Good on you Andrew Little

62 comments on “Good on you Andrew Little ”

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1. Jenny Kirk 1

   13 April 2017 at 9:54 am

   This new action by Lani Hagaman makes her look vindictive. It just seems to be too near to the election campaign to be coincidental. In my opinion, this is dirty politics coming into play. I hope Andrew Little can keep his cool !
   • Tamati Tautuhi 1.1

     14 April 2017 at 6:02 am

     She is probably being funded by National & ACT as a major distraction for the coming 2017 Election?
   • saveNZ 1.2

     14 April 2017 at 9:38 am

     Totally agree with Jenny Kirk this is a vindictive play by Hagaman to try to give advantage to National in an election.

     Sad and very concerning that our election process can be so derailed by these tactics and it’s not the first time with smear campaigns against Cunliffe and Norman and Hawawira and even Winston Peters was forced out by similar tactics.

     Bizarrely the Natz MP who seem to be the biggest cheats just keep getting away with it. We have a two tier justice system and code of conduct.

     I hope they award record damages against Hagman for her actions.

     Rather than worrying about Andrew Little keeping his cool, now’s the time to fully support him. This is not some isolated incident, it is a consistent tactic by the right to cheat by smearing others and keep power at any cost.

     Little is very conservative in his actions and it’s actually when he talks with more emotion (angry andy or against corruption or hypocrisy of the government) that he connects with the public. This is a tactic to trying to stop that public connection by making the opposition feel fearful to point out what the government is up to.

     I think this is going to back fire and the public will support Little on this – it is a billionaire going after someone who has a lot less financial resources to try to bankrupt him in a type of David and Goliath situation so they can keep their crony benefactors the Natz in power and those lucrative financial contracts for their business interests coming.

     Anybody who has been abused by the justice system and fleeced by lawyers will feel sympathy for Little.
2. mickysavage 2

   13 April 2017 at 10:26 am

   Unfortunate juxtaposition of events that Colin Craig is also vowing to fight on even though the Judge gave him a pretty good hint. He has won sort of, the Judge said that some of the stuff he said was not defamatory and the award was excessive. But refusing to negotiate and wanting to keep fighting suggests he has more money than sense.
   • Muttonbird 2.1

     13 April 2017 at 10:33 am

     Who wouldn’t want to bury Jordan Williams though? For that alone Craig is doing the public a service.
     • mickysavage 2.1.1

       13 April 2017 at 10:51 am

       😀
     • Red 2.1.2

       13 April 2017 at 4:15 pm

       Likewise Lani hagaman doing Nz a public service bringing bother boy angry Andy to task
       • reason 2.1.2.1

         13 April 2017 at 11:08 pm

         I think the ‘foreign aid’, of building a hotel in tax haven …. after a $100, 000 dollar donation ….Fits with the narrative of rich greedy New Zealanders building a tax haven network in the south pacific ….. while also donating to National

         Nationals support of these people ….. and the corrupt economic apartheid that goes with them ……. needs more discussion.

         Before being cleaned up ….. and cleaned out.

         Just why are we building hotel;s in tax havens ????????

         Red

         “Earl was a great believer in trusts-”

         “”The trusts hold most of the wealth,” Hagaman says. “If you own it personally, somebody will try to take it away, for sure.” ……hat tip dukeofurl
         • Tamati Tautuhi 2.1.2.1.1

           14 April 2017 at 6:04 am

           No such thing as corruption these days, it is “Pay to Play” simple as that?
       • greywarshark 2.1.2.2

         14 April 2017 at 7:59 am

         Red
         You should go back to your television watching. We don’t concentrate on your shallow lines of soundbites and catchphrases which you repeat after hearing them somewhere else ‘bother boy’ etc.
         Go play in your own sandpit little boy.
     • saveNZ 2.1.3

       14 April 2017 at 10:30 am

       Yep, I’m for Craig on this one! Public service award for bringing sunshine onto the murky waters of the Jordan’s in the world and how they are manipulating and smearing others for political purposes.
3. ianmac 3

   13 April 2017 at 10:41 am

   Lani doesn’t want to bankrupt Andrew or so she said. Huh!
   Go Andrew. We support you.
   • inspider 3.1

     13 April 2017 at 10:55 am

     I wish he’d stop bankrupting the English language and make his nouns and verbs match.

     “My priority now are the thousands of New Zealanders who can’t buy their own home…”

     Priority is singular. It needs a singular verb. Looks like he paid as much attention to this as to the factual accuracy of his niue release. And you want this guy to lead the country! 😀
     • r0b 3.1.1

       13 April 2017 at 11:02 am

       I take it you were fine with Key’s habitual butchery of language though?
       • adam 3.1.1.1

         13 April 2017 at 11:08 am

         Or the mumbling of the current cropper.

         My goodness, what a sad state of trolling we now have.
         • greywarshark 3.1.1.1.1

           13 April 2017 at 12:16 pm

           True, truly awful and aweful when it comes to Key.
           • Skeptic 3.1.1.1.1.1

             13 April 2017 at 1:36 pm

             Totally agree with all of the above – one of the reasons I like this site is because the “Standard” of English used is so much better than that used elsewhere. Have you people seen the crap that appears on Stuff? God – it’s awful – collectively they have the Intelligence Quota of a cockroach and the English equivalence of Primer 4 – sorry Year 3. I think they all must copy those ignoramuses Peter Williams and Wendy Petrie or that Hoskings person and his off-sider. They’re forever talking about “an horrific this or an horrific that” with appalling grammar, misplaced pronouns and participles etc. I think they must all be applying for jobs in the Beehive as Political Advisers – the prerequisite being the ability to misuse the English Language.
             • Kevin …

               13 April 2017 at 2:01 pm

               Non-existent sub-editing.

               Subbing was a real art and the sub-editors I worked with were masters of their craft.

               Just another nail in the coffin of democracy.
             • greywarshark …

               14 April 2017 at 8:54 am

               Skeptic
               I notice you put Political ‘Advisers’. Is advisor USA spelling? And do you find that your spellcheck appears to want z replacing s in the middle of many words? It’s annoying. Do the Yanks only use s as indicating plurality?
               • Skeptic …

                 14 April 2017 at 4:35 pm

                 Yeah I think you’ve hit the problem I’m having with my cheap new laptop running on Windows 10 – I opted for US English and am stuck with their spelling and grammar quirks. Can’t figure out how to get UK English as it does appear on the options – so I’m stuck with “add to dictionary”
     • Robert Guyton 3.1.2

       13 April 2017 at 11:18 am

       “It will be interesting to see the feminists on here’s response to your comments.”

       inspider
       • inspider 3.1.2.1

         13 April 2017 at 11:34 am

         It’s a collective singular. “the feminists on here’re” just wouldn’t scan ☺
         • Robert Guyton 3.1.2.1.1

           13 April 2017 at 11:54 am

           Were you John Key’s grammar adviser?

           (Or as you might put it, “We’re you John Keys’ grammer advisor?)
           • dukeofurl 3.1.2.1.1.1

             13 April 2017 at 12:01 pm

             or this pedant
             http://www.chrisfinlayson.co.nz/my-office-style-guide/

             hes quite rightly seen as a toff who lords it over lesser mortals
             • The decrypter …

               13 April 2017 at 12:25 pm

               Does he just, My pedant . Fuck him.
             • Once ..whatever …

               13 April 2017 at 3:50 pm

               Chris Finlayson – CHRIST ON A BIKE!….I wish you hadn’t mentioned that name. It conjures up memories of his utter hypocrisy, of little walking tracks in the neighbourhood, of holier-than-thou attitudes, and an over inflated sense of self worth. He had quite a few conned for a while as being one of the more decent amongst the Gnats, and of things like his dedication to arts and culture. Unfortunately like most of his peers – all just a week willied sham.
               Ew!!
           • greywarshark 3.1.2.1.1.2

             14 April 2017 at 8:49 am

             Robert
             Schools don’t have grammer now just crammer.
         • red-blooded 3.1.2.1.2

           14 April 2017 at 9:00 am

           Collective singulars don’t take an ‘s’ when they refer to more than one. We speak of one feminist and two feminists. Hint – the second version is a plural.

           Do you say “feminists believe” or “feminists believes”? Using the second option is just plain wrong, as is the example quoted above.

           I wouldn’t usually bother with this, but when an official member of the Grammar Police is involved, it’s too tempting.
     • Incognito 3.1.3

       13 April 2017 at 1:00 pm

       That would be Niue …
4. mary_a 4

   13 April 2017 at 10:50 am

   Good for Andrew Little. The lone voice of democracy. I hope he is able to stay focused on the election campaign.

   You’d think with Lani Hagaman’s husband dying, she would want to spend as much of her time as possible with him, loving and supporting him during his final days or months. But obviously not a priority for wifey number 5 it seems. Oh no, preferring to pursue this issue to its bitter end, for a few million!

   Apart from greed on her part, political malice and vindictiveness are screaming loud and clear here!
5. Sanctuary 5

   13 April 2017 at 10:56 am

   Call me a cynic, but in my opinion Lani Hagaman has got at least one eye firmly fixed on the inevitable (inevitable because these are greedy, greedy people we are talking about here) litigation from Hagaman’s family once he snuffs it and they contest his will, which I imagine Lani assumes leaves most of his not inconsiderable fortune to her. Nothing like pursuing Andrew Little “to clear her husbands name” to show she ain’t no Jenny come lately gold digger.
   • inspider 5.1

     13 April 2017 at 11:12 am

     You know all this for sure do you from the splendid isolation of your urban fringe lifestyle block? Or are you just a fuxkwit?

     It will be interesting to see the feminists on here’s response to your comments.
     • Sanctuary 5.1.1

       13 April 2017 at 1:07 pm

       Some needs to turn you around and rewind your clockwork key, because you are waving your toy sword and waddling towards the wrong enemy.
       • WILD KATIPO 5.1.1.1

         13 April 2017 at 5:21 pm

         Nice imagery , … allow me to furnish the physical / visual aspect…

         https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/b3/d8/f5/b3d8f5e59a43fd9199bc348d0451c229.jpg
   • dukeofurl 5.2

     13 April 2017 at 11:33 am

     Earl was a great believer in trusts-

     “”The trusts hold most of the wealth,” Hagaman says. “If you own it personally, somebody will try to take it away, for sure.”

     http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/christchurch-life/9725378/Hagamans-building-an-empire
     A touching story. Not quite in the league of Douggie Meyers who stiffed his relatives when he took over the family company Campbell And Ehrenfeld
6. Barfly 6

   13 April 2017 at 11:03 am

   I am not absolutely certain of the timeline and details but my understanding of the deal was……

   1/ Hagaman makes a donation to the National Party. $101,000. (one of many donations)

   2/ His hotel group is later awarded the management contract for the Hotel.

   3/ A month later it’s announced the Hotel will be receiving a $7.5 million redevelopment grant.

   My question

   When the international tender process was started for this run down clapped out unprofitable Hotel was it advertised that it would be receiving a multi-million dollar redevelopment grant? (I understand there were only two tenderers so I really doubt it)

   I think it would have been so easy for some National Party bagman to give Hagaman the inside information that the Hotel would be getting millions of redevelopment money. Which would be well…you know…..
   • Gosman 6.1

     13 April 2017 at 11:23 am

     How would this National party bagman have known about the 7.5 million grant before the decision was taken ?
     • dukeofurl 6.1.1

       13 April 2017 at 11:37 am

       because decisions by the bureaucracy have a long lead time- before a decision is made.
       As for Foreign Affairs – why it wasnt Ministry of Pacific Affairs- under Murray Mccully who knows how they came to a decision.
   • inspider 6.2

     13 April 2017 at 11:25 am

     It’s all in the OAG report. The possibility of expansion was part of the RFP when they went looking for tenders. Everyone got the same info. Four parties expressed interest but only two tendered.

     Sorry no cigar on that conspiracy
     • Barfly 6.2.1

       13 April 2017 at 12:17 pm

       If one party knew the “possibility” was a certainty…..
     • dukeofurl 6.2.2

       13 April 2017 at 12:39 pm

       Its all very well to refer to the OAG report on the details but you would need need an experinced auditor to read that and see the ‘holes’ in things that look Ok but arent.

       I can see right away some red lights

       An undated and unsigned resolution of the directors of Matavai Niue Limited suggests that they resolved to engage Horwath HTL to “provide the Board with advice on management options and to undertake a tender for a hotel management company”.
       Draft terms of reference for Horwath HTL’s hotel management company tender process advisory services were developed. We do not have a copy of the final terms of reference.
       Scenic Hotel Group subsequently invited a Horwath HTL staff member to meet in November 2013.

       Conflicts of Interest ? – no documentation

       Long before the tender was publicised [Dec 2013]Scenic were visiting Niue [2013]and talking to people [Nov 2013]
       Whats going on here?

       To me, while Scenic seem to be a a competent operator, they clearly had ‘first mover ‘ advantages’ and I get the impression the whole idea of putting a new operator in was because they were interested in doing so.
       • Skeptic 6.2.2.1

         13 April 2017 at 1:45 pm

         I think you”re absolutely right Duke, it’s a teeny tiny bit more sophisticated that the two bozos who got caught double dipping while working for CERA – but not much – just on the legal side of “jobs for my mates”. Andrew was quite correct to raise questions about the timing and arrangements of the process – that’s his job as LOTO. To get sued for it is dubious at best – highly suspect at worst – Collusion? maybe – provable – probably not. In any case, for the soon-to-be-widowed Lani to have a second bite at the cherry is nothing but greedy. How does the Bible describe this – something about camels and needles – well I know two that won’t fit.
7. Treetop 7

   13 April 2017 at 11:15 am

   Little chose not to hide behind parliamentary privilege when he was holding the government to account.

   Lani is showing her discomfort to a probable change of government which is needed. Lani seems to be focused on what she wants.

   There is nothing to be gained in going to a retrial.
8. Psycho Milt 8

   13 April 2017 at 12:04 pm

   Given that the judge told the jury Little’s statements were under qualified privilege unless they expressed personal ill will against the Hagamans, which they obviously didn’t, Mrs Hagaman was lucky to get the result she did. It’s unlikely she’ll be that lucky again. I suspect this case is simply a donation to National in a different form than usual.
   • Barfly 8.1

     13 April 2017 at 12:17 pm

     Yup
   • mary_a 8.2

     13 April 2017 at 1:00 pm

     @ Psycho Milt (8) …

     “I suspect this case is simply a donation to National in a different form than usual.”

     Yes. Natz Dirty Politics played in a much grubbier style, this time via litigation. Wonder how much money is at stake to keep the murky business alive in the courts?
   • adam 8.3

     13 April 2017 at 1:03 pm

     Begs the questions, should it be counted as an election expense by the national party?
9. Johan 9

   13 April 2017 at 12:43 pm

   What “shady” deal was Earl Hagaman involved in when the Dunedin Council purchasing land for the proposed Forsyth-Barr Stadium? How long did Earl have ownership of this parcel of land and how much profit did he make on this transaction? Just asking;-))
   • dukeofurl 9.1

     13 April 2017 at 1:07 pm

     Dunedin Stadium ?

     Quotable Value valuations for the land in 2008 totalled $15 million.

     The council had a net budget of $20 million.

     Actual cost : $35.6 million gross cost of land bought by the Dunedin City
     “Another larger payment was $4 million to USC Investments, directors of which are Keith and Lianna-Merie[Lani} Hagaman, of Christchurch, and Stuart McLauchlan, of Dunedin.”
     USC owns 85 Parry St (0.3461h), with a 2007 capital value of $500,000 and 95 Parry St (0.6868h), next door, with a value of $1.3 million.
     64 Parry St was owned by Earl Hagamans East Parry Investments
     http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/15m-site-deal-fonterra
     http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/stadium-property-issues-near-resolution

     Mr Hagaman and his son Damon bought two-thirds of more than 100 former Port Otago ground leases in 2001, which sold in total for $12.6 million.
     Damon is now ‘ estranged from Earl and Lani

     “”We have nothing to do with Damon,” Lani Hagaman says firmly. “He lives his life and we live ours.”
     http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/christchurch-life/9725378/Hagamans-building-an-empire
     • Johan 9.1.1

       13 April 2017 at 5:03 pm

       The value for this parcel of land going from $15 million to $35.6 million seems highly inflationary? Did the Dunedin Council not seek alternative locations for the stadium?
       • Tricledrown 9.1.1.1

         13 April 2017 at 10:27 pm

         Considering the full parcel of port Otago land owned by rate payers originally.
         Was sold for $289,000.
         Then bought back for $36.5 million.
         • Tamati Tautuhi 9.1.1.1.1

           14 April 2017 at 6:08 am

           Good business?
           • Johan 9.1.1.1.1.1

             14 April 2017 at 9:10 am

             “Good business?” or perhaps a flawed process. Cronyism appears to be common.
10. Matthew Whitehead 10

    13 April 2017 at 12:54 pm

    Yeah this makes it really obvious how vindictive this trial really is I think, and especially how unjust it is that certain people can afford to resort to trials of this sort but, say, beneficiaries whose privacy is violated by government ministers don’t get the same sort of treatment.
11. Incognito 11

    13 April 2017 at 1:14 pm

    Having just lost a loved one I know that it is a time when emotions can rage all over the place and it is often impossible to have a clear head and a focused mind. This is a recipe for irrational thinking and poor & impulsive decision making – as well as having an almost complete mind block, mental paralysis and extreme lethargy (feeling numb). Just saying.
    • saveNZ 11.1

      14 April 2017 at 7:34 pm

      But she hasn’t lost a loved one. She is trying to get 2 million in damages while he’s on his death bed instead of spending time with him. Who knows what he wants!

      There’s more of a stain on Mr Hagman’s character with her behaviour on his behalf than anything Little has said. And the Jury pretty much supported that by finding Little not guilty on all counts but one and then not knowing if that was under privilege or not.
      • BM 11.1.1

        14 April 2017 at 7:40 pm

        You might find that this his played very heavily on the mind of Earl Hagaman and he doesn’t want to die still knowing his name is mud in the eyes of many NZ’ers.

        Lani may see this as his last dying wish so is going to pursue Andrew Little until she gets the result he wants.
      • Incognito 11.1.2

        14 April 2017 at 8:51 pm

        Her husband is terminally ill and has just weeks to live by all accounts and this somehow does not play a role and somehow does not affect her emotional state because he has not died yet!?

        The anti-rhetoric is strong here at times and Ms Hagaman has been painted in the most negative way possible by some. For good measure and consistency National and National voters get lumped together into the judgement; guilty by association.

        It is frankly embarrassing and bordering on disgusting how some people claim to be progressive or whatever positive-sounding label they like to stick on themselves and in the same breath treat another human being with such disdain and utter disrespect without knowing anything about this person, what she might want, or why.

        Andrew Little realised he had inadvertently caused hurt and apologised for that and rightly so. That’s a hallmark of a good leader and of a decent human …
        • saveNZ 11.1.2.1

          15 April 2017 at 8:25 am

          Little apologised but still she went ahead and tried to bankrupt him and cause the maximum harm to the election process. She then lost in court apart from 1 count which is not clear cut and still she wants to bankrupt Little by another court case. Hence the vindictive actions that everyone is calling her out on…
          • Incognito 11.1.2.1.1

            15 April 2017 at 11:17 am

            You know what; people are entitled to “call out” others. I call out people making presumptive judgements and completely ignoring context and the fact that know diddly-squat about the person(s) whom they are calling out. The vitriol is dripping from their chins; the disgust towards the other(s) is palpable. There is only a fine line that separates this from hate speech. Andrew Little got judged on being motivated predominantly by “ill will” and he passed; the people I’m calling out I’m not so sure about …
            • saveNZ 11.1.2.1.1.1

              15 April 2017 at 2:54 pm

              Wah Wah… wifey no 5 lost, she needs to get over it. People sleeping in the street due to National party policy deserve sympathy, people who have had their homes devastated in Nuie and NZ money being diverted to Scenic hotels instead of them deserve sympathy.

              Can’t see any body feeling sympathetic to wifey 5 trying to get more money to add to her huge pile – and I don’t even think you’ll find much sympathy on the far right blogs either…

              And the fact the earl went through 5 wives says a lot about him and his judgement and personality as well. That is the Earl’s legacy on his death bed.
              • Incognito …

                15 April 2017 at 5:55 pm

                Woosh!

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