Heatley story full of holes

Written By: - Date published: 7:10 am, February 26th, 2010 - 84 comments
Categories: national/act government, parliamentary spending, spin - Tags: ,

I’ll try just sticking to the observable facts of the Heatley affair, rather than relying on any of the Nats’ word on events that took place out of the public eye in the lead up to his resignation.

Phil Heatley is adament he didn’t resign for misusing his ministerial credit card. He says the problem is that he signed off on a claim for beverage and food (a claim that incidentally was against the rules, but that’s by the by) but he didn’t, in fact, buy any food. He claims that he sees that as a resigning offence. Come on, pull the other one. ‘Food and beverages’ is a category that covers booze. The expense falls in that category. No minister is going to resign for describing a trivial expense in a perfectly legitimate, or at worst trivially inaccurate, way.

And Heatley and John Key have conflicting stories about how this ‘issue’ was discovered – Heatley says he found it, Key says a reporter brought it to his office.

There’s clearly something else at play. But I don’t think this was planned by the National hierarchy. Key would not have flown to Christchurch only to suddenly turn around and fly back if he had expected Heatley to resign.

That very strongly suggests that as of last night and early in the morning Key didn’t think Heatley was resigning.

I think we need to look at Heatley’s performance. His press conference was clearly being managed by the hierarchy. Heatley isn’t a good liar and throughout the four minute press conference, until Chris Tremain and Simon Power held him by the shoulder and bundled him out the door, I got the overwhelming impression that Heatley was lying and he knew it. Heatley looked like a condemned man at a show trial, reading the false confession his executioners had prepared for him.

But if Heatley was going to be forced to resign because of some other reason why didn’t he either admit that reason or, given the Nats’ love of secrecy, simply claim he was resigning over his misuse of the ministerial credit card?

I think this is where we get to the heart of the issue. If Heatley has resigned because of what is essentially his theft of taxpayer money for private use with his ministerial credit card, then Brownlee would be on the chopping block for the same behaviour, and Brownlee is like English – too important to lose.

So here’s my theory. Heatley, tender soul that he is, agonised over the ministerial card issue and decided to do what would be expected in similar circumstances in a business and what would have been automatic not so long ago for a minister – he decided to resign.

The problem from National’s perspective with that was that Brownlee would be under serious pressure to resign too. Initially, on Wednesday night, Key tried to talk Heatley out of it and had a three hour crisis meeting with Bill English. Thinking it was under control, Key went to Christchurch.

But then Heatley decided he wanted to resign after all. What National needed was a reason for Heatley to resign that wasn’t the misuse of the credit cards, something that wouldn’t implicate Brownlee. And so we got the farce we saw yesterday. I think the whole thing over the receipt and maybe even getting the Auditor-General to investigate his other expenses is a distraction.

That’s my theory, anyway. Any other ideas?

Labour will have to pursue this to dig out the truth. Because, as with Richard Worth, it’s clear that National has no intention of being open with the public.

On that note, the Right is desperately spinning this as some example of high standards. What a laugh. It’s not a high standard to resign for not doing anything wrong, it’s a farce. If this is the bar then most of the Cabinet should be gone for actual sackable offences:

  • Heatley and Gerry Brownlee should have resigned when they were caught breaking the rules for using ministerial credit cards.
  • Bill English, Heatley, Murray McCully, Tim Groser, and Anne Tolley should have resigned for rorting the housing allowance (I notice that a number of ministers still have very big expense claims in that area).
  • Judith Collins, Heatley, Tolley, Rodney Hide, Simon Power, and Wayne Mapp should have resigned for breaking the rules on spousal flights.
  • Jonathan Coleman should have resigned for covering up Melissa Lee’s NZ on Air rip-off.
  • Hide and Heather Roy should resign for charging for appearing at events as ministers, in contravention of the rules.
  • English should resign for getting TVNZ to make him a political ad.
  • And Tolley and Paula Bennett should be sacked for sheer bloody incompetence.

Of course, the only ones who have gone are Richard Worth for reasons Key won’t tell us and Heatley under an obviously false pretext.

No, we didn’t see a new and bizarre age of ministerial standards yesterday. We saw a cover-up.

84 comments on “Heatley story full of holes ”

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  1. wyndham 1
    26 February 2010 at 7:57 am

    Is it not just possible that Mr. Heatley simply “wanted out” of his ministerial responsibilities and the expenses incident has provided both he and the PM with a convenient let out ? Whilst not a good look, it is preferable to admitting that he cannot handle the job.

    The haggard features and the tears at the time of his public apology bore all the signs of a man under extreme pressure. Far more that would be occasioned by cheating over the cost of a couple of bottles of wine.

    • Marty G 1.1
      26 February 2010 at 8:03 am

      Yeah. that’s not lightyears away from my theory.

      The problem is if he wanted out why didn’t he resign over what he actually did wrong – spending taxpayer money on private use – rather than something that isn’t even wrong – categorising a wine purchase as ‘food and beverages’?

      • the sprout 1.1.1
        26 February 2010 at 8:11 am

        Or indeed if he he just wanted out, why not just resign before rather than go through this embrassment and look like you’re resigning over one misdeamenour?

        It doesn’t add up.

    • toad 1.2
      26 February 2010 at 8:36 am

      Whilst not a good look, it is preferable to admitting that he cannot handle the job.

      By that reasoning, I would expect considerable scrutiny of Anne Tolley’s expenses to be going on at the moment.

  2. vto 2
    26 February 2010 at 8:06 am

    My theory is that it is the usual bullshit emanating out of the beehive. The full story and all reasons are never explained. There were countless of them during Clark’s time, and before that, and it is simply the horrid tradition continuing. I roll my eyes.

    Politicians will hence continue to occupy the lower rungs of respectables.

  3. greenfly 3
    26 February 2010 at 8:08 am

    Let’s hear from Gerry now, shall we?

    Gerry? Your turn to air some linen.

    Fat chance!

    • tim 3.1
      6 March 2010 at 11:36 pm

      Gerry’s linen is still in the wash! But standby, it’s on the spin cycle as I type

  4. infused 4
    26 February 2010 at 8:08 am

    I actually think he’s legit. I haven’t seen any other person as sincere as Heatley. I could be wrong, but I really don’t see anything going on here.

    • the sprout 4.1
      26 February 2010 at 8:12 am

      Then that would just make it a massive error of judgement.

      • infused 4.1.1
        26 February 2010 at 8:13 am

        He seems like the person to make a masive error or judement. Letting his emotions take over

        • Marty G 4.1.1.1
          26 February 2010 at 8:17 am

          Apart from the fact that there’s nothing wrong in characterising two bottles of wine as ‘food and beverage’ (remember, this is totally separate from the issue of misusing the card for private use) there’s also the problem that Key and Heatley provided different explanations of how the ‘error’ was discovered

          • infused 4.1.1.1.1
            26 February 2010 at 8:23 am

            After 5yrs in business, I think I’ve only just got a handle on everything I can claim on correctly.

            Maybe I’m a slow learner.

            • Marty G 4.1.1.1.1.1
              26 February 2010 at 8:47 am

              Did you ever charge wine and holidays for your private use to your work account?

              There’s understanding the technicalities and there’s understanding the basics.

        • IrishBill 4.1.1.2
          26 February 2010 at 8:19 am

          Which would beg the question, who the hell thought he should be a minister?

  5. Eric C. 5
    26 February 2010 at 8:20 am

    There are many unanswered questions about why this whole story was mismanaged by John Key.

    For example, if the Dom Post got the documents under the OIA why didn’t Key make the ministers payback the misspent funds before the papers were sent to the Dom Post? That would have kept it from getting any momentum with the follow up “he will pay it back” and “he has paid it back” stories. I mean, it is not like the story came out of a leak. They gave the information out and had plenty of time to plan how to manage the story.

    I reckon once again, Key and his mates didn’t think they had done anything wrong until they saw what the Dom Post was going to publish. Rules and laws are for someone else not them.

  6. pollywog 6
    26 February 2010 at 8:43 am

    It would be nice to think a poltician had a crisis of conscience to do the right thing but i just dont have that much faith in them.

    It does however seem Cheatley was on the slippery rort slide and maybe that dishonesty was getting to him. Now if someone could get him alone, tug the heartstrings and get him to whistleblow on the culture of disingenuousness within parliament, that would be choice !

  7. the sprout 7
    26 February 2010 at 8:57 am

    I wonder who shared the various dinners and bottles of wine with Heatley?
    I understand one of them says ‘Phil Heatley and Wife’.
    I suppose if it wasn’t actually Heatley’s wife at the time that could be problematic for him.

    • Lanthanide 7.1
      26 February 2010 at 10:24 am

      sprout – the particular wine for “Phil Heatly and spouse” was at the National party conference. That is, official party business where everyone would have seen him, so he wouldn’t have been there with some other women.

      It is possible that other spending could’ve been as you suggest, but the particular instance of ‘2 bottles of wine marked as food and beverages’ is above board.

    • Lanthanide 7.2
      26 February 2010 at 10:26 am

      sprout – the particular instance with the 2 bottles of wine charged as ‘food and beverage’ were from the National party conference. That is, an official party function where he definitely would not be seen with a woman other than his wife.

      Other spending could have been with someone else, but this particular instance is above board.

  8. luva 8
    26 February 2010 at 8:59 am

    It is depressing that this government is looking like they will have the same strike rate as the last sorry bunch.

    They obviously don’t have a corrupt minister amongst them like a certain TPF. But I am dissapointed that my high hopes for them in this area are not being realised.

    • r0b 8.1
      26 February 2010 at 9:31 am

      They obviously don’t have a corrupt minister amongst them like a certain TPF

      Mmmmm, yes, obviously.

      • luva 8.1.1
        27 February 2010 at 1:36 am

        r0b

        When was a National minister or former National minister questioned by the authorities in respect of corruption, charged in respect of corruption or convicted of corruption?

  9. pollywog 9
    26 February 2010 at 9:03 am

    Yup, marital impropriety and tearful confession. That’s always good for a laugh. Let’s fookin ave it !

  10. Anne 10
    26 February 2010 at 9:37 am

    I say MARTY G is bang on!
    It makes sense. Note that as soon as questions became tricky the minders removed Heatley. Scared he would contradict the agreed version of events? Of course. The mess is more an indictment of John Key and his sloppy management style. But of course Jo and Mary Bloggs would have watched him on TV last night and thought… gosh, he’s a good man isn’ he.

  11. Craig Glen Eden 11
    26 February 2010 at 9:53 am

    I’m sorry but I don’t believe that he resigned over two bottles of wine being classified as food and beverages.
    This is also not some new standard otherwise Key has no cabinet.They are covering for sure.

    Heatley is acting as far as I am concerned, I mean seriously all those emotions and heart felt expressions of “I am really sorry please please for give me”
    For what, maybe for driving dangerously maiming or killing ( manslaughter) someone, sexual indiscretion, or He is not coping in the job and he needs to resign because someone close to him is dying or his marriage is on the rocks would all be reasons that you would go, Ok fair enough he should be sorry or ok poor blokes under a lot of personal and work stress, so needs a brake.

    I don’t buy this, Heatley either knows far worse is going to be exposed or there is something else they need a distraction for.

  12. coolas 12
    26 February 2010 at 10:07 am

    ‘Error in judgement’ seems the catch phrase for Heatly. And no doubt a few more errors will emerge. But if his sloppy use of c/cards is indicative of his work ethic the guy must have been muffing his portfolio’s and the emotional wreck we saw on TV is a man way stressed and out of his depth.

    Makes me wonder how well supported he was. Seems he didn’t talk to Key before resigning. Strange. Helen was a micro-manager calling her Ministers on a daily basis (except Cullen). Is Key so macro Ministers are running alone? If so I reckon Heatly just couldn’t cope with both the job and the lifestyle a Crown Minister assumes.

    He was close to a melt-down, knew it, and got out before the shit hit the fan.

    • Pascal's bookie 12.1
      26 February 2010 at 10:16 am

      Makes me wonder how well supported he was.

      NBR (private bin pge 43) says Heatley went for a chat with Gerry on Wed.

      Gerry was “less than sympathetic to his cabinet colleague blubbering”.

      • coolas 12.1.1
        26 February 2010 at 10:40 am

        Thanks Pascal. Makes more sense than the 2 bottles. So strengthens the reason Heatly resigned was because he was on the brink of a meltdown and unsupported by colleagues; Key too busy taking photo ops, English unapproachable, and Gerry unsympathetic.

  13. Brett Dale 13
    26 February 2010 at 10:29 am

    Where is the story of Phil Goff spending 70 Thousand dollars on limos?

  14. Lanthanide 14
    26 February 2010 at 10:31 am

    According to Matthew Hooten on the radio this morning, there are 2 aspects that should be considered:

    1. It seems he continued using his CC in a bad way, even after being warned and told to stop. So continued errors is a bit more embarassing here. Contrast with Brownlee who only had the single $150 lunch to reimburse. Also Hooten said that Brownlee’s lunch was for ‘his whole staff’, which sounds like at least 6-7 people, so $150 isn’t an amazingly expensive amount for that many people.

    2. Heatly may have wanted to avoid the spotlight from the media and the opposition for the next couple of months, who would bring this up repeatedly. By resigning (and being re-appointed by Key pending AG report), he can avoid all of this, and in the long-run come out looking better than his peers.

  15. Akldnut 15
    26 February 2010 at 10:31 am

    He chose the wrong vocation, with sensitivity like that he should have been a family crisis phone operator

    I don’t buy into the pathetic line thats being used, they’re treating the public like idiots which is nothing unusual for this govt. They’re just following on from the precedent they set at the last election by putting it over on Joe public with spin.

    My theory is that he could see the writing on the wall and didn’t want to be on the front line when the public realises that is this government is full of bullshit and gives them the sack next year.

    OK rant finished.

  16. Brett Dale 16
    26 February 2010 at 10:40 am

    Lanthanide:

    Thanks for the link.

    Very suprised that the open and always honest and never bias writers of the standard, arent screaming for Goff to resign.

    Heck a Politican in a position of power ripping off the tax payer, is their worst nightmare, oh hang on its their guy so they will shut up and say nothing.

    • lprent 16.1
      26 February 2010 at 10:52 am

      Just so long as John Key resigns for the SAME reason. His bill for limos was much the same…

      Brett – don’t be such a fool. There are people doing the business of governing the country (including the PM and the leader of the opposition) who require transport around a lot of different cities. They need to be driven because that allows them time to read the volumes of material that gets shunted at them all of the time or do phone calls.

      The real story here is that the cost of those limo’s is too damn high. Taxi’s look a lot cheaper.

      • chris 16.1.1
        26 February 2010 at 2:46 pm

        DPF makes a salient point on this today though. the “cost” is mainly for accounting reasons rather than actual cost.

        • lprent 16.1.1.1
          26 February 2010 at 3:01 pm

          Yeah, but presumably the ‘prices’ are based on something.

          1. some kind of cost accounting basis related to the cost of running the service

          2. costs of alternative ways of running the service.

          Otherwise it really makes little sense to have a nominal charge..

    • Armchair Critic 16.2
      26 February 2010 at 10:55 am

      Or it could it be that no one can point to how the spending was outside the rules? Stretching that point, maybe that is because the spending wasn’t outside the rules and was actually part of his role as leader of the opposition.
      Or maybe you know something that no one else does, in which case you should put up the evidence.

  17. Anne 17
    26 February 2010 at 10:42 am

    This whole debacle comes across like a scene from “The Godfather”.
    And the wingnuts claimed that HC and co. were control freaks. They were pussies compared to this lot! 😀

  18. Brett Dale 18
    26 February 2010 at 11:23 am

    Iprent.

    7O Thousand dollars in three months on Limos?

    If this was a National MP you would be furious, so would all your posters here.

    You guys try to say here that you have a high standard unlike the bias press, but your just as bad.

    Its one standard for one group of MP’s and one for another.

    He should of taxied.

    • Lanthanide 18.1
      26 February 2010 at 11:45 am

      You should try reading the article a bit more closely before you make such rash pronouncements:

      “Mr Key’s VIP car bill for the last three months of 2009 paid by Ministerial Services was $56,769”
      “The total for all ministers was $707,851.”

      Also the correct phrase is “should have”.

      • lprent 18.1.1
        26 February 2010 at 11:56 am

        I don’t think that he read the article… He was making a story.

        • Lanthanide 18.1.1.1
          26 February 2010 at 12:01 pm

          Actually now that I’d re-read his post, it is completely full of grammatical errors, not just “should of”.

          I wonder if he realises that he is only making himself look stupid?

        • Kevin Welsh 18.1.1.2
          26 February 2010 at 1:18 pm

          Don’t worry lp, Brett’s speciality is making up stories.

    • the sprout 18.2
      26 February 2010 at 11:48 am

      So why do you reckon Heatley resigned Bretty?
      Covering up for something much worse maybe?
      Will other National ministers hold themselves to such high standards you reckon Bretty?

  19. weizguy 19
    26 February 2010 at 11:52 am

    Did Key Taxi when he was leader of the opposition? If not, why should Goff?

  20. Herodotus 20
    26 February 2010 at 12:13 pm

    I am concerned that with this new regime and the disclosure “we” are being side tracted to wwhat are minor issues (If what is stated by all to be true) Does this not display our immaturity to some matters. I am sure that in the past things like this occurred but we the public remainded unaware. If there is something more sinister then fine to continue this. I will be surprised if this goes on much longer what actions taken by Lab will be exposed and we will be feed a continual diet of crap we all will be infected with Leptospira. Which will just allow all to sit back and condem the other side for their behaviour of justify our actions by they did it as well.
    Perhaps this was planned to divert us from minor issues as ACC or some other bill just passed?

  21. Doug 21
    26 February 2010 at 12:43 pm

    Phil Heatley’s expenses pale into Insignificants compared to Phil Goff’s $89,454 spend for no gain in the polls.

    [lprent: Link? That is a figure that I haven’t seen yet. ]

  22. Seti 22
    26 February 2010 at 1:04 pm

    Goff’s limo bill equates to approx $780 per day…every day…including weekends…for three months.

    What a disgrace!

    [lprent: And you’ve also calculated what John Keys daily cost is? ]

  23. Bill 23
    26 February 2010 at 1:24 pm

    Couldn’t help but notice Heatley says he failed to live up to his own standards (twice)…not that he failed to live up to the standards expected of him by the government.

    So we can assume that his standards would represent a bar being a tad high for his thieving and rorting cabinet colleagues. Not that he wants to drop them in it, their standards are theirs. So out comes the desperate wine excuse and an unnecessary auditors report in the making that will keep the press from asking any questions during the time it takes for everything to be quietly forgotten.

  24. Brett Dale 24
    26 February 2010 at 1:34 pm

    So you guys are okay with Goff’s limo bill.

    • Lanthanide 24.1
      26 February 2010 at 2:04 pm

      It does seem a bit high.

      However your point is that no one has posted an article on The Standard about it because it was ‘our man’ who did it, and if any of National’s ministers had done the same, we’d be jumping up and down.

      Turns out that Key spent almost as much as Goff did, and the total for all ministers is 700k. As there is no post on The Standard about this issue as yet, it is clear that your claim is in fact, wrong.

      • Seti 24.1.1
        26 February 2010 at 2:14 pm

        Goff spent 22% more than Key. You would think with the number of official engagements the PM is expected to attend it would be the other way round, and then some.

        If Goff is a true socialist he would have caught the bus.

        • Lanthanide 24.1.1.1
          26 February 2010 at 2:45 pm

          Actually Key probably spends more time in the beehive than Goff would, and he probably also spent more time on holiday in Hawaii.

          • Adders 24.1.1.1.1
            26 February 2010 at 3:04 pm

            John Key also spent more on VIP cars when he was Leader of the Opposition than the Prime Minister at the time Helen Clark did.

  25. Brett Dale 25
    26 February 2010 at 1:36 pm

    wizeguy:

    Im not sure about what mode of Transport Key used?

    Howe can Goff claim any credibility when he limoed everywhere.

    He SHOULD HAVE used a Taxi.

    • Bright Red 25.1
      26 February 2010 at 2:23 pm

      brett. They’re not limos. They’re the Crown BMWs that ministers and the leader of the opposition have for use in their official duties.

  26. Brett Dale 26
    26 February 2010 at 1:39 pm

    the sprout:

    Heatly resigned because he was corrupt, it wasnt an accident he knew what he was doing and he got caught.

    There may be more to it, there may not be.

    I’m guessing Goff will just giggle his corruption off.

    His fanbase of course will forgive him.

    • Bright Red 26.1
      26 February 2010 at 2:22 pm

      Brett. there is no corruption in using the vip cars to do your job.

      You can’t confuse amount of spending with legitimacy of spending.

      Moreover, the increase in Goff’s VIP car costs is due to back charges for a change in costing that took place in the previous quarter.

  27. sean14 27
    26 February 2010 at 2:02 pm

    If he drowns he’s not a witch!

  28. Brett Dale 28
    26 February 2010 at 2:15 pm

    sean14:

    That makes sense?

    • Bright Red 28.1
      26 February 2010 at 2:20 pm

      it’s monty python, brett

      • Outofbed 28.1.1
        26 February 2010 at 2:27 pm

        Sir Bedevere: No, no. What else floats in water?
        Peasant 1: Bread.
        Peasant 2: Apples.
        Peasant 3: Very small rocks.
        Peasant 1: Cider.
        Peasant 2: Gravy.
        Peasant 3: Cherries.
        Peasant 1: Mud.
        Peasant 2: Churches.
        Peasant 3: Lead! Lead!
        King Arthur: A Duck.
        Sir Bedevere: …Exactly. So, logically…
        Peasant 1: If she weighed the same as a duck… she’s made of wood.
        Sir Bedevere: And therefore…
        Peasant 2: …A witch!

    • Puddleglum 28.2
      26 February 2010 at 2:48 pm

      Hi Brett,

      In keeping with the non-partisan, politically neutral spirit you profess, I’d like to ask if you post a similar number of comments on Kiwiblog, or some other politically right-leaning blog, to the effect that they don’t post stories critical of National and Act New Zealand MPs’ behaviour and restrict themselves to highlighting the failings of Labour and Green MPs? If not, why not? (Before you answer, I’d advise you to think carefully about the line of argumentation I’m using within these questions. You might recognise it.)

  29. BLiP 29
    26 February 2010 at 2:26 pm

    Definitely something fishy: there one minute – gone the next.

    Perhaps he just simply was an incompetent bestr shuffled off to the sidelines to obscure news of yet another chunk of New Zealand’s 100% Pure brand going down the toilet?

  30. Brett Dale 30
    26 February 2010 at 2:28 pm

    Bright Red:

    Sorry my IQ is less than 175 so I dont get Monty Python.

  31. Brett Dale 31
    26 February 2010 at 2:31 pm

    Bright Red:

    He used Limo’s for pete’s sake instead of using taxis, which would of saved Tax payer dollars.

    70 thousand dollars in three months????

    That’s outrageous!!!

    But no one here seems to care, because hes one of your guys.

    • Lanthanide 31.1
      26 February 2010 at 2:48 pm

      He used Limo\’s for pete’s sake instead of using taxis, which would of saved Tax payer dollars.

      56 thousand dollars in three months????

      That’s outrageous!!!

      But you don’t seem to care, because hes one of your guys.

      • RedLogix 31.1.1
        26 February 2010 at 8:13 pm

        What of course everyone is overlooking is that these costs are of course internal charge out rates. I’d be surprised if the real costs approach anywhere near these numbers (but I’m open to being convinced otherwise). Is someone in Parliamentary Services using this service as a cash-cow to cross-subsidise something else under-budgeted?

        Knowing a bit about how PS operates I’d speculate there was something a little hokey going on here.

    • Tongue 31.2
      26 February 2010 at 11:21 pm

      Correct me if I’m way out of line, but arent the ‘Limos’ are owned by the Govt? And are ‘leased’ out to Ministers only in theory? The only real cost of the limo’s is the drivers salary and fuel.
      Its a money-go-round. $70,000 in limo costs paid by the Govt, for limos already owned by the Govt?

  32. winston smith 32
    26 February 2010 at 2:33 pm

    it’s monty python, brett

    Eyupp… much like this website.

    I see the left is still struggling with the concepts of ministerial responsibility and integrity.

    [lprent: Apparently so is Heatley. Brownlee and others appear to wonder what the fuss is about from troughing it at the taxpayers expense. If you’re going to write something then I suggest that you actually say something rather than some stupid lines. It makes you look even thicker than you probably actually are. Looks like you’ll be staying in moderation for a while. You seem to be a slow learner. ]

  33. notTim 33
    26 February 2010 at 2:41 pm

    hey brett, run away back to your national party kiwibog, your diversion here is getting boring and predictable. Why not send over your colleague ‘dad-with-4-personalities’ instead, at least he is ‘funny’..

    [lprent: I’ve never seen Brett or a personality like him in my excursions reading at KB. He doesn’t seem the type. I suspect you are mistaken. ]

  34. Lew 34
    26 February 2010 at 2:47 pm

    I think the proof that Brett doesn’t read the Bog is in the fact that he has absolutely no freaking idea that the $70k quoted for Goff’s limo services is a nominal internal-charge sunk-cost figure only — as David has made crystal clear and even the most misinformed Bogster knows.

    L

  35. Brett Dale 35
    26 February 2010 at 2:49 pm

    Ive voted Labour all my life, except for the last election. Im a huge fan of Obama, (a lefty)

    My views are always centre left.

    One thing I hate is hypocrites.

    I said it many times this site is like Faux News, you critize politicans on one side for certain behaviour, but let the guys on your side, slide by.

    Just once I would like to see some honesty, I anit holding my breath though.

    BTW: I dont post at kiwiblog and have no idea who dad-with-4-personalities is.

  36. the pinkpostman 36
    26 February 2010 at 3:08 pm

    The whole Heatley affair stinks of something very bad.
    The immediate resignation makes one wonder what he did not want bought out. The swift Tory sleaze machines quick reaction trying to put Goff in a bad situation spells out that something big is being covered up.Both Key and Brownlee look very uncomfortable over this strange episode .
    The other aspect of all this is how much longer are the public going to accept this governments sleazy actions. We’ve had rent rorts , share ownership cover ups ,” The Worth” affair ,on and on it goes , how much longer can smilling Key fool the people .

  37. SD 37
    26 February 2010 at 3:27 pm

    The headlines are saying it now. “Heatly repeatedly warned about spending” so there must be more to it. More spending.

    It’s sad that there are still some politicians out there that have that “If I keep quiet then hopefuly no one will find out, but when they do I just plead ignorance” mentality.

    I agree with some commentators on this page that it most likely goes back through previous governments too, not just this lot.

  38. Roger Wakefield 38
    28 February 2010 at 2:44 pm

    Question: Do Heatley’s high standards only kick in when he’s caught out? Or does his moral compass need boxing?

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  • Anzac Commemorative Address – NZ National Service, Chunuk Bair
    Distinguished guests -   It is an honour to return once again to this site which, as the resting place for so many of our war-dead, has become a sacred place for generations of New Zealanders.   Our presence here and at the other special spaces of Gallipoli is made ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    18 hours ago

  • Anzac Commemorative Address – Dawn Service, Gallipoli, Türkiye
    Mai ia tawhiti pamamao, te moana nui a Kiwa, kua tae whakaiti mai matou, ki to koutou papa whenua. No koutou te tapuwae, no matou te tapuwae, kua honoa pumautia.   Ko nga toa kua hinga nei, o te Waipounamu, o te Ika a Maui, he okioki tahi me o ...
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    1 day ago

  • PM announces changes to portfolios
    Paul Goldsmith will take on responsibility for the Media and Communications portfolio, while Louise Upston will pick up the Disability Issues portfolio, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. “Our Government is relentlessly focused on getting New Zealand back on track. As issues change in prominence, I plan to adjust Ministerial ...
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    2 days ago

  • New catch limits for unique fishery areas
    Recreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and ...
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    2 days ago

  • Minister welcomes hydrogen milestone
    Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
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    3 days ago

  • Urgent changes to system through first RMA Amendment Bill
    The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
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    3 days ago

  • Overseas decommissioning models considered
    Overseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealand’s own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealand’s energy sector as it looks to strengthen ...
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    3 days ago

  • Release of North Island Severe Weather Event Inquiry
    Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has today released the Report of the Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. “The report shows that New Zealand’s emergency management system is not fit-for-purpose and there are some significant gaps we need to address,” Mr Mitchell ...
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    3 days ago

  • Justice Minister to attend Human Rights Council
    Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is today travelling to Europe where he’ll update the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Government’s work to restore law and order.  “Attending the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva provides us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while ...
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    4 days ago

  • Patterson reopens world’s largest wool scouring facility
    Associate Agriculture Minister, Mark Patterson, formally reopened the world’s largest wool processing facility today in Awatoto, Napier, following a $50 million rebuild and refurbishment project. “The reopening of this facility will significantly lift the economic opportunities available to New Zealand’s wool sector, which already accounts for 20 per cent of ...
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    4 days ago

  • Speech to the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective Summit, 18 April 2024
    Hon Andrew Bayly, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing  At the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective (SOREC) Summit, 18 April, Dunedin    Ngā mihi nui, Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Ko Whanganui aho    Good Afternoon and thank you for inviting me to open your summit today.    I am delighted ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Government to introduce revised Three Strikes law
    The Government is delivering on its commitment to bring back the Three Strikes legislation, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced today. “Our Government is committed to restoring law and order and enforcing appropriate consequences on criminals. We are making it clear that repeat serious violent or sexual offending is not ...
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    4 days ago

  • New diplomatic appointments
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today announced four new diplomatic appointments for New Zealand’s overseas missions.   “Our diplomats have a vital role in maintaining and protecting New Zealand’s interests around the world,” Mr Peters says.    “I am pleased to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the ...
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    4 days ago

  • Humanitarian support for Ethiopia and Somalia
    New Zealand is contributing NZ$7 million to support communities affected by severe food insecurity and other urgent humanitarian needs in Ethiopia and Somalia, Foreign Minister Rt Hon Winston Peters announced today.   “Over 21 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance across Ethiopia, with a further 6.9 million people ...
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    4 days ago

  • Arts Minister congratulates Mataaho Collective
    Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith is congratulating Mataaho Collective for winning the Golden Lion for best participant in the main exhibition at the Venice Biennale. "Congratulations to the Mataaho Collective for winning one of the world's most prestigious art prizes at the Venice Biennale.  “It is good ...
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    5 days ago

  • Supporting better financial outcomes for Kiwis
    The Government is reforming financial services to improve access to home loans and other lending, and strengthen customer protections, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly and Housing Minister Chris Bishop announced today. “Our coalition Government is committed to rebuilding the economy and making life simpler by cutting red tape. We are ...
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    5 days ago

  • Trade relationship with China remains strong
    “China remains a strong commercial opportunity for Kiwi exporters as Chinese businesses and consumers continue to value our high-quality safe produce,” Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says.   Mr McClay has returned to New Zealand following visits to Beijing, Harbin and Shanghai where he met ministers, governors and mayors and engaged in trade and agricultural events with the New ...
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    5 days ago

  • PM’s South East Asia mission does the business
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
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    6 days ago

  • $41m to support clean energy in South East Asia
    New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

  • Minister releases Fast-track stakeholder list
    The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
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    1 week ago

  • Judicial appointments announced
    Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
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    1 week ago

  • Education Minister heads to major teaching summit in Singapore
    Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa.  The summit is co-hosted ...
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    1 week ago

  • Value of stopbank project proven during cyclone
    A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
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    1 week ago

  • Anzac commemorations, Türkiye relationship focus of visit
    Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul.    “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
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    1 week ago

  • Minister to Europe for OECD meeting, Anzac Day
    Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
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    1 week ago

  • Comprehensive Partnership the goal for NZ and the Philippines
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr.  The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
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    1 week ago

  • Government commits $20m to Westport flood protection
    The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
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    1 week ago

  • Taupō takes pole position
    The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
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    1 week ago

  • Cost of living support for low-income homeowners
    Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners.  “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
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    1 week ago

  • Government backing mussel spat project
    The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
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    1 week ago

  • Government focused on getting people into work
    Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
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    1 week ago

  • Clean energy key driver to reducing emissions
    The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
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    1 week ago

  • Earthquake-prone buildings review brought forward
    The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
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    1 week ago

  • Thailand and NZ to agree to Strategic Partnership
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
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    1 week ago

  • Government consults on extending coastal permits for ports
    RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
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    1 week ago

  • Inflation coming down, but more work to do
    Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
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    1 week ago

  • School attendance restored as a priority in health advice
    Refreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...
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    1 week ago

  • Unnecessary bureaucracy cut in oceans sector
    Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...
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    1 week ago

  • Opinion: It’s time for an arts and creative sector strategy
    I was initially resistant to the idea often suggested to me that the Government should deliver an arts strategy. The whole point of the arts and creativity is that people should do whatever the hell they want, unbound by the dictates of politicians in Wellington. Peter Jackson, Kiri Te Kanawa, Eleanor ...
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    1 week ago

  • Patterson promoting NZ’s wool sector at International Congress
    Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson is speaking at the International Wool Textile Organisation Congress in Adelaide, promoting New Zealand wool, and outlining the coalition Government’s support for the revitalisation the sector.    "New Zealand’s wool exports reached $400 million in the year to 30 June 2023, and the coalition Government ...
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    1 week ago

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