Curran resigns as a Minister

Written By: - Date published: 12:09 pm, September 7th, 2018 - 156 comments
Categories: jacinda ardern, labour, Politics - Tags:

And from the Herald:

The Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has accepted Clare Curran’s resignation as a minister.

“Clare Curran contacted me last night to confirm her wish to resign as a Minister and I accepted that resignation,” said Jacinda Ardern.

“Clare has come to the view the issues currently surrounding her are causing an unacceptable distraction for the Government and immense pressure on her personally.

“I agree with her assessment that resigning is the best course of action for the Government and for her.”

156 comments on “Curran resigns as a Minister ”

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  2. Carolyn_Nth 2
    7 September 2018 at 12:14 pm

    Media statement on scoop:

    http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1809/S00097/clare-curran-resigns-as-minister.htm

    Kris Faafoi will become the Minister of Broadcasting, Communications and Digital Media, remaining outside of Cabinet, and Peeni Henare will become the Associate Minister for ACC.

    Let’s hope Faafoi makes a better job of resurrecting Public Service Media.

  3. Clive Macann 3
    7 September 2018 at 12:15 pm

    Told to resign.
    She is not clever enough to figure it out herself.

    • Dennis Frank 3.1
      7 September 2018 at 12:19 pm

      Didn’t you read the post? Or are you calling the PM a liar?

      • Jimmy 3.1.1
        7 September 2018 at 12:49 pm

        Jacinda was very “economical with the truth” when interviewed by Chris Lynch? this morning, even though resignation accepted last night.

      • Enough is Enough 3.1.2
        7 September 2018 at 1:32 pm

        Listen back to Jacinda on ZB and tell you tell me whether she is a liar or not?

        • Peter ChCh 3.1.2.1
          7 September 2018 at 1:49 pm

          Yep, shes a liar. Despite her pre election boast that she never lies, she is fast developing a taste for it. That and a growing sense of entitlement.

          • dukeofurl 3.1.2.1.1
            7 September 2018 at 3:55 pm

            Lies A taste for it?

            1 John Key claimed that he didn’t know about the Exclusive Brethren tactics. False.
            2 John Key claimed that he didn’t have Tranz Rail Shares. False.
            3 John Key claimed that he didn’t own a vineyard. False
            4 John Key claimed that he voted to keep the drinking age at 20. False.
            5 John Key claimed that he didn’t know about the renewal of the BMW contract in 2011. False. ( he had signed it off- well it looked like his signature LOL)
            7 John Key claimed that his office had no involvement with the SkyCity deal. False.
            9 John Key claimed that all five bidders for the convention centre were treated equally. False.
            10 John Key claimed that Solid Energy asked the government for a $1 billion capital investment. False.
            12 John Key claimed that NZ SAS soldiers were not involved in the Kabul Hotel gunfight. False.
            13 John Key claimed that Iain Rennie recommended Ian Fletcher for the GCSB job. False.
            14 John Key claimed that he hadn’t seen Ian Fletcher in a long time. False.
            16 John Key claimed that the illegal spying on Kim Dotcom was an isolated incident. False.
            19 Video of John Key on the campaign trail in 2008 ruling out a rise in GST if he won the election. False
            28 Key said “I wasn’t told” about expedited OIA release to Cameron Slater from the SIS, that subsequently embarrassed then Labour leader Phil Goff. (Allegedly, 21/08/14), False

            https://www.reddit.com/r/newzealand/comments/29406c/the_big_list_of_john_keys_lies/

            Plus this one in Parliament where Key cant even lie straight in bed and laughs about his lies exposed.
            https://www.youtube.com/watch?reload=9&v=lmF5b_t3PjA

            Good one Where Judith Collins says the Henry enquiry didnt have ‘access to her emails’ despite Key saying different.
            That was the Vance- Dunne affair

            • mosa 3.1.2.1.1.1
              7 September 2018 at 7:14 pm

              Excellent summary of deceit.

              All transgressions ignored by our fourth estate who were complicit in Key’s and his colleague’s vile behaviour.

              Let’s not forget Todd Barclay and the Saudi payout.

              • Herodotus …
                7 September 2018 at 9:32 pm

                The real test of a leader is not to venture close to this invisible line. Some could agrue once you start to play with being cute with phrasing you have already gone too far, and it becomes easier as you lose perspective of what you stand for.
                Key did it and our current PM is starting IMO to lose this perspective and where her morals allow her to operate under. Just listen to her interview just after 5:00 on zb
                http://120.138.20.16/WeekOnDemand/ZB/auckland/2018.09.07-17.00.00-S.mp3

        • Stunned Mullet 3.1.2.2
          7 September 2018 at 2:01 pm

          Of course she lies.

      • Rozgonz 3.1.3
        8 September 2018 at 2:18 pm

        Ardern is “absolutely” a liar

  4. SPC 4
    7 September 2018 at 12:17 pm

    Fa’st fo’rward from employee to boss of bosses.

  5. indiana 5
    7 September 2018 at 12:18 pm

    Nek minute…Whaitiri?

    • Gabby 5.1
      7 September 2018 at 12:52 pm

      One can hope indinana. And/or the Wally.

    • dukeofurl 5.2
      7 September 2018 at 2:26 pm

      John Key never accepted Brownlees ‘offer to resign’ from ‘only his Transport portfolio’ after he committed a serious offence in breaching airport security arrangements – deliberately.

      Why would a personal fracas be any different in the Ardern Government.

  6. BM 6
    7 September 2018 at 12:18 pm

    Jesus, Ardern is piss weak and obviously away with the fairies.

    Only this morning she was saying Curren was just having a bad day and she had no intention of firing her.
    https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/christchurch/canterbury-mornings/audio/pm-says-she-wont-fire-clare-curran/

    Now it’s

    “Clare Curran contacted me last night to confirm her wish to resign as a minister and I accepted that resignation,” Ardern said today.

    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12121097

    WTF?

    [lprent: WTF indeed. You provided your own answer in your own comment. Just how stupid can you be. There is a considerable difference between ‘fired’ and ‘resigned’.

    Looks like stupid trolling to me – are you wanting to get a ban for dimwitted lying to disrupt the debate? ]

    • SPC 6.1
      7 September 2018 at 12:28 pm

      You mean humane and considered, while the Crown prosecutor warns his own caucus that he will hunt them down if they demonstrate dissent (and says anything other than imprisoning more and more New Zealanders, until we clear away from the pack as number 2 for incarceration behind the USA, is being weak).

      I would presume the PM did not want to announce the resignation herself and wanted to make it clear, it was not required.

      • Gosman 6.1.1
        7 September 2018 at 1:38 pm

        Why should she be humane with Curren? She was obviously out of her depth as a Minister and was a liability to the Government. She should resign from Parliament as well given the scale of her ineptitude.

        • SPC 6.1.1.1
          7 September 2018 at 1:42 pm

          Anything to declare about the bully inside gaslighting man.

        • AB 6.1.1.2
          7 September 2018 at 1:46 pm

          You should be humane with everyone Gosman. Sometimes the inept are the ones most in need of it.
          Have to say – super glad I’m my own boss rather than being subject to the whims of the (oh so many of them!) BMs and Gosmans who infect our workplaces.

          • Gosman 6.1.1.2.1
            7 September 2018 at 1:55 pm

            We shouldn’t have to put up with inept MP’s. I know we do in all parties but when they are exposed they should acknowledge their failure and resign.

            • dukeofurl 6.1.1.2.1.1
              7 September 2018 at 2:33 pm

              So when Todd Barclay was exposed to the Deputy PM as having committed a criminal offence ( listed in crimes Act) he should have resigned from Parliament. ?

              Same goes for Brownlee when he committed a serious and intentional breach of airport security.

              Same goes for Nick Smith when 2 High Court judges found he had done a serious contempt of court by witness tampering

              As we know none resigned . Indeed National Mps launched a personal attack on the Solicitor General at the time for referring Smiths actions to the Court.
              Barclay of course went on to get re-selected for his electorate and only dissapeared from Parliament for the last months of his term- I think working from home was the term used. LOL.

              • Gosman …
                7 September 2018 at 3:38 pm

                Barclay yes. Brownlee’s stuff up was not of the same level of magnitude.

                • Gabby …
                  7 September 2018 at 4:58 pm

                  Didn’t Browneye assault some old geezer gozzer?

                  • dukeofurl …
                    7 September 2018 at 5:35 pm

                    Good point. he threw the guy down the stairs when he And Slater were acting as Brownshirts for an election meeting for Shipley in Auckland.

                    As for the Brownlee airport incident they tried to cover up the report from Aviation security
                    “The report, by investigating officer Diane Cooze, has been released on orders of the Office of the Ombudsman, which responded to a complaint about parts of the document being withheld.”

                    Brownlee and his coterie appeared to have lied about the words exchanged with Security officer

                    They werent contrite and the fine was a jack up too, to minimise what he did.
                    Key didnt even accept his offer to resign as Minister of Transport!

                    But these days for labour ministers its unacceptable to forget about a long ago meeting and whether it was in their daily dairy- it was only asked about in Parliament as part of nationals ‘robo-questioning’ where every minister for every portfolio is asked about every meeting, or paperwork they deal with. A minister might have 60 plus questions along these lines every month, which are normally handled by the staff.
                    https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/85722017/report-reveals-details-of-gerry-brownlee-airport-incident

            • Marg 6.1.1.2.1.2
              7 September 2018 at 3:45 pm

              Well Gosman we had to put up with 9 years of ineptitude from the previous Government

        • D'Esterre 6.1.1.3
          7 September 2018 at 8:26 pm

          Gosman: “She was obviously out of her depth as a Minister”

          I’m inclined to cut her some slack. She’s a very experienced MP, and her snafus are a bit of a surprise. I wonder if there’s something else going on for her. Having said that, I think she had no option but to resign.

    • Dennis Frank 6.2
      7 September 2018 at 12:31 pm

      BM: Perhaps it means ZB replayed this morning an interview that was recorded yesterday & forgot to say so?

    • ianmac 6.3
      7 September 2018 at 12:34 pm

      Belt up BM.

    • veutoviper 6.4
      7 September 2018 at 12:39 pm

      WTF?

      Possible scenario/timeline:

      1. – Curran contacted the PM last night saying she was going to resign; PM said think it over again overnight and let me know tomorrow.

      2- PM tells Newstalk that she will not be firing Curran.

      3 – Later morning, Curran confirms her resignation from her Ministerial portfolios to the PM and PM accepts that resignation.

      Result: Curran now out as a Minister but remains as an electorate MP thereby not triggering a by-election at a cost of $1M +. She also seems to be reasonably popular with her electorate.

      IMO, as SPC said, a considered and humane handling of a difficult situation for all concerned by the PM, showing compassion and understanding for someone obviously under considerable pressure and stress over recent times – and also possibly out of her depth.

      AND also what ffloyd and Dennis Frank say below.

      • Dennis Frank 6.4.1
        7 September 2018 at 12:50 pm

        TVNZ: “12.18pm: News of Curran’s resignation came after Ms Ardern earlier told Newtalk ZB she wouldn’t fire her.”

        So the PM seems to have withheld the announcement during her ZB interview. She’s in Gisborne today with Shane Jones announcing a $152m cash injection for the East Coast. Probably tried to delay the clash but then realised she couldn’t.

      • BM 6.4.2
        7 September 2018 at 12:59 pm

        They could replace Curren with a goat and it would probably poll just as well.
        This is South Dunedin.

        Your possible scenario doesn’t really paint a great picture of the PM, maybe she needs to rehire H1 and get the trainer wheels back on

        • peterh 6.4.2.1
          7 September 2018 at 3:12 pm

          If they are looking for a goat. why dont you get down there

        • Marg 6.4.2.2
          7 September 2018 at 3:43 pm

          BM your comment is uncalled for and immensely insulting to those of us in South Dunedin.

          • BD 6.4.2.2.1
            7 September 2018 at 7:16 pm

            Marg – no need to take BM seriously – can’t you tell he’s “kidding”

            • D'Esterre 6.4.2.2.1.1
              7 September 2018 at 9:22 pm

              BD: “can’t you tell he’s “kidding””

              No. How would we tell? That’s the trouble with text: it’s often a poor conveyer of “tone”. All we’ve got to judge by is his language, absent any of the nuances of voice and facial expression.

        • Marcus Morris 6.4.2.3
          7 September 2018 at 4:47 pm

          Yes well, we have a National Twit in our electorate and the same thing could easily be said about him – in fact, depending on your political stance, you could say the same thing about any candidate who stands in a so-called “safe seat”. I have no idea how Claire Curran performed in opposition and she has made two apparently major errors of judgement while in Cabinet. My concern is that she had embarked on a programme to enhance public broadcast – an essential part of our democracy that has been under constant attack from the right as far back as the days of R D Muldoon when he abolished the TV licence. The ” clowns” who purvey the crass and inane diet of “entertainment” incessantly and in ever increasing numbers on our already crowded commercial networks must be rubbing their hands with glee. David Ferrar will be unbearable. Why he is given air-time on “The Panel” I will never know. I hope most fervently that the person who picks up Claire Curran’s baton will share her passion for improvement and balance.

        • Naki man 6.4.2.4
          7 September 2018 at 6:58 pm

          They could replace Curren with a goat and it would probably poll just as well.

          Well it worked in Whanga.

          http://www.not-australia.co.nz/whangamomona-the-new-zealand-township-that-declared-itself-a-republic-and-elected-a-goat-president/

      • McFlock 6.4.3
        7 September 2018 at 1:33 pm

        seems pretty reasonable – after the debacle of Little leaving the leadership she certainly wouldn’t be saying that Curran was thinking about resigning.

        Damned if you do, damned if you don’t…

    • Gabby 6.5
      7 September 2018 at 12:39 pm

      So I guess she didn’t fire her BMmer.

    • Labour_Voter 6.6
      7 September 2018 at 12:42 pm

      She forgot what happened last night. Move on.

    • Delia 6.7
      8 September 2018 at 1:51 am

      BM, the PM let Clare walk with her dignity in tact. You have no idea of the background to this at all. It is easy to throw stones at other people.

    • cleangreen 6.8
      8 September 2018 at 8:09 am

      BM= ‘Bloody Mindless’

  7. Sacha 7
    7 September 2018 at 12:26 pm

    How utterly embarrassing being bettered by that waste of space Melissa Lee.

    • chris73 7.1
      7 September 2018 at 12:28 pm

      Just goes to show how shallow the talent in Labour really is

      • ianmac 7.1.1
        7 September 2018 at 12:43 pm

        Yep Labour is shallow in the malicious stakes which field is best left to your lot.

        • chris73 7.1.1.1
          7 September 2018 at 12:45 pm

          Holding the government to account is now considered malicious, good to know

        • Jimmy 7.1.1.2
          7 September 2018 at 1:19 pm

          Nothing malicious. Claire simply couldn’t do her job. Melissa Lee did her job as opposition and saw the “low hanging fruit”

          • dukeofurl 7.1.1.2.1
            7 September 2018 at 2:43 pm

            Melissa Ji- Yun Lee is just a mouth piece for the questions written for her by Bridges and his staff.

            Shes been a nonentity all during the long 9 years of government. ( elected 2008) There is no way she has been hiding her talents under a bushell during this time.
            Even now she has practically zero responsibilities and still gets on the list as part of the ‘ethnic group’ of Captains Picks

            • marty mars 7.1.1.2.1.1
              8 September 2018 at 9:39 am

              Lots of slurs there – sure you don’t have another wee agenda there?

              Look around at the benches in the chamber – most are seat warmers, most are invisible and most are useless. This member has got hits on a minister and for better or worse that will get her up the ladder a bit higher.

              • dukeofurl …
                8 September 2018 at 1:02 pm

                Theres never been the slightest bit of parliamentary ability- and if she had some national wont allow the ‘ethnic’ Mps to be even visible to the general public- no siree they have to spend their time soley ‘within their community’
                Wouldnt want to scare the party faithfull.

                Same goes for nationals gay mps, except they have to stay away from any gay events. Not too hard to work it out who amoung their big city Mps are , but ridiculous in this day and age, maybe 15 years that was how it was done. One especially ‘ticks all the boxes’ but refuses to go there.

                • marty mars …
                  8 September 2018 at 3:57 pm

                  “Theres never been the slightest bit of parliamentary ability”

                  yeah apart from that time at bandcamp where she fucked up a minister through incisive questioning…

        • Chuck 7.1.1.3
          7 September 2018 at 2:41 pm

          Thanks for the laugh ianmac!

          Seriously though… you are not suggesting that the Labour party does not partake in holding opposition MP’s to account?

  8. Chris T 8
    7 September 2018 at 12:29 pm

    Big ups to Faafoi

    Really rate him.

    One of few out of all the MPs in there

  9. Ffloyd 9
    7 September 2018 at 12:32 pm

    For a while now I have thought that Clare Curran has not looked well. You’ve got to be a certain type of person to be able to withstand all the vicious and personal s..that all the bottom feeders seem to thrive on giving.. Mostly from ghastly little schoolboy types that were and are bullies. I hope she gets a good rest and time to breathe again.

    • Dennis Frank 9.1
      7 September 2018 at 12:35 pm

      I wondered about that. Seemed like more going on than incompetence. Could also be some other type of personal problem that she keeps private.

    • ianmac 9.2
      7 September 2018 at 12:41 pm

      Yes Ffloyd. Agreed.
      Somehow a person who is human enough to feel hurt from pretty nasty attack, seems much nicer that those who plough on regardless, often with arrogance and dismissiveness. Key, Coleman and Bridges would be in the latter group.
      Hope you get well again Clare.

      • The Lone Haranguer 9.2.1
        7 September 2018 at 8:51 pm

        To be fair, not all of the savagery towards Ms Curran on TS has come from the right.

        I recall various folk on here a year to so back (pre election certainly) savaging the lady and from memory, most appeared (or claimed to be) Dunedin based members of the Labour Party. At the time, it almost looked like civil war was about to erupt down there.

        My apologies LPrent if I am supposed to list examples, as Im not sure if theres a search function here.

        [lprent: There is. If you are on the desktop, look on the right. If you are on mobile then look in the little 3 bar menu.

        The issues from the left with Clare Curran have been around a lot longer than just the last few years. Not only from Dunedin. On the other hand, she does look pretty damn good compared to the do-nothing (apart from rorts) political idiots like Melissa Lee, David Garrett. Richard Worth, Pansy Wong, and above all Aaron Gilmore. (just off the top of my head)

        Clare actually did something that wasn’t venal and self-serving and which was actually to do with her portfolio. Unlike those corrupt idiots from the right over the previous 9 years.

        But I guess that the right have no real sense of smell – they can’t sense the decay of the body politic when it is merely personal corruption. After they spent years dribble worshipping at the foot of Cameron Slater and his disciple John Key. ]

    • SPC 9.3
      7 September 2018 at 12:46 pm

      National targeted her because of the policy to strengthen state media, they put some effort to destroying “red” radio (cuts and mangement appointments etc) and hanging the sale threat over TVNZ (the prototype is the National threat to abolish Maori seats and then owning the MP as a vassal).

      They also have, low in confidence private business interests in the media onside on this one.

      • chris73 9.3.1
        7 September 2018 at 12:48 pm

        National targeted her because she kept making mistakes

        • JO 9.3.1.1
          7 September 2018 at 1:41 pm

          Spot on. Much the way a pack of hyenas will target the weakest animal they select from a group – easier to stalk, isolate, wound and bring it down. They also follow the ever-circling vultures to feast on the remains of creatures they haven’t had to kill themselves. Both species are known as carrion feeders. Some human groups have evolved to specialise in these hunting techniques.

      • Carolyn_Nth 9.3.2
        7 September 2018 at 12:52 pm

        National targeted Curran both because they saw her as relatively weak, and because they do not want a revitalised public service media.

        If Labour really prioritised the need for a strong public service media, they would have predicted such a backlash, and put someone stronger in charge of the portfolio.

        I am still looking for any sign Labour is strongly committed to a strong public service media, as a left wing government should be.

        • OnceWasTim 9.3.2.1
          7 September 2018 at 1:30 pm

          “I am still looking for any sign Labour is strongly committed to a strong public service media, as a left wing government should be.”
          Me too! And not just as any LEFT WING government should be, but anyone that has any respect for democratic principles.

          More than that, I’m looking for a commitment to public service generally, rather than economic service.

          Although I support CBB and its activists, and as someone who could once have been seen as a foundation member, they’re not actually ambitious enough.
          We’ll see what happens (as an Orange man keeps telling us)

        • Grey Area 9.3.2.2
          7 September 2018 at 2:10 pm

          You’ll be waiting a while because sadly they are not a strong left wing government.

        • Chuck 9.3.2.3
          7 September 2018 at 2:21 pm

          “If Labour really prioritised the need for a strong public service media, they would have predicted such a backlash, and put someone stronger in charge of the portfolio.”

          Nah… you should have finished off your paragraph this way…

          and put someone COMPETENT in charge of the portfolio.

    • veutoviper 9.4
      7 September 2018 at 12:47 pm

      +11111 But I did have this terrible image flash before my eyes of Ms Lee dressed as a ‘little school boy type’.

      But both Trevor Mallard and Megan Woods ‘owned’ Lee yesterday in Question Time. Mallard by refusing to allow Lee to hold her question to Curran over until Curran was back in the House and Woods when answering on behalf of Curran.

      https://www.parliament.nz/en/watch-parliament/ondemand?itemId=202461

    • John 9.5
      7 September 2018 at 1:24 pm

      No sympathy whatsoever. Curran’s fingerprints are all over the hatchet used on Erin Leigh.

      https://www.newshub.co.nz/opinion/duncan-garner/rennie-its-time-to-apologise-over-erin-leigh-2011092113

    • Grantoc 9.6
      7 September 2018 at 3:15 pm

      Ffloyd

      Many of whom can be found in the Labour party

    • Anne 9.7
      7 September 2018 at 4:05 pm

      Ffloyd @ 9

      Mostly from ghastly little schoolboy types that were and are bullies…

      And look how they all come out from under their rocks when they smell a bit of blood on the floor.

  10. Carolyn_Nth 10
    7 September 2018 at 12:55 pm

    PM live:

    https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/political/365913/watch-pm-jacinda-ardern-on-clare-curran-s-resignation

    Edit: PM starts with:

    The question I was asked this morning was whether I’d asked her to resign, and the answer was “no”.

  11. Philj 11
    7 September 2018 at 1:12 pm

    Sad, but inevitable. Now that the government has reneged on its promise of a commercial free TV channel, she stands down. Meanwhile RNZ is being downgraded by outsourcing an increasing ammount of content from private companies. Mark my words, RNZ is heading down the same crap road as TVNZ.

  12. Cantabrian 12
    7 September 2018 at 1:13 pm

    Really veutoviper you are strong on rhetoric but short on facts. Speaker Mallard asked for leave of the house for Lee to delay her question until Curran was present. As leave was not granted Lee had to ask her question. The Speaker was totally impartial in this case. Your account of events is very selective.

  13. Michael who failed Civics 13
    7 September 2018 at 2:16 pm

    This was long overdue. Curran was a liability as a Minister and remains one as an MP. This saga illustrates Labour’s problem in its selection of Parliamentary candidates. Normally, I would feel sympathy for the personal suffering of someone in Curran’s position. However, in her case I cannot and this is because of the way she conducted herself over many years in and around her electorate. Curran should resign and give the people of South Dunedin the chance to be represented by someone decent and competent.

    • McFlock 13.1
      7 September 2018 at 2:40 pm

      I sort of half agree.

      People who have encountered her have given me decidedly mixed reviews, and her errors in communication and mettings etc were pretty basic things for a longstanding MP to fuck up.

      She was definitely mobbed by the baying hounds, though, so not an ending I’d wish on someone. Not that she’s out of parliament, but hopefully she won’t be in cabinet again unless she improves dramatically.

      • veutoviper 13.1.1
        7 September 2018 at 3:00 pm

        I actually also half agree, from the perspective that the public service media and open government portfolios are too important to be mucked around as they have been for months now. Positive progress needs to be made in both areas and it will be good to have a clean slate/new mind etc to now address these issues.

  14. veutoviper 14
    7 September 2018 at 2:31 pm

    A good interview with Jane Patterson, RNZ’s senior political reporter by Jesse Mulligan on Afternoons about an hour ago on her take on Ardern’s position etc on Curran.

    https://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/afternoons/audio/2018661563/labour-s-clare-curran-has-resigned-as-broadcasting-minister

    Curran is about to give a press conference at 2.30pm. RNZ National to carry it live and presumably other media.

  15. Tuppence Shrewsbury 15
    7 September 2018 at 2:35 pm

    Can we please rip the bandaid and get CV back?

  16. Ad 16
    7 September 2018 at 2:42 pm

    Colonial Viper was right.

    The numpties that selected Claire Curran should all be required to hangs signs around their necks saying “We Were Wrong and CV Was Right”

    • dukeofurl 16.1
      7 September 2018 at 2:48 pm

      What , and select him instead ? Good grief.

      her CV beats his hands down., a wallpaper socialist

      • Ad 16.1.1
        7 September 2018 at 2:54 pm

        Clearly character and organisational capacity beats Curran’s cv.

        Her record in the previous Labour government was to get the head of MfE forced out. Her track record here was to get the highest-ranked radio news programmer in the country – and obvious ally of the government – forced out. Her track record of policy delivery as Minister is zero. Who knows maybe she’s delivered for South Dunedin – I can’t see it.

        Anyone with half a brain would have delivered a better result than this trail of destruction.

        The Prime Minister now has others to pick from – it would be great to see Liz Craig or Deborah Russel step up into a minor Ministerial or Associate position.

        • McFlock 16.1.1.1
          7 September 2018 at 2:58 pm

          Aren’t they both first-termers?

          Might be a steep curve. Both are pretty bloody capable, though.

        • dukeofurl 16.1.1.2
          7 September 2018 at 3:12 pm

          “Her track record here was to get the highest-ranked radio news programmer in the country – and obvious ally of the government – forced out.”

          Wasnt a news programmer- She was head of Content ! *( yes Women have their actual status downgraded all the time) and she lied to her CEO and Board.

          *-become head of content, responsible for news, drama, music, spoken features and Radio New Zealand International.
          You seemed to think she was still a ‘ back room producer’ ?

  17. Ed 17
    7 September 2018 at 3:09 pm

    Paula Bennett.
    Nasty bully.

    • Enough is Enough 17.1
      7 September 2018 at 3:18 pm

      Its General Debate Ed – What do you expect?

      In the words of one great former parliamentarian “diddums”

    • Chuck 17.2
      7 September 2018 at 3:29 pm

      Ed, you don’t get out much do you?

      May I suggest you spend the weekend reviewing videos from all sides of the house (and when the current government was in opposition) and then come back Monday with a summary of what you have learned.

    • Tuppence Shrewsbury 17.3
      7 September 2018 at 3:52 pm

      that’s what an effective opposition looks like eddy boy.

    • Fireblade 17.4
      7 September 2018 at 4:32 pm

      Paula’s ranting and arm waving reminds me of someone else.

    • Jimmy 17.5
      7 September 2018 at 4:53 pm

      I think you need to “Ardern” up Ed. That’s politics. It’s not for the faint hearted. Thats why I said Jacinda needs to act decisively on Curran a few days ago. She failed to do so and is now seen as weak at managing her own.

    • cleangreen 17.6
      8 September 2018 at 8:41 am

      Paula Bennett equals = “toxic talking head”.

  18. cleangreen 18
    7 September 2018 at 3:41 pm

    Our Provinces HB/Gisborne were cut off by RNZ National having a RNZ reporter when we were making waves about how the National Party was deliberately attempting to destroy the rail lines that got washed out, because of lack of funds to keep up maintainence to keep the rail service open then.

    After we sent an email to RNZ in 2014 the local RNZ reporter was sent on ‘long term leave’ and we asked Claire Curran to restore the service and get our reporter back so we could tell the story and she sent a letter refusing too do anything we asked in late 2017 after she was part of the new government.

    So she needed to be fired because suppression of media public isues of high public interest, as she was clearly just hiding the truth about what national did to our rail service.

    Good riddance to bad rubbish we say.

    http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1302/S00183/kiwirail-admits-lack-of-maintenance-led-to-wash-out.htm

    Ms Curran; “the cat’s out of the bag so we need Phil Twyford to now come to HB and discuss with the community groups to get the rail service restored all the way to Gisborne, since he blew the story that topld the truth here..

    Thursday, 14 February 2013, 1:35 pm
    Press Release: New Zealand Labour Party
    Phil Twyford
    Transport Spokesperson

    14 February 2013

    KiwiRail admits lack of maintenance led to wash-out

    KiwiRail has admitted that its failure to maintain old and damaged culverts was behind the wash out that closed the Gisborne-Napier line, while cuts to its maintenance budget are putting the network at further risk, Labour’s Transport spokesperson Phil Twyford says.

    “Across the country KiwiRail missed its target of replacing 71 old culverts last year, and only replaced 49. This is cause for alarm.

    “The Gisborne-Napier wash-out shows what happens when essential maintenance work is not carried out.

    “KiwiRail cut and deferred $200 million of network maintenance last year. At the very time it needs to be upgrading its network and improving efficiency, the Government’s unrealistic ‘Turn Around Plan’ is putting enormous stress on the organisation and forcing it to cut maintenance.

    “KiwiRail has told Parliament’s transport committee it has 12,197 rail line culverts around the country and has done a risk assessment identifying 53 high priority culverts but ‘…in spite of every effort to mitigate risk, some incidents of wash out may still occur…’

    “National’s plan for rail is not workable. KiwiRail has missed its financial targets for two of the last three years. It is being forced to make cuts that are a false economy.

    “At a time when the Government is wasting billions of dollars on its ‘motorways of madness’, it makes no sense to cripple the national rail line.”

    ENDS

  19. CHCOff 19
    7 September 2018 at 4:54 pm

    Labour probably need to look at the strengths and weaknesses of their individual crew members to their roles, and then organise their associated staff aid roles accordingly i would guess this is perhaps in some way symptomatic of.

    More of a pronounced thing now in govt.

    It’s not like some other parties gigs when any old fluff will pass all the time.

    • dukeofurl 19.1
      7 September 2018 at 5:44 pm

      meanwhile in real corruption- A former head of Counties Manukau DHB seemed to have falsified construction cost reports.
      A previous CEO of various NZ councils was found to have been corrupt in some postage stamp council in Outback WA.
      Did they not wonder why he went from (acting) CEO of the Auckland Transition Agency ( for the super city) to Halls Creek Shire !! Its even smaller than Carterton District in population.

  20. R.P Mcmurphy 20
    7 September 2018 at 7:36 pm

    I think the sun will come up tomorrow and I think she is still a great electorate MP and her people still support her no matter what the greazy schlubbs in the nationals party do.

  21. Brian Tregaskin 21
    7 September 2018 at 9:14 pm

    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10602813
    National Party list MP Melissa Lee is again under investigation over the way her television production company used taxpayer funds, it was reported tonight.

    TV3 News said a whistleblower sent it a letter written to Ms Lee by the broadcasting funding agency NZ on Air asking why her company, Asia Vision Ltd, did not return $100,000 of unspent contingency money.

  22. Brian Tregaskin 22
    7 September 2018 at 9:19 pm

    https://www.newshub.co.nz/general/national-mp-and-candidate-melissa-lees-ethics-called-into-question-2009051218
    National MP and candidate Melissa Lee’s ethics called into question

  23. Brian Tregaskin 23
    7 September 2018 at 10:32 pm

    No of course not Chris T but just pointing out nobody’s perfect and lot of National MPs in opposition will have a past.

  24. cleangreen 24
    8 September 2018 at 8:12 am

    From our commmittee at (CEAC) Citizens Environmental Advocacy centre we are also supporting “Better Public Media Trust” response to new Minister of Broadcasting, Communications and Digital Media.

    Thank God the useless Curran has finallly gone and now we can look forward to our long promised “public media regional community groups issues now being covered as a public health & wellbeing issue as the Labour government had promiosed us “inclussion” and to have a voice and now it shows promise, well done Jacinda let the light shine through to show the nine years of National overuse of ‘road trucking’ and closing down regonal rail services
    that almost destored our communities.

    Under Claire Curran she blocked our public voice to get the issues out to the nation wide media, of truck grid-locked roads and those dangers resulting in the HB/Gisborne.

    So we were prevented from getting our issues aired in the media under Claire Curran as she was captured by the trucking industry obviously.

    So but now new regionnal community hope is alive again as the new Minister, Kris Faafoi, who is highly-regarded in the media world professionally and from his time as opposition spokesperson, will get the job finished that Curran failed miserably failing to complete.

    http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1809/S00080/better-public-media-trust-response-to-new-minister.htm

    Better Public Media Trust response to new Minister
    Friday, 7 September 2018, 3:52 pm
    Press Release: Better Public Media
    Better Public Media Trust response to new Minister of Broadcasting, Communications and Digital Media

    The Better Public Media trust commiserates Clare Curran who has resigned as Minister of Broadcasting, Communications and Digital Media.

    “From having met Ms Curran a few times, it was always clear that she knew the details of media and broadcasting incredibly well,” said BPM Director, Myles Thomas.

    “When Curran became a Minister last year, she was the first in over a decade who understood the effects of technology, the importance of media and who actually cared about the role.

    “Clare Curran is a person of high integrity and honesty, and unfortunately that has contributed to her resignation.

    “A person with less morals would attempt to hide details of meetings and gmail accounts. These relatively minor errors happen all the time in all governments, councils and businesses. It is to her credit that she was so forthcoming.”

    —

    Better Public Media welcomes the new Minister, Kris Faafoi, who is highly-regarded in the media world professionally and from his time as opposition spokesperson.

    “We wish Mr Faafoi all the best and encourage him to continue the improvements to public media in New Zealand,” Thomas said.

    “Kris Faafoi has great ideas and we look forward to seeing those added to the good work already done by Ms Curran.”

    The BPM Trust encourages the Prime Minister to recognise the importance of media in NZ by reinstating into Cabinet, the role of Minister of Broadcasting, Communications and Digital Media.

    “At this juncture, the PM needs to assure stakeholders that New Zealand media policy will be prioritised, and adequately funded to provide the much-needed benefits for all audiences and to democracy,” Thomas said.

    “While we sympathise with Ms Curran, it is the work being done that is more important, and we ask that the government continues to strengthen public media in New Zealand.”

    ends

    • Sacha 24.1
      8 September 2018 at 11:39 am

      “Under Claire Curran she blocked our public voice ”

      Puhleese. The Minister of Broadcasting has no such powers – as you will see under the new one.

      • dukeofurl 24.1.1
        8 September 2018 at 1:09 pm

        yes. I had thought cleangreen was a genuine community voice, yet appears to really be a sort astro turfer.
        Underlying all the double speak is really a roading advocate rather than a voice better public media – perhaps an out of work journalist living in the hills behind Gisborne.
        Very suspicious of a ‘group’ who suddenly appear right after a new government formed.
        Likely its connected to the Tax Payers union ‘gulag’ of fringe groups

  25. Darien Fenton 25
    8 September 2018 at 8:17 am

    Pick it apart all of you. Me, Im just trying to exercise a little kindness to a woman who found herself in the Lions Den.

    • Ed 25.1
      8 September 2018 at 9:00 am

      You nailed it.

    • Sacha 25.2
      8 September 2018 at 11:41 am

      Who deliberately put herself in a lions den. No surprise to encounter roaring there.

    • veutoviper 25.3
      8 September 2018 at 2:29 pm

      Not all of us, Darien. I am with you all the way on this – and another good comment also at 29 below.

      I saw your reply to Patterson on Twitter – and the rest. I really have lost respect for Patterson for that tweet and all power to Clare for her restrained response.

    • ianmac 25.4
      8 September 2018 at 2:47 pm

      Go well Clare. Let the hyenas have their moments.

  26. Ffloyd 26
    8 September 2018 at 8:54 am

    Amen to that Darien Fenton.

  28. xanthe 28
    8 September 2018 at 2:00 pm

    “Positive discrimination” continues to move towards its inevitable end state

  29. Tomorrow&Tomorrow 29
    8 September 2018 at 2:10 pm

    At a time when we are trying to understand and support those with mental
    health issues, too many of the anonymous commentators above show
    no empathy and choose to mock and ridicule someone who has been harried for months by the press and opposition, mainly because she was “not tough and smart enough’, made some minor mistakes, and crucially, represented a threat to commercial media by her commitment to public broadcasting.
    You know who you are and you should be ashamed.

    • veutoviper 29.1
      8 September 2018 at 2:26 pm

      I agree – good comment. Except, sadly, I actually think that some of them do not even realise their total lack of empathy and compassion.

    • xanthe 29.2
      8 September 2018 at 3:16 pm

      In playing stupid schoolgirl games that terminated Carol Hirschfeld’s position at RNZ Curren did uncounted damage to public broadcasting!

  30. Timeforacupoftea 30
    8 September 2018 at 8:39 pm

    We have a track record down here in Poverty ridden South Dunedin electing unsuitable characters.
    Can you remember the David Benson/Pope saga with tennis balls jammed in kids mouths to shut them up at Bayfield High School.
    Auntie Helen Clarke had David marching back to Andersons Bay without his feet touching the ground.

    But don’t worry about it Claire Curran we have a job for you on the DCC council who fail often and hold public council meetings in private probably with gmail.com accounts.
    You will feel right at home here.

    So lets vote in a High School Girl next time without contamination.