Complaint over “drunken” Minister

36 comments on “Complaint over “drunken” Minister ”

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1. gobsmacked 1

   4 June 2010 at 6:42 pm

   By any reasonable measure, Tim Groser being drunk and obnoxious is much worse than Charles Chauvel being sober and irritated. So will it get the same saturation coverage? Of course not.

   (FWIW, I think government Ministers should be judged primarily by their effectiveness in the job, not their personal foibles. But don’t expect me to shed sympathy tears when National get back what they spent nine years dishing out. It’s hilarious to watch Karma coming back time and time again to bite National on the bum).
   • felix 1.1

     4 June 2010 at 6:58 pm

     “FWIW, I think government Ministers should be judged primarily by their effectiveness in the job, not their personal foibles.”

     Me too, but this isn’t really a personal matter, it’s a professional one. If the incident occurred while travelling on government business it’s not his own time, it’s ours.

     And getting on the piss at work is generally frowned upon these days.
     • starboard 1.1.1

       4 June 2010 at 9:02 pm

       And getting on the piss at work is generally frowned upon these days

       ..much like Dover taking a piss on the carpet in a hotel…
       • felix 1.1.1.1

         4 June 2010 at 11:47 pm

         Oh well that makes it ok then.
       • RobertM 1.1.1.2

         8 June 2010 at 1:23 pm

         Dover was just Labours spare wheel. A bit of back country colour for Labour. Much the function the Bay of Islands Northland, Carter forms for National. Tim Grosser is the ideological driver of the Nats, internationalism, neo liberal brotherhood of man. It is Tims holier than vow utopianism that makes me sling a few barbs ,when he falls of his stool after a journey on the turps and failure to unload some lamb carcasses on the hypocritical saudis. I simply do not believe NZ should be humble. Grosser assets we and MFAT ‘should not punch above our weight.’. I am avowedly anti nuclear and want to stop Japanese predatory fishing and whaling in the Southern Ocean, go the world court, even send the Navy if all else fails. Like Keating, Tim relentlessly bangs on this is the Asian century, the Japanese and Chinese will overtake the Americans and we have to become Asian. I don’t agree were white anglo celts that is our genuis and greatness. I simply dislike the conversion of MFAT to trade as foreign policy and the appointment of Grossers boy the postal clerk to run it. The promotion of Grosser and Murdoch to prominence in MFAT was Muldoons greatest crime. Surely the airline has film of Grosser falling of or over the drinks trolley. We need to see it.
2. Marty G 2

   4 June 2010 at 7:09 pm

   so, this would be on the flight back after the disastrous trade mission when Key pulled out to go home for the helicopter crash funeral and Groser, whose mother had just died, was forced to stay, missing the funeral, leading businessmen around on a tour reminiscent of something out of Monty Python with the biggest meetings canceled in Key’s absence.
   • Jim Nald 2.1

     4 June 2010 at 10:09 pm

     Hmph. After all that, I would be pissed. Pissed off.
   • Emp 2.2

     5 June 2010 at 10:54 am

     Makes you wonder about the state of NZTE that Goff was responsible for who organised the mission. NZTE need a big clean out.
     • Marty G 2.2.1

       5 June 2010 at 10:59 am

       you’re blaming goff for groser getting pissed and rowdy on a plane?
3. Tigger 3

   4 June 2010 at 7:18 pm

   Notice that Mutch was already running the sympathy lines in the report?
   • Salsy 3.1

     4 June 2010 at 8:07 pm

     Our household was gobsmacked by that – I cant remember ever really seeing excuses like that being made publically by so called impartial and objective journalists. Shame on you Mutch, pathetic.
4. gobsmacked 4

   4 June 2010 at 8:03 pm

   Update:

   Minister Tim Groser is unrepentant.

   “The minister acknowledged that there had been some drinking on the flight but he felt his behaviour was appropriate,” Mr Key’s spokesman told NZPA.

   http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/3779553/Trade-Minister-reprimanded-for-rowdy-behavior
   • QoT 4.1

     4 June 2010 at 11:42 pm

     Because pissed people are the best judges of their pissed actions, of course!

     Captcha: tea.
     • felix 4.1.1

       4 June 2010 at 11:53 pm

       When I’m pissed I’m waay too clever and sexy to be judging my own actions.
     • Ari 4.1.2

       5 June 2010 at 12:04 am

       Hey, NOBODY else can judge Tim Groser but Tim. The rest of us are clearly unqualified. 😉
     • Pascal's bookie 4.1.3

       5 June 2010 at 12:46 am

       Heh. I had a flatmate that had what others described as problematic relationship with the booze. Didn’t bother him at all.

       Anyways, one time, in an afternoon after the bender before, he emerged a cussing at his phone and what not. His general complaint, in all earnesty, was ‘How can I apologise for shit I can’t remember happening?” He wasnae denying that certain events had taken place, but just saying that, as per the good Groser, they may have been appropriate, for all he knew. Afterall, he wouldnae ‘ave donnit for nothing!

       That Dubai trip was just made of fucking WIN, wasn’t it?

       But all that said, didn’t his Mother pass away while he was over there? ( edit, I see that’s been mentioned. I’m more than happy to cut the guy as much slack as he wants, bar actually having hurt people)
5. jnd 5

   4 June 2010 at 8:07 pm

   I noticed Jessica Mutch led the report with a plea to the audience to “bear in mind he does work long hours”.
   FFS! Since when has that ever been an excuse for anyone?
   I don’t recall being asked to remember that about any Labour minister when they were in the gun. Could not believe my ears. Is Mutch after a job with MFAT?
   • felix 5.1

     4 June 2010 at 8:14 pm

     I noticed Jessica Mutch led the report with a plea to the audience to “bear in mind he does work long hours’.

     HAHAHA!! Everyone ask your boss if you have one: After how many hours is it appropriate for me to get on the piss at work?
6. RichWhite&Fey 6

   4 June 2010 at 8:44 pm

   Does this mean that Tim will challenge John for leadership ?
7. RichWhite&Fey 7

   4 June 2010 at 8:46 pm

   Doeas this mean that Tim – with considerable international negotiating experience – will challenge John for the leadership ?
8. Savant 8

   4 June 2010 at 9:19 pm

   The wee fella hates, with every gin
   sodden fibre of his body: (a) accountability to the public and (b) anything that undermines his image of himself as the de-facto Secretary of MFAT and the nexus of World Trade negotiations. He will swear off the bottle and deeply resent Key.
9. ak 9

   4 June 2010 at 10:45 pm

   Freakin incredible. Hels sits in the back seat of a speeding limo and mentions the word “showerheads” and we never hear the end of it, yet here’s proven corruption from keyster and a newsworthy rumble by a pissed tory and it’s not only excused by the journo without prompting but no details at all…….yet more nauseating examples of the blatant corruption of our pitiful excuse for an independent media.

   2008 should have taught us, we’re up against it, Lefties; this “new media” crapola doesn’t seem to be cutting it: perhaps the old letterbox leafletting is worth revisiting for the supershitty campaign – at least it provides a bit of physical satisfaction (and jolly good fun on a pushbike as I recall from yore, competing for consecutive “no footdowns” per box, ah them wuz the daze…)
10. BLiP 10

    5 June 2010 at 12:46 am

    The actions of this government just get grosser and grosser by the day.
11. tsmithfield 11

    5 June 2010 at 7:45 am

    Probably no worse than what happens in parliament every day. 🙂
    • RobertM 11.1

      6 June 2010 at 11:46 pm

      ooh, their all in love with Tim, the dyed blonde, the fashionable specs, the acceptable background for a Tory of being a former communist, son of an actor, member of the exec at Vic. I am of course inexcusable, a wastrel ,cynic, boozer, lover and waster. But I hate Tim. The insufferable utopian, the believer trade will solve all, that all men are equal and all peoples, a believer in even handedness over the Middle East. A cynic, boozer and lover. Ive said too much-but I think I’m more of a tory.
12. Craig Glen Eden 12

    5 June 2010 at 12:33 pm

    Mutche’s excuses for Grosser was ridiculous, she should have declared her conflict of interest at the start of the story by referring to Tim Grosser with his proper family title, uncle Tim. He has to be her uncle surely, who else could get pissed on the job and have a journo say but his Mum recently died and he has been working long hours while reporting the incident to the Nation.

    The only other conclusion is that the media are biased but that couldn’t be the case could it?

    Mutch you are a disgrace.
    • starboard 12.1

      5 June 2010 at 7:51 pm

      maybe , like the rest us , Mutch see’s theres nothing really to see here..move on..move on..
      • gobsmacked 12.1.1

        5 June 2010 at 8:28 pm

        And yet “Starboard” hasn’t moved on from an incident five years ago. Poor little trolly.

        If Groser had been one of Helen Clark’s Ministers, every right-wing blog would be orchestrating an orgasm of outrage.
        • starboard 12.1.1.1

          5 June 2010 at 9:00 pm

          an incident five years ago…

          oh c’mon gobby…all’s Im sayin is those in glasshouses….
13. sean14 13

    5 June 2010 at 2:25 pm

    I note that the Stuff story says “the complaint was received from someone who was not on the flight but knew people who had been on it.”

    Surely the complaint lacks veracity until someone who was actually on the plane complains? A friend of mine was on a flight with Charles Chauvel this one time and Mr Chauvel’s behaviour was just awful and I was outraged…
14. mickysavage 14

    5 June 2010 at 3:50 pm

    I am also inclined to cut Groser some slack. It was a hell of a trip and missing your mother’s funeral so the boss could make a photo opportunity takes some beating.

    Also Groser is from West Auckland. He probably has gained a few votes from the incident, such is democracy …
    • Craig Glen Eden 14.1

      5 June 2010 at 4:36 pm

      Thats what bereavement leave is for Mickey so you can be absolved from your work stress so you can grieve.
      If your boss decides and you agree to stay then you have to handle all the responsibility of your role and the boss takes responsibility for the decision.

      In my view Grosser should not have been over there for his boss to take no responsibility for this situation is pretty poor. So its more bad management from Key, Grosser should not be in this situation.

      On the other hand if the complaint was hearsay then nothing needed to be done at all in which case Keys chief of staff is an idiot. All in all its poor on all accounts
    • TSIHS 14.2

      5 June 2010 at 5:22 pm

      More dirty slime from a labour slimeball. If Groser had wanted to come home early he would have. Groser spent thirty years overseas representing NZ. He’s used to making calls about priorities with work and home life. Scum bags like you micky have nothing better to do than throw mud.

      [I’ll let you through, but if you don’t mind your manners round here you won’t last long –r0b]

      [lprent: r0b – you’re just too kind-hearted. However this bozo acting like a stupid troll should read the policy. Hopefully it won’t take the usual age to penetrate the bonehead and I won’t have to waste my time sending it to the sin-bin before it learns the rules around the site. ]
15. mickysavage 15

    5 June 2010 at 6:25 pm

    TSIHS

    I suggest you read my post again. I said he should be cut some slack. If he missed his mom’s funeral because the boss wanted some photos taken you should take it up with his boss.

    No work obligation should stop you missing your mother’s funeral.

    I actually quite like Tim. He is born to rule but he is capable of listening and reasoning and thinking and compromising.
16. Anne 16

    5 June 2010 at 7:09 pm

    Agree with mickysavage.
    I was interested to see that it was Key’s Chief of Staff who “reprimanded” Groser not Key himself.
    Key avoids the dirty work because he knows he was partly responsible? You bet.

    I wonder if a MSM journalist will have the guts to point it out.
17. Craig Glen Eden 17

    5 June 2010 at 9:12 pm

    Ha sorry Mickey looks like you took the crap from the tory troll for me, they get so angry they cant read and forget who they are attacking.

    So Mickey, don’t be so conciliatory nice and fair next time, tories just don’t get it when you do that.

    Hope you are having a good break, have you gone away or have you stayed put for the weekend

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