Daily review 07/07/2020

Written By: - Date published: 5:30 pm, July 7th, 2020 - 137 comments
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Daily review is also your post.

This provides Standardistas the opportunity to review events of the day.

The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy).

Don’t forget to be kind to each other …

137 comments on “Daily review 07/07/2020 ”

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  1. Gabby 1
    7 July 2020 at 5:35 pm

    So it turns out that Hamish Walker might just be a contemptible little weasel's arsehole. Who'd have thought it.

    • observer 1.1
      7 July 2020 at 5:39 pm

      Muller has sacked him, it's not at all shambolic, strong team.

      • Gabby 1.1.1
        7 July 2020 at 5:44 pm

        He gets to look like strong decisive leader. Woodlouse next.

        • I Feel Love 1.1.1.1
          7 July 2020 at 6:13 pm

          Not quite Gabby, Muller sez "while awaiting the results of the inquiry", weak leader, what a shambles.

      • Muttonbird 1.1.2
        7 July 2020 at 5:50 pm

        Really?

        There was the pretty good photo actually of Muller and co. at Cardrona the other day announcing one of the few policies they have, the 'Tourism Accelerator". Ruining it was one guy in a cap who looked like a naughty schoolboy – Hamish Walker.

      • weka 1.1.3
        7 July 2020 at 6:29 pm

        He hasn't sacked him, he's given the portfolios to someone else while the Inquiry is happening, at the same time minimising the seriousness of Walker's actions.

        Given Walker's racist press statement the other day, it's bizarre he hasn't been permanently demoted. Might be time for National to look for another Clutha/Southland candidate, but I won't hold my breath.

        https://twitter.com/justinCgio/status/1280374877405364224

        • observer 1.1.3.1
          7 July 2020 at 6:32 pm

          @weka

          Fair enough. Given that Walker will hold the seat anyway, Muller has under-reacted there. No loss to him if Walker is on the back benches for 2 months, he's hardly a Bridges.

          • weka 1.1.3.1.1
            7 July 2020 at 6:36 pm

            I guess it shows us what to expect. Bennett had form on this, she's gone, but obviously National consider privacy breaches to be a minor matter.

            • left for dead 1.1.3.1.1.1
              8 July 2020 at 8:46 am

              @weka

              Have a listen to RNZ this morning,Privacy commissioner say politicans have some sort of immunity re- leaking info,not just parlimentary privilage.

              Also how about supporting people with dis-ablitys on this site and have a spell check,it is 2020. Dyslexic count, do you know how long it can take just too write a wee note like this,or shall I give up,is that the idea.

              regards Alex

              • weka …
                8 July 2020 at 11:10 am

                thanks, will have a listen when I get the chance. Am pretty happy that the PC is very unhappy about what has happened, both Walker and Boag.

                I agree about the spell check, I will ask Lynn when he is around.

              • maggieinnz …
                8 July 2020 at 3:11 pm

                Hi LFD,

                I have dyslexia and use the Grammarly addon for chrome which works here. It's also available for other platforms too. I only use the free version and it suits my needs. Hope it helps.

                The chrome browser extension is here

                And for other platforms etc check it out here.

              • lprent …
                8 July 2020 at 3:28 pm

                Hi Alex,

                This may or may not help.

                Pressing Ctrl and right clicking on words marked as spelling errors should bring up the browsers usual menu. In most browsers that will bring up the browsers dictionary support. Just found that gem…

                Being a programmer and mildly dyslexic myself, I have been using the "Source" when I want to fix words because the right click context menu works well there.

                But I’ll have a look around for other server side tools that may help.

        • Incognito 1.1.3.2
          7 July 2020 at 6:32 pm

          Muller doesn’t need to sack Walker. They will all be sagged in September.

          • weka 1.1.3.2.1
            7 July 2020 at 6:35 pm

            Clutha Southland, I'm not so sure about that. Although after young Toddy as well, maybe there will be a swing.

            • Graeme 1.1.3.2.1.1
              7 July 2020 at 7:27 pm

              Amy Adams is probably looking for a seat to get back in after the election. She has a house in Cromwell which is now in Clutha Southland after the boundary changes this year.

              • weka …
                7 July 2020 at 7:29 pm

                that would be the smart move from Nat. Don't know what their nomination process is.

                • Graeme …
                  7 July 2020 at 7:59 pm

                  He was re-selected earlier this year after a challenge With hindsight it looks rather murky, bit like Toddles.

                  Suppose they can change candidate up until Nomination Day, 21/8

                  Bit sad for Jon MItchell, he could be in for a chance against Walker.

                  • Robert Guyton …
                    7 July 2020 at 8:40 pm

                    Ought we to feel some compassion for the true-blue Nats of Clutha-Southland, who must be feeling sick to their stomachs with this latest exposure; Todd Barclay, Sarah Dowie, and now Hamish Walker?

                    Or not?

                    • Graeme …
                      7 July 2020 at 8:55 pm

                      I know a few where it goes a way beyond the stomach. Not happy with the ol' party.

                    • weka …
                      7 July 2020 at 9:06 pm

                      bout time they did something about it then. National have the same dilemma as Labour now, their party has been taken over and it will take a lot to set it right.

                    • Robert Guyton …
                      7 July 2020 at 9:18 pm

                      Brought it to the attention of my fellow councillors – met resistance to the idea that the behaviour of MPs is of concern to local body politicians smiley

                    • Gabby …
                      7 July 2020 at 10:48 pm

                      No, they'll line up like good little troopers and vote for the next swede in a suit.

                    • weka …
                      8 July 2020 at 11:14 am

                      just the ones they know 😉

                      Are you following what's happening with the ORC and Hobbs?

                      (lol, I feel there should be a LotR pun in there somewhere).

                    • Graeme …
                      8 July 2020 at 4:02 pm

                      Council staff are often referred to as 'the orcs', especially when they have their enforcement hats on. I've seen a couple of instances, fires mainly, where it was quite apt. Fortunately not directly on the receiving end. A few texts do the rounds warning of orcs abroad or at the gate….

    • Bearded Git 1.2
      7 July 2020 at 5:44 pm

      …and on RNZ just now …it was leaked to Walker by Michelle Boag.

      Same old Dirty Politics.

      • RosieLee 1.2.1
        7 July 2020 at 5:59 pm

        Way past time to put RNZ on notice as well.

        • gsays 1.2.1.1
          7 July 2020 at 6:19 pm

          Apart from Jim Mora, what has RNZ done wrong?

          • Bearded Git 1.2.1.1.1
            7 July 2020 at 6:27 pm

            Yes exactly…RNZ simply reported the facts, and did this fairly.

            • George 1.2.1.1.1.1
              7 July 2020 at 8:31 pm

              I prefer to think of it as "leaking" facts in this case …says Michelle Boag…

          • observer 1.2.1.1.2
            7 July 2020 at 6:27 pm

            Not much at all. Jeez, I dunno – get a gift of a juicy story and turn it into a cause for complaining some more. Tedious, really.

            Try Kim Hill and Nicola Willis this morning. Now that's RNZ quality.

          • weka 1.2.1.1.3
            7 July 2020 at 6:41 pm

            Boag was on The Panel this afternoon. They really need to stop using her as a commentator.

            • mickysavage 1.2.1.1.3.1
              7 July 2020 at 6:47 pm

              She was answering emails too and this was commented on. She said she was multitasking. Obviously she was getting ready for the storm.

          • left for dead 1.2.1.1.4
            8 July 2020 at 8:48 am

            Wallace and other hand wringers,wrecking a once proud network.

      • McFlock 1.2.2
        7 July 2020 at 6:34 pm

        Acquired in her role as acting CEO of the rescue helicopter trust.

        There's still the question as to why the trust had patient-identifed data sent to it, e.g. was it an analyst screw up or did it have a genuine need for that information.

        And if the trust got the data in error, did Boag or anyone else report this to the data supplier, or did she run straight to her party? lol even odds either way?

        • weka 1.2.2.1
          7 July 2020 at 6:43 pm

          I'm assuming they had it in case they needed to transport someone fro quarantine.

          why would Boag have access to it though?

          • McFlock 1.2.2.1.1
            7 July 2020 at 7:43 pm

            It depends on how big the admin team is, I suspect. If it's five tiers below her, there might be vertical compartmentalisation issues for the trust to look at.

            But if the acting CEO was actually working for a living in a small team and helping develop the staffing plans if any of those folk need air transport, she might have reasonably legitimate access. Or maybe someone emailed her going "I got sent this, seems to be more than I should receive, what should I do?" And her response speaks for itself.

            • weka 1.2.2.1.1.1
              7 July 2020 at 8:39 pm

              I would have thought the people who would need the list ahead of time would be whoever manages the call outs, and the staff that go on call outs. I guess Boag could be hands on in that management.

              The second scenario makes sense, although the person emailing shouldn't have emailed the information, but described it instead.

              • McFlock …
                7 July 2020 at 9:19 pm

                I mean, if I got something I felt completely out of my depth on and the boss says "give it all to me, I'll handle it", suddenly all my problems are solved because the managers will be the ones doing battle.

                But those are the causes of the train:car collision, and investigators need to confirm that all the signals are working, the car was functioning normally, the drivers were all sob – holy crap, that train had three wagonloads of illegal ammunition and weapons?! And they belonged to the people who reported the crash to make a point about the safety of that level crossing?! WTF???

                That's the sort of vibe I'm having at the moment, lol.

    • RedBaronCV 1.3
      7 July 2020 at 5:46 pm

      Just sacked from his current shadow cabinet roles or dumped as the candidate as well hopefuilly?

      • gsays 1.3.1
        7 July 2020 at 5:54 pm

        Only his shady shadow roles.

        Apparently it's a shambles, a National disgrace.

    • Herodotus 1.4
      7 July 2020 at 5:48 pm

      There are some idiots around 😱

      Pity there is not stronger support for the 3 strikes rules, from my reckoning that this is his 2nd.

      • gsays 1.4.1
        7 July 2020 at 5:55 pm

        It's OK, he belongs to the 'personal rsponsibility' party. I am sure his leader will sort it out. /sarc.

      • I Feel Love 1.4.2
        7 July 2020 at 6:08 pm

        Nah, it's his third, lying about door knocking, a bloody strange guy.

    • NZJester 1.5
      7 July 2020 at 6:29 pm

      The news says ( Acting chief executive of Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust Michelle Boag has confirmed she gave the patient details to Walker. )

      So it was National people all the way trying to do a hit job on the current government.

      She has fallen on her sword according to the news article, but I think should face charges for using her position to access those detail.

      https://www.msn.com/en-nz/news/national/national-mp-hamish-walker-admits-leaking-covid-19-patient-details/ar-BB16q0uY?li=BBqdg4K

      • SPC 1.5.1
        7 July 2020 at 6:59 pm

        The info went to her private email, until we know who sent it to her I am not buying her story at all.

        • Incognito 1.5.1.1
          7 July 2020 at 7:01 pm

          Forensic examination of her e-mails will tell.

          But her e-mails …

          • SPC 1.5.1.1.1
            7 July 2020 at 7:03 pm

            I am guessing burner phone, so not work related at all.

            From lines about the spreadsheet not being protected, an external to work hack is inferred. Of course that might be to protect a NP source at some level within the public service or management regime.

            • Incognito 1.5.1.1.1.1
              7 July 2020 at 7:05 pm

              Still investigate. If it was sent as an attachment there could be metadata that hold clues.

  2. Muttonbird 2
    7 July 2020 at 5:39 pm

    The Electoral Commission once again bowing to the powerful elite.

    https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2020/07/election-2020-electoral-commission-finds-jacinda-ardern-aroha-posters-are-political-ads-not-art.html

    "Under the Electoral Act, party advertisements require a promoter statement and the written authorisation of the party," the commission spokesman said.

    Obvious answer is to put the required "promoter statement and the written authorisation of the party" on it and stick them up on every street corner!

    Similar to the, 'Let's do this' moment, she grabbed something real, popular and already in existence and ran with it. Do the same here, Hayden!

    And get them in the Labour shop, I'll buy one.

    • gsays 2.1
      7 July 2020 at 6:13 pm

      The Electoral Commission was found to be wrong in banning Darren Watson's Planet Key song.

      To my mind this poster is way more apolitical than the song.

  3. Gabby 3
    7 July 2020 at 5:43 pm

    And Michelle Boag. What a shocker. Errors of judgment all around apparently. Nothing to do with being vile little shits. Horrible, horrible people.

  4. SPC 4
    7 July 2020 at 5:43 pm

    Boag gave the info to Walker who passed it on to media.

    How Boag got it is now the issue – she says it came to her as CEO of Auckland of Rescue HelicopterTrust. I am not sure if this credible, time will tell.

    • Gabby 4.1
      7 July 2020 at 5:45 pm

      As in, who's her connected friend who thought she could use the info?

      • SPC 4.1.1
        7 July 2020 at 5:57 pm

        And why was it sent to her private email address if it was related to her role as CEO of that Trust?

        Heron needs to identify the sender of that email before Boag accidently deletes it. And if the sender used a burner phone etc and Boag could not identify who sent it …., why would she think it was related to her work …

        My suspicion is she is protecting a National Party asset, the question is where MOH, or in the border security system, or …

    • Muttonbird 4.2
      7 July 2020 at 6:06 pm

      Clearly shows there is a Nat plant in the ministry. Got to get them out as they must have breached all those forms they signed when they were hired.

  5. observer 5
    7 July 2020 at 5:43 pm

    Read these statements by Walker, Muller, Boag – incredible.

    Party meltdown.

    https://twitter.com/henrycooke/status/1280375155223478272

  6. Adrian 6
    7 July 2020 at 5:47 pm

    Charge them and jail them. Contemptible shits!

    Labour to govern alone.

  7. SPC 7
    7 July 2020 at 5:53 pm

    On track and trace monitoring.

    Maybe the MOH needs to look at a system for monitoring the Apple and Android apps that have come out about a month back.

    In this regard, one should note the USA is no longer taking in Indian IT migrants under their H-1B visa, and the government should look at bringing in IT expertise – US IT workers (leaving a commmunity spread environment) and a few of the Indian migrant workers (around 60,000 a year) shut out of the US employment market.

  8. ianmac 8
    7 July 2020 at 5:57 pm

    Wonder if Muller knew earlier in thw week when he was failing to comment on the matter?

    What a shambles and lack of Leadership in the National Party.

    • SPC 8.1
      7 July 2020 at 5:58 pm

      They tried to dismiss an investigation as politics to deter it, but once Heron had those powers to question people they were done.

    • Muttonbird 8.2
      7 July 2020 at 6:07 pm

      They were very, very, very quiet, weren't they?

  9. Anker 9
    7 July 2020 at 6:02 pm

    What a bloody outrage. This should mean single digit polling. Finally Nats caught out

  10. Muttonbird 10
    7 July 2020 at 6:09 pm

    Farrar watch:

    Farrar attempted to soften this earlier on today. He went down the avenue that the real crime is that the information wasn't password protected.

    I see that Nats are now using this line.

    Farrar = Dirty Politics.

    • SPC 10.1
      7 July 2020 at 6:11 pm

      Not password protected, Bishop sent the email to Boag's private email address?

      • Muttonbird 10.1.1
        7 July 2020 at 6:21 pm

        Probably!

        • SPC 10.1.1.1
          7 July 2020 at 6:45 pm

          Walker said he had received legal advice that he had not committed any criminal offence.

          "The information that I received was not password-protected by the Government. It was not stored on a secure system where authorised people needed to log on. There was no redaction to protect patient details, and no confidentiality statement on the document. "By exposing a significant privacy issue I hope the Government will improve its protocols and get its safeguards right."

          Article link: https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12346280

          They are running the same line they did with the Treasury leak, the Bishop snoop. The racist dog whistler is now claiming he was doing us a service.

          His defence is that the information was not secure. Yet Boag is claiming it came to her on a private email to her in her work capacity. Something does not add up.

          Their lines are NOT in synch.

          • Incognito 10.1.1.1.1
            7 July 2020 at 6:49 pm

            Pretty legal.

          • Draco T Bastard 10.1.1.1.2
            7 July 2020 at 7:57 pm

            The information that I received was not password-protected by the Government. It was not stored on a secure system where authorised people needed to log on.

            Yeah, I'd say that the lawyer giving that advice needs to go back to school.

            Stealing from an open house is still stealing. Same would apply here.

            And I'd say that it propably was stored on a secure system – until it was removed from that system and sent to Boag.

            • Graeme 10.1.1.1.2.1
              7 July 2020 at 8:35 pm

              It's also personal information relating to a patient of our health system, which I thought was about as private and confidential as it comes.

              • greywarshark …
                7 July 2020 at 9:21 pm

                Any boy who graduated from a Good School should know what is correct behaviour and not look for excuses for exposing people's private information to others, that’s nasty hacking stuff. . Or was he home-schooled? There is no excuse Walker, get your boots on and go. And take your granny dolly with you.

    • Gabby 10.2
      7 July 2020 at 6:16 pm

      Wonder how he knows that.

  11. SPC 11
    7 July 2020 at 6:09 pm

    Still nothing on the story at the Herald, don't want to know, don't want to tell – waiting for National to prepare a cover up they can run with?

  12. Drowsy M. Kram 12
    7 July 2020 at 6:10 pm

    Bridges relieved he lost to Muller – let the resignations flow. Anyone feeling for Hooton?

    Maybe there’s a book in it: The Hollow Men – Dirty Politics – Dirtier Politics: How attack politics is still poisoning New Zealand’s political environment

    Have felt for some time that Boag is naturally 100% pure poison – surely now Wallace can finally stop inviting her back to appear on The Panel.

  13. Reality 13
    7 July 2020 at 6:15 pm

    Well, well, well. Sleaze, dishonesty, sheer nastiness – the adjectives coming like a tsunami.

    To see Muller and the Woodhouse twerp on the news tonight trying to be so serious was pathetic and laughable.

    And speaking of Woodhouse, his toilet seat with Clare Curran on it is disgusting. And now he says he can't remember it. Despicable.

  14. Anne 14
    7 July 2020 at 6:18 pm

    Many of us foresaw that Dirty Politics was going to be rife this year. The Nats will go to any lengths to grab the reins of power. Not the least bit surprised Michelle Boag is implicated.

    And no thought for the distress it must have caused the targeted individuals.

  15. Observer Tokoroa 15
    7 July 2020 at 6:27 pm

    dirty lady…

    Clean out your mess before you leave your dirty dirty scene – National Girl !

    Hose out the Helicopter and disinfect it before you leave it – Mrs dirty Boag

  16. In Vino 16
    7 July 2020 at 6:35 pm

    I had a nasty feeling that Muller would be manoeuvred out and it would be Nikki Kaye as leader in a head-on with Jacinda… replicating Labour's manoeuvre last election.

    Of course, I may be wrong…

  17. mac1 17
    7 July 2020 at 6:36 pm

    "National- Putting the Shame in Shambles".

    Unbelievable. From the top down. I hope the enquiry hunts them all the miscreants down and sheets the responsibility home.

    Resignations, repudiations, renewal.

    National needs time in the wilderness to reassess, to discover its soul, to reflect and repent.

    And discover decency.

  18. calltoaccount 18
    7 July 2020 at 6:36 pm

    Wonder how Boag got the spreadsheet? If it was done in a way that looks / is malicious (as opposed to ‘shambles’), then Nats are done for. Yay!

  19. Gabby 19
    7 July 2020 at 6:37 pm

    Todmunter will be disappointed that Winsterfirst seemingly has bagsies on Arron Banks and his crew of lying little shits.

  20. Anne 20
    7 July 2020 at 6:41 pm

    This is just the tip of the iceberg. Why did someone supply Boag with the list? Why did she pass the list on to Walker, and who else – apart from the media – received a copy of the list?

    If Boag is telling the truth (?) and she didn't know Walker had given it to the media then what was the original plan of action? Was it just going be left lying around in strategic places?

    The mind boggles at the potential scenarios. 😮

    • weka 20.1
      7 July 2020 at 6:50 pm

      Walker is saying he made claims about govt covid systems and needed to back that up so gave the details to the media. So it's conceivable Boag hadn't intended that esp given Walker is a loose unit. Otoh, it's inconceivable the statements today weren't coordinated, so why should we trust anything any of them say? Boag makes a better apology but she made this bed so will have to lie in it either way.

    • SPC 20.2
      7 July 2020 at 6:54 pm

      If to her in her work role, why by email to her private email?

      And if Walker's claim the spreadsheep was not protected, why presume the person who accessed it did so in their official work role?

      Now let's go back to the snooping on Treasury budget information before the official release.

      Synergy – like twins born the same day – lets illuminate. Barclay and Bishop came from the same background. Both from uni to work in parliament then onto the same job corporate affairs for an Auckland based international tobacco corporate (where there is dirty smoke …) before to parliament as MP's in the same year 2014. Barclay has since been replaced by Walker. For mine Heron should invite Bishop to speak to him.

  21. aj 21
    7 July 2020 at 6:48 pm

    Hard to pick the top tweet, has to be close…

    https://twitter.com/ZippyGonzales/status/1280390396997062657

  22. ianmac 22
    7 July 2020 at 6:54 pm

    The leak might not be illegal but wasn't there something in the Privacy Act that it was illegal to disseminate information which you had no legal right to have – or something?

    • weka 22.1
      7 July 2020 at 6:58 pm

      on the face of it, it looks like a straight out breach of the Privacy Act to me.

      • mickysavage 22.1.1
        7 July 2020 at 7:23 pm

        The only offences under the Privacy Act relate to failing to provide information to the Commissioner. It is probably illegal but not criminal.

        http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1993/0028/latest/DLM298435.html

        • weka 22.1.1.1
          7 July 2020 at 8:25 pm

          Is Walker saying 'not criminal' National spinning?

        • McFlock 22.1.1.2
          8 July 2020 at 12:19 am

          Seems to also be a likely breach of s92U of the Health Act 1956, but again I can't find any penalty for it:

          Despite anything in the Privacy Act 1993, information provided or obtained under a direction under this Part may not be used or disclosed by anyone except for the effective management of infectious diseases, but nothing in this section limits the right of an individual to access or disclose information about him or her under that Act or any other Act.

          The suspicious thing to me is that it turned up in her personal email by itself, even though it was part of her role (apparently). So she didn't actually steal the data, because she didn't remove it from the Trust's systems herself. Wasn't that lucky for her? /sarc

    • SPC 22.2
      7 July 2020 at 7:02 pm

      Boag said she got it in her role of Rescue Helicopter, yet the info went to her private email – from whom we do not yet know.

      • greywarshark 22.2.1
        7 July 2020 at 9:28 pm

        I think we need to borrow one of those Police Helicopters until election time and have it hovering over various National Party people – as you would with potential criminals. Just think of the loot that the police could restrain? – lots of deckchairs and lounges and nice cars and expensive clothes and properties and….

    • ianmac 22.3
      7 July 2020 at 7:11 pm

      Privacy Commissioner:

      "Edwards believed the deliberate leak of the information was illegal and in breach of the privacy act, he said."

      https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12346280

  23. Incognito 23
    7 July 2020 at 7:03 pm

    National needs a big dead cat on the table.

    • Muttonbird 23.1
      7 July 2020 at 8:14 pm

      Careful. You're starting to sound like Ad.

    • weka 23.2
      7 July 2020 at 8:20 pm

      Maybe this is the dead cat.

      • mac1 23.2.1
        7 July 2020 at 8:44 pm

        Hoo boy, weka! as a distraction from what?

        What 'indiscretion' needs distraction by a cheetah-sized dead cat in the guise of a former President of the National Party, heavily involved in former dirty tricks campaigns, passing on sensitive and private information on patients to an MP who had recently been sanctioned for inappropriate behaviour by his leader, who then passed it onto the media, purely for political advantage in a bid to discredit a successful and popular government.

        Well that one will rebound on them, like a very live tom cat with claws sharpened and feral instincts aroused, spitting fury and retribution.

        What's still hidden in the closet, weka?

        • weka 23.2.1.1
          7 July 2020 at 10:42 pm

          Heh, I was trying to be funny, but who knows!?

          It's that or this is Hooton's master plan.

          • mac1 23.2.1.1.1
            8 July 2020 at 9:37 am

            The dead cat is on Muller's top lip. He is growing a moustache, trying to put a new face on National.

            People will also forget the other stuff when they notice the moustache- the old 'putting on a wig for the first time' trick.

            Perhaps that's it. Muller is about to start wearing a wig. It's a well-known political fact that 'big hair' pleases the punters!

      • Incognito 23.2.2
        7 July 2020 at 10:44 pm

        The story is weirder than weird and that’s pretty weird.

    • George 23.3
      7 July 2020 at 8:53 pm

      That may be the late great miss catty Boag…meow!!!

    • Gabby 23.4
      7 July 2020 at 11:58 pm

      There's always Rodney.

  24. ianmac 24
    7 July 2020 at 7:06 pm

    Hoots David!

    @DavidSlack

    A short story in which captain 'Sully' Sullenberger is bringing his powerless plane down to the Hudson River and irate passenger Todd Muller keeps knocking on the door & telling passengers "Well no I don't have a better suggestion right now but this is an utter shambles&quot

  25. mac1 25
    7 July 2020 at 7:45 pm

    Who were they talking about/? The Herald reports……

    "On Saturday, before they knew Walker's involvement, Muller and National's health spokesman Michael Woodhouse were damning of the privacy breach.

    "This is unconscionable and unacceptable that those suffering from the incredibly dangerous virus now have to suffer further with their private details being leaked," Woodhouse said.

    "The Government needs to get to the bottom of this, and quickly."

    Muller told RNZ the breach was "quite staggering" and "unacceptable".

    "Is it a deliberate leak or is it accidental? It doesn't really matter at a level … it's loose, it's shabby and it's a reminder these guys can't manage important things well."

    It points to National's failings. Decency? Fail. Hypocrisy? Fail. Management? Fail. Leadership? Fail. Credibility? Fail. Political nous? Fail.

    • ianmac 25.1
      7 July 2020 at 8:00 pm

      What comes around goes….. or is it Karma.

      Wonder if those keen "journalists" will quote Muller's words back to him?

    • Gabby 25.2
      7 July 2020 at 10:55 pm

      Woodlouse will be thrilled that the bottom of it is being got to so quickly.

  26. Robert Guyton 26
    7 July 2020 at 8:03 pm

    Sat at the table beside Muller, Woodhouse and Penk? at the Otago Museum cafe today. They were being hosted by what seemed to be a gaggle of starry-eyed Young Nats (guessing), none of whom were/seemed to be Maori. No sign of Hamish Walker. A bloke approached one of the cafe staff once the group had left to ask what the occasion was. He seemed infuriated by the response.

  28. Marcus Morris 28
    8 July 2020 at 10:53 am

    National has known for some time that the only chance they had of making inroads into Labours support was to discredit it on the Covid19 issue. Clearly this whole appalling saga has been master-minded by the the Crosby-Textor brigade and, this time, it has back-fired spectacularly in the most ham-fisted way. First there was the Bishop-Woodhouse "expose" which was clearly orchestrated. Then there was the "man who never was" fabricated by Woodhouse ("can't possibly disclose my source" ) and now this debacle. This is "attack" politics of the first order. The Nats bought into the C/T scheme several elections ago. It is their Party that has lost all credibility.

    • greywarshark 28.1
      8 July 2020 at 2:30 pm

      Don't call it ham-fisted and run it down. It has turned out just fine. It is really funny that people start acting like coaches for the Opposition and advise them what they should do to succeed. I want the buggers to fail so all of you coaches go back to your day jobs. You will be doing some good there I hope. I am interested in what is happening and any thing useful we learn perhaps go direct to Labour or the Greens to make sure they don't step in the smelly stuff themselves.

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    Open access notables Improving global temperature datasets to better account for non-uniform warming, Calvert, Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society: To better account for spatial non-uniform trends in warming, a new GITD [global instrumental temperature dataset] was created that used maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) to combine the land surface ...
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  • Joint statement from the Prime Ministers of Canada, Australia and New Zealand

    Australia, Canada and New Zealand today issued the following statement on the need for an urgent ceasefire in Gaza and the risk of expanded conflict between Hizballah and Israel. The situation in Gaza is catastrophic. The human suffering is unacceptable. It cannot continue.  We remain unequivocal in our condemnation of ...
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  • AG reminds institutions of legal obligations

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  • Speech to the Conference for General Practice 2024

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  • Funding confirmed for regions affected by North Island Weather Events

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  • Indonesian Foreign Minister to visit

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  • Strengthening partnership with Ngāti Maniapoto

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  • Transport Minister thanks outgoing CAA Chair

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  • Backing mental health services on the West Coast

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  • NZ support for sustainable Pacific fisheries

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  • Students’ needs at centre of new charter school adjustments

    Associate Education Minister David Seymour says proposed changes to the Education and Training Amendment Bill will ensure charter schools have more flexibility to negotiate employment agreements and are equipped with the right teaching resources. “Cabinet has agreed to progress an amendment which means unions will not be able to initiate ...
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    In response to serious concerns around oversight, overspend and a significant deterioration in financial outlook, the Board of Health New Zealand will be replaced with a Commissioner, Health Minister Dr Shane Reti announced today.  “The previous government’s botched health reforms have created significant financial challenges at Health NZ that, without ...
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  • Minister to speak at Australian Space Forum

    Minister for Space and Science, Innovation and Technology Judith Collins will travel to Adelaide tomorrow for space and science engagements, including speaking at the Australian Space Forum.  While there she will also have meetings and visits with a focus on space, biotechnology and innovation.  “New Zealand has a thriving space ...
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  • Climate Change Minister to attend climate action meeting in China

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  • Oceans and Fisheries Minister to Solomons

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  • Update on global IT outage

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