethiopia, with a further 6.9 million people ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Arts Minister congratulates Mataaho Collective
    Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith is congratulating Mataaho Collective for winning the Golden Lion for best participant in the main exhibition at the Venice Biennale. "Congratulations to the Mataaho Collective for winning one of the world's most prestigious art prizes at the Venice Biennale.  “It is good ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Supporting better financial outcomes for Kiwis
    The Government is reforming financial services to improve access to home loans and other lending, and strengthen customer protections, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly and Housing Minister Chris Bishop announced today. “Our coalition Government is committed to rebuilding the economy and making life simpler by cutting red tape. We are ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Trade relationship with China remains strong
    “China remains a strong commercial opportunity for Kiwi exporters as Chinese businesses and consumers continue to value our high-quality safe produce,” Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says.   Mr McClay has returned to New Zealand following visits to Beijing, Harbin and Shanghai where he met ministers, governors and mayors and engaged in trade and agricultural events with the New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • PM’s South East Asia mission does the business
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • $41m to support clean energy in South East Asia
    New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Minister releases Fast-track stakeholder list
    The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Judicial appointments announced
    Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Education Minister heads to major teaching summit in Singapore
    Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa.  The summit is co-hosted ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Value of stopbank project proven during cyclone
    A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Anzac commemorations, Türkiye relationship focus of visit
    Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul.    “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Minister to Europe for OECD meeting, Anzac Day
    Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Comprehensive Partnership the goal for NZ and the Philippines
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr.  The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Government commits $20m to Westport flood protection
    The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Taupō takes pole position
    The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Cost of living support for low-income homeowners
    Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners.  “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Government backing mussel spat project
    The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Government focused on getting people into work
    Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Clean energy key driver to reducing emissions
    The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Earthquake-prone buildings review brought forward
    The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Thailand and NZ to agree to Strategic Partnership
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Government consults on extending coastal permits for ports
    RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Inflation coming down, but more work to do
    Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • School attendance restored as a priority in health advice
    Refreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Unnecessary bureaucracy cut in oceans sector
    Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Patterson promoting NZ’s wool sector at International Congress
    Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson is speaking at the International Wool Textile Organisation Congress in Adelaide, promoting New Zealand wool, and outlining the coalition Government’s support for the revitalisation the sector.    "New Zealand’s wool exports reached $400 million in the year to 30 June 2023, and the coalition Government ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Removing red tape to help early learners thrive
    The Government is making legislative changes to make it easier for new early learning services to be established, and for existing services to operate, Associate Education Minister David Seymour says. The changes involve repealing the network approval provisions that apply when someone wants to establish a new early learning service, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • RMA changes to cut coal mining consent red tape
    Changes to the Resource Management Act will align consenting for coal mining to other forms of mining to reduce barriers that are holding back economic development, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The inconsistent treatment of coal mining compared with other extractive activities is burdensome red tape that fails to acknowledge ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • McClay reaffirms strong NZ-China trade relationship
    Trade, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay has concluded productive discussions with ministerial counterparts in Beijing today, in support of the New Zealand-China trade and economic relationship. “My meeting with Commerce Minister Wang Wentao reaffirmed the complementary nature of the bilateral trade relationship, with our Free Trade Agreement at its ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-04-24T06:06:12+00:00