Luxon’s mishandling of the Uffindell report
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8:11 am, September 21st, 2022 - 65 comments
Categories: Christopher Luxon, national, politicans, same old national, uncategorized -
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The only word that I can think of is clusterfuck.
I cannot understand how badly Christopher Luxon has handled the Maria Dew report into what Sam Uffindell may have done when he was a younger person.
I said previously that I thought a finding about the allegations from the former Dunedin flatmate could be career ending. Being a bully and a dick at the age of 15 is something that most of us could forgive. Being a sexist arsehole and a bully while at University would cause many of us to think twice.
Let us review what was said about his behaviour at the time. From Craig McCulloch at Radio New Zealand:
Uffindell’s former flatmate, who RNZ has agreed not to name, lived with the man and three other Otago University students for several months in Dunedin in 2003.
She told RNZ Uffindell engaged in a pattern of bullying during their second year at university, describing him as “verbally aggressive”.
Uffindell would trash the house after “excessive” use of alcohol and drugs, she said.
“This was intimidation. This was bullying. I didn’t feel safe,” she said.
The woman said she eventually moved out of the flat after having to lock herself in her bedroom to avoid a drunken outburst one night.
“He was smashing on my door and yelling obscenities and basically telling me to get out – ‘hit the road, fatty’.
“I ended up climbing out of my bedroom window and ran to a friend’s house to stay the night. I feared for my safety. I was scared.”
The woman said it was not an isolated incident: “it was just the straw that broke the camel’s back.” Her father travelled to Dunedin the next day to help her move out, she said.
Speaking to RNZ, the woman’s father corroborated his part in the story and said his daughter had been “seriously upset”.
“The flat itself was completely trashed. There wasn’t a stick of furniture left. There was no crockery left. There were no handles left on anything. It had all been broken.”
He said he gave Uffindell and two of the other flatmates “a serious piece of [his] mind” at the time.
“It was clear… [Uffindell] had real issues, real problems… he was out of control.”
The woman said she was traumatised by the event and did her best to avoid Uffindell from then on: “my stomach would absolutely flip and drop if I saw him.”
Looking back, the woman said she should have spoken to someone or taken some sort of action, but she was too scared. Uffindell never apologised for his actions, she said.
She said people may try to excuse Uffindell’s actions because of his age, but the pattern of behaviour revealed his character.
Then fast forward to the announcement of Maria Dew’s report where Luxon talked about the report but released no part of it.
The presentation of the conclusion is interesting. The report apparently conceded that the complainant suffered harm but in what appear to be very carefully crafted words Luxon said “there are differing accounts of what occurred and Ms Dew concluded the event was not as it was described in the media”. Which part of the description was wrong? All of it or just parts of it?
The only aspect of the description which has some detail is the allegation that Uffindell said “hit the road fatty”. National’s statement said “Mr Uffindell has acknowledged that things were said that he now realises his flatmate overheard, which he regrets.”
If this is the only difference then the claim that he is a bully should have been upheld.
National’s is treading a very narrow line in its handling of the matter. On one hand it is essentially accusing the complainant of not telling the truth, although this is why the terms of reference are so important. The standard of proof to be applied is critical and we don’t know what standard of proof Maria Dew used in making her conclusion.
On the other hand National claims that the reason for the cautious release of information is to respect the rights of privacy of others including the complainant.
To imply that she is not telling the truth and then refuse to let us understand the context and how that conclusion was reached is appalling.
The complainant has just made the whole incident really messy for National by asking that a redacted copy of the report be released.
From Radio New Zealand:
National MP Sam Uffindell’s former flatmate and her father are happy for Maria Dew KC’s report to be publicly released, in redacted form.
Uffindell was returned to his party’s caucus this week after leader Christopher Luxon said the inquiry cleared him of bullying behaviour beyond his boarding school years.
The Tauranga MP was stood down after a former flatmate told RNZ he was an aggressive bully at Otago University; once pounding on her bedroom door, yelling, until she fled through her window.
Dew’s independent inquiry into the incident “did not substantiate any allegations of bullying outside of Sam’s time at King’s College”, party president Sylvia Wood said on Monday.
National says the report found Uffindell “did not engage” in the behaviour his former flatmate detailed on RNZ last month – which prompted the inquiry.
That included dismissing her claims he bashed on her door yelling obscenities and smashed up the flat through violent behaviour.
But the woman and her father stand firmly by her account of what happened at the flat, and are deeply unhappy Uffindell’s word was taken over hers.
She had originally said she fled to her friend’s house but later said she ran to the library where she called her father, who put her up in a motel for the night.
The woman gave a written statement during the inquiry but did not participate further, believing it to be a political snow job – bought and paid for by the National Party.
The last sentence is probably the reason why Maria Dew KC made the finding that she did. It is really hard to determine what is true when comparing a written statement to a verbal statement. Especially if the burden of proof is beyond reasonable doubt.
National’s hope that it could bury this matter by releasing it on the day of the Queen’s funeral has not worked out.
And there is no justification for it to withhold at least a redacted copy of the report.
There are other interesting aspects to to this story.
Like the National Party Caucus did not see a copy of the report but decided to accept the recommendation that Sam be part of their happy family again.
Or an initial report that Sam did not receive a copy of the report. The lawyer in me yelled what about natural justice?
But then it appears that Sam did receive a copy of the report. The lawyer in me yelled can you make your freakin mind up.
https://twitter.com/dahmenaaron/status/1572077244415352832
Can I invite the media to reflect on where we are now. There is a KC report that we have not seen, not even the executive summary. We do not know what the terms of reference are. We do not know who the KC interviewed, or what they said.
We are being asked to believe that the Complainant’s statement is not correct. Yet there is an acknowledgement that she suffered harm and Uffindell has not denied saying something really gross about her but has come up with the defence that he did not intend her to hear what he said.
Luxon’s handling of this is a disaster. Judith must be grinning from ear to ear.
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The Government’s policy announced today to ease consenting for coal mining will have a lasting impact across generations. ...3 days ago - Release: Public transport costs to double as National looks at unaffordable roading project insteadCancelling urgently needed new Cook Strait ferries and hiking the cost of public transport for many Kiwis so that National can announce the prospect of another tunnel for Wellington is not making good choices, Labour Transport Spokesperson Tangi Utikere said. ...4 days ago
- Release: Cost of living in Auckland still not a priorityA laundry list of additional costs for Tāmaki Makarau Auckland shows the Minister for the city is not delivering for the people who live there, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...4 days ago
- Greens look to fast-track submissions on harmful lawThe Green Party has today launched a step-by-step guide to help New Zealanders make their voice heard on the Government’s democracy dodging and anti-environment fast track legislation. ...7 days ago
- Release: Govt should stop making people’s lives harder and build more homesThe National Government’s proposed changes to the Residential Tenancies Act will mean tenants can be turfed from their homes by landlords with little notice, Labour housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty said. ...1 week ago
- Release: Melissa Lee missing in action on mediaThe action Melissa Lee promised to protect democracy and the media sector is missing, Media and Communications spokesperson Willie Jackson said. ...1 week ago
- Landlord Government leaves little hope for rentersThe Government’s announcement on tenancy rules prove that it does not care about renters. ...1 week ago
- Opportunity to build a more sustainable economyGreen Party co-leader Marama Davidson is calling on all parties to support a common-sense change that’s great for the planet and great for consumers after her member’s bill was drawn from the ballot today. ...1 week ago
- Significant step forward in fixing cruel and unjust pastA significant milestone has been reached in the fight to strike an anti-Pasifika and unfair law from the country’s books after Teanau Tuiono’s members’ bill passed its first reading. ...1 week ago
- Missed opportunity but NZ will surely one day recognise the right to a sustainable environmentNew Zealand has today missed the opportunity to uphold the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, says James Shaw after his member’s bill was voted down in its first reading. ...1 week ago
- Release: Don’t cut our lunches – clear message sent to GovernmentTens of thousands of people are demanding the Government commits to fully funding free and healthy school lunches. ...1 week ago
- Release: Govt makes U-turn on Suicide Prevention OfficeLabour welcomes the Government’s U-turn on the closure of the Suicide Prevention Office, says Labour Mental Health spokesperson Ingrid Leary. ...1 week ago
- CCC issues warning over further climate delayToday’s advice from the Climate Change Commission paints a sobering reality of the challenge we face in combating climate change, especially in light of recent Government policy announcements. ...2 weeks ago
- Luxon targets lame and lousy example of leadershipIf talk is cheap, Chris Luxon’s “targets” are bankrupt. ...2 weeks ago
- Luxon targets are lousy example of leadershipIf talk is cheap, Chris Luxon’s “targets” are bankrupt. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Commitment to disability communities missing from Govt prioritiesMinister for Disability Issues Penny Simmonds appears to have delayed a report back to Cabinet on the progress New Zealand is making against international obligations for disabled New Zealanders. ...2 weeks ago
- Methane target review is dangerous duplicationThe Government’s newly announced review of methane emissions reduction targets hints at its desire to delay Aotearoa New Zealand’s urgent transition to a climate safe future, the Green Party said. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Government must commit to school building project for disabled studentsThe Government must commit to the Maitai School building project for students with high and complex needs, to ensure disabled students from the top of the South Island have somewhere to learn. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: National must take mental health seriouslyMental Health Minister Matt Doocey and his Government colleagues have made a meal of their mental health commitments, showing how flimsy their efforts to champion the issue truly are, says Labour Mental Health spokesperson Ingrid Leary. ...2 weeks ago
- Referendums for Māori wards a racist step backwardsThe Government's imposed referendum on Māori wards is a racist step backwards for Māori representation, and disregards Te Tiriti o Waitangi. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Job losses at Health not worth it for tax cutsNew Zealand will feel the harm of the National Government’s reckless cuts to jobs at the health ministry for generations, says Ayesha Verrall. ...2 weeks ago
- Press release: No Māori initiatives in Government’s nothing planMāori are yet to see anything from this Government except cuts, reversals and taking our people backwards, Māori Development spokesperson Willie Jackson said. ...2 weeks ago
- Thirty six point PR spinThe Government’s ‘36 point’ plan for the next three months is as pointless as it is hollow. ...2 weeks ago
- Thirty six point PR spinThe Government’s ‘36 point’ plan for the next three months is as pointless as it is hollow. ...2 weeks ago
- Thirty six point PR spinThe Government’s ‘36 point’ plan for the next three months is as pointless as it is hollow. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Social housing off Government’s to-do listThe Coalition Government’s refusal to commit to ongoing funding for social housing is seeing the sector pull back on developments and families watch their dreams of securing a home fade away, says Labour Housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Less money in most people’s pockets this AprilChanges to minimum wage and benefit indexation means many New Zealanders will get less this year, as the Government gives a big tax break to landlords instead. ...3 weeks 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 ...1 hour ago - Minister to Europe for OECD meeting, Anzac DayScience, 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 ...3 hours ago
- Comprehensive Partnership the goal for NZ and the PhilippinesPrime 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 ...15 hours ago
- Government commits $20m to Westport flood protectionThe 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 ...21 hours ago
- Taupō takes pole positionThe 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 ...22 hours ago
- Cost of living support for low-income homeownersLocal 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 ...24 hours ago
- Government backing mussel spat projectThe 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 - ...1 day ago
- Government focused on getting people into workBenefit 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 ...1 day ago
- Clean energy key driver to reducing emissionsThe 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 ...1 day ago
- Earthquake-prone buildings review brought forwardThe 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 ...1 day ago
- Thailand and NZ to agree to Strategic PartnershipPrime 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 ...2 days ago
- Government consults on extending coastal permits for portsRMA 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 ...2 days ago
- Inflation coming down, but more work to doToday’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 ...2 days ago
- School attendance restored as a priority in health adviceRefreshed 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 ...2 days ago
- Unnecessary bureaucracy cut in oceans sectorOceans 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 ...2 days ago
- Patterson promoting NZ’s wool sector at International CongressAssociate 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 ...3 days ago
- Removing red tape to help early learners thriveThe Government is making legislative changes to make it easier for new early learning services to be established, and for existing services to operate, Associate Education Minister David Seymour says. The changes involve repealing the network approval provisions that apply when someone wants to establish a new early learning service, ...3 days ago
- RMA changes to cut coal mining consent red tapeChanges to the Resource Management Act will align consenting for coal mining to other forms of mining to reduce barriers that are holding back economic development, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The inconsistent treatment of coal mining compared with other extractive activities is burdensome red tape that fails to acknowledge ...3 days ago
- McClay reaffirms strong NZ-China trade relationshipTrade, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay has concluded productive discussions with ministerial counterparts in Beijing today, in support of the New Zealand-China trade and economic relationship. “My meeting with Commerce Minister Wang Wentao reaffirmed the complementary nature of the bilateral trade relationship, with our Free Trade Agreement at its ...3 days ago
- Prime Minister Luxon acknowledges legacy of Singapore Prime Minister LeePrime Minister Christopher Luxon today paid tribute to Singapore’s outgoing Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. Meeting in Singapore today immediately before Prime Minister Lee announced he was stepping down, Prime Minister Luxon warmly acknowledged his counterpart’s almost twenty years as leader, and the enduring legacy he has left for Singapore and South East ...4 days ago
- PMs Luxon and Lee deepen Singapore-NZ tiesPrime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. While in Singapore as part of his visit to South East Asia this week, Prime Minister Luxon also met with Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and will meet with Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon ...4 days ago
- Antarctica New Zealand Board appointmentsForeign Minister Winston Peters has made further appointments to the Board of Antarctica New Zealand as part of a continued effort to ensure the Scott Base Redevelopment project is delivered in a cost-effective and efficient manner. The Minister has appointed Neville Harris as a new member of the Board. Mr ...4 days ago
- Finance Minister travels to Washington DCFinance Minister Nicola Willis will travel to the United States on Tuesday to attend a meeting of the Five Finance Ministers group, with counterparts from Australia, the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. “I am looking forward to meeting with our Five Finance partners on how we can work ...4 days ago
- Pet bonds a win/win for renters and landlordsThe coalition Government has today announced purrfect and pawsitive changes to the Residential Tenancies Act to give tenants with pets greater choice when looking for a rental property, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Pets are important members of many Kiwi families. It’s estimated that around 64 per cent of New ...4 days ago
- Long Tunnel for SH1 Wellington being consideredState Highway 1 (SH1) through Wellington City is heavily congested at peak times and while planning continues on the duplicate Mt Victoria Tunnel and Basin Reserve project, the Government has also asked NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) to consider and provide advice on a Long Tunnel option, Transport Minister Simeon Brown ...4 days ago
- New Zealand condemns Iranian strikesPrime Minister Christopher Luxon and Foreign Minister Winston Peters have condemned Iran’s shocking and illegal strikes against Israel. “These attacks are a major challenge to peace and stability in a region already under enormous pressure," Mr Luxon says. "We are deeply concerned that miscalculation on any side could ...5 days ago
- Huge interest in Government’s infrastructure plansHundreds of people in little over a week have turned out in Northland to hear Regional Development Minister Shane Jones speak about plans for boosting the regional economy through infrastructure. About 200 people from the infrastructure and associated sectors attended an event headlined by Mr Jones in Whangarei today. Last ...7 days ago
- Health Minister thanks outgoing Health New Zealand ChairHealth Minister Dr Shane Reti has today thanked outgoing Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora Chair Dame Karen Poutasi for her service on the Board. “Dame Karen tendered her resignation as Chair and as a member of the Board today,” says Dr Reti. “I have asked her to ...7 days ago
- Roads of National Significance planning underwayThe NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has signalled their proposed delivery approach for the Government’s 15 Roads of National Significance (RoNS), with the release of the State Highway Investment Proposal (SHIP) today, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Boosting economic growth and productivity is a key part of the Government’s plan to ...1 week ago
- Navigating an unstable global environmentNew Zealand is renewing its connections with a world facing urgent challenges by pursuing an active, energetic foreign policy, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “Our country faces the most unstable global environment in decades,” Mr Peters says at the conclusion of two weeks of engagements in Egypt, Europe and the United States. “We cannot afford to sit back in splendid ...1 week ago
- NZ welcomes Australian Governor-GeneralPrime Minister Christopher Luxon has announced the Australian Governor-General, His Excellency General The Honourable David Hurley and his wife Her Excellency Mrs Linda Hurley, will make a State visit to New Zealand from Tuesday 16 April to Thursday 18 April. The visit reciprocates the State visit of former Governor-General Dame Patsy Reddy ...1 week ago
- Pseudoephedrine back on shelves for WinterAssociate Health Minister David Seymour has announced that Medsafe has approved 11 cold and flu medicines containing pseudoephedrine. Pharmaceutical suppliers have indicated they may be able to supply the first products in June. “This is much earlier than the original expectation of medicines being available by 2025. The Government recognised ...1 week ago
- NZ and the US: an ever closer partnershipNew Zealand and the United States have recommitted to their strategic partnership in Washington DC today, pledging to work ever more closely together in support of shared values and interests, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “The strategic environment that New Zealand and the United States face is considerably more ...1 week ago
- Joint US and NZ declarationApril 11, 2024 Joint Declaration by United States Secretary of State the Honorable Antony J. Blinken and New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs the Right Honourable Winston Peters We met today in Washington, D.C. to recommit to the historic partnership between our two countries and the principles that underpin it—rule ...1 week ago
- NZ and US to undertake further practical Pacific cooperationForeign Minister Winston Peters has announced further New Zealand cooperation with the United States in the Pacific Islands region through $16.4 million in funding for initiatives in digital connectivity and oceans and fisheries research. “New Zealand can achieve more in the Pacific if we work together more urgently and ...1 week ago
- Government redress for Te Korowai o WainuiāruaThe Government is continuing the bipartisan effort to restore its relationship with iwi as the Te Korowai o Wainuiārua Claims Settlement Bill passed its first reading in Parliament today, says Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith. “Historical grievances of Te Korowai o Wainuiārua relate to 19th century warfare, land purchased or taken ...1 week ago
- Focus on outstanding minerals permit applicationsNew Zealand Petroleum and Minerals is working to resolve almost 150 outstanding minerals permit applications by the end of the financial year, enabling valuable mining activity and signalling to the sector that New Zealand is open for business, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “While there are no set timeframes for ...1 week ago
- Applications open for NZ-Ireland Research CallThe New Zealand and Irish governments have today announced that applications for the 2024 New Zealand-Ireland Joint Research Call on Agriculture and Climate Change are now open. This is the third research call in the three-year Joint Research Initiative pilot launched in 2022 by the Ministry for Primary Industries and Ireland’s ...1 week ago
- Tenancy rules changes to improve rental marketThe coalition Government has today announced changes to the Residential Tenancies Act to encourage landlords back to the rental property market, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “The previous Government waged a war on landlords. Many landlords told us this caused them to exit the rental market altogether. It caused worse ...1 week ago
- Boosting NZ’s trade and agricultural relationship with ChinaTrade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay will visit China next week, to strengthen relationships, support Kiwi exporters and promote New Zealand businesses on the world stage. “China is one of New Zealand’s most significant trade and economic relationships and remains an important destination for New Zealand’s products, accounting for nearly 22 per cent of our good and ...1 week ago
- NZ and Philippines pledge defence cooperation amid rising tensions
The commitment came after a sit-down meeting between Christopher Luxon and President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Romualdez Marcos Jr overnight. ...2 hours ago - How superblocks can help reimagine city life
Barcelona’s city streets have gone from traffic-clogged to pedestrian-friendly. How? Superblocks. Ellen Rykers explains. This is an excerpt from our weekly environmental newsletter Future Proof. Sign up here. Last week I read a great interview with renowned urbanist Janette Sadik-Khan by The Spinoff’s Wellington editor Joel MacManus: “You can reimagine streets, ...3 hours ago - Fire engineering expertise may take a big hit with job cuts at MBIEThe public sector cuts are poised to take out a big chunk of expertise at the country's building regulator. ...3 hours ago
- “Fast-track Law To Kill Kiwi”: Students Say Fight Against Anti-democracy Legislation Is Only Jus...
Student groups ‘Climate Action VUW’, Schools Strike 4 Climate and VUWSA will be on the street in Wellington today, the last day for submissions on the Fast-track Approvals Bill, with a message that the fight against the Government’s ‘War on ...4 hours ago - ‘We have thousands of Modis’: the secret behind the BJP’s enduring success in India
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sofia Ammassari, Research Fellow, Griffith University Since 2014, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s popularity has grown exponentially – and so has the formidable organisational machine of his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). These two factors will be key to delivering the BJP a ...4 hours ago - Online schooling is not just for lockdowns. Could it work for your child?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Brendon Hyndman, Associate Professor of Education (Adjunct) & Senior Manager (BCE), Charles Sturt University During COVID almost all Australian students and their families experienced online learning. But while schools have long since gone back to in-person teaching, online learning has not gone ...4 hours ago
- Hear me out: You can shove your reusable period productsYes, they’re better for the environment. No, that’s not a good enough reason for me to use them. Once every 26 days or so, my period arrives, and if struck by an act of God, I am caught red-crotched without products. How, after 17 years of this, do I still ...4 hours ago
- Rip It Up And Start Over – Fast-Track Approvals Bill Needs To Be Scrapped“It will cause significant harm to our environment and communities. It is completely at odds with New Zealanders’ relationship with nature and our need for a low-carbon, sustainable economic future." ...4 hours ago
- Maori Authority Warns Government On Fast Track LegislationThe Chair of the National Maori Authority, Matthew Tukaki, has warned a Parliamentary Select Committee that fast-tracking legislation is a perilous practice that undermines the core tenets of democracy, transparency, and accountability. ...5 hours ago
- Why the government’s haste in changing the health system could come back to haunt itSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tim Tenbensel, Associate Professor, Health Policy, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau Getty Images Since coming into power, the coalition government has adopted a simple but shrewd see-how-fast-we-can-move political strategy. However, in the health sector this need for speed entails ...5 hours ago
- Many suicides are related to gambling. How can we tackle this problem?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anastasia Hronis, Clinical Psychologist, University of Technology Sydney Darya Sannikova/Pexels Whether you’re watching TV, attending a footy game, or eating a meal at your local pub, gambling is hard to escape. Although the rise of gambling is not unique to Australia, ...5 hours ago
- Things that go buzz in the night – our global study found there really are more insects out after ...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mark Wong, Forrest Fellow, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia Have you ever wondered if there are more insects out at night than during the day? We set out to answer this question by combing through the scientific ...5 hours ago
- Why don’t Australians talk about their salaries? Pay transparency and fairness go hand-in-handSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Carol T Kulik, Research Professor, University of South Australia IR Stone/Shutterstock In Australia, it’s not the done thing to know – let alone ask – what our colleagues are paid. Yet, it’s easy to see how pay transparency can make pay ...5 hours ago
- ‘Character’ And Its Impact On Immigration StatusThe Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) is sounding a warning to migrants, that running foul of the law may see them leaving the country prematurely. ...5 hours ago
- 20,000 more on jobseeker benefits than this time last yearThe government’s plan to get 50,000 people off jobseeker support by 2030 has had a rocky start, writes Catherine McGregor in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s morning news round-up. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. Beneficiary numbers are up – and so are ...6 hours ago
- All of the Raglan Roast cafes in Wellington, ranked from worst to bestRaglan Roast is a staple of Wellington coffee culture. But with five branches across the capital, which one is the best? I am a die-hard Raglan Roast fan. It’s consistently the most affordable cafe in Wellington, and one of the only places you can get a coffee after 3pm. So, ...8 hours ago
- Auckland uni students threaten rent strike over rising accommodation feesResidents of University of Auckland halls are being urged to withhold their accommodation fees from May 1, in a bid to force the university to take student concerns over rent hikes seriously. The University of Auckland is facing a strike from students over the cost of on-campus accommodation. The Students ...8 hours ago
- Missy rustles to stardom in Canada
Hineaupounamu ‘Missy’ Nuku has been scaling mountains in Canada for her college basketball team, the Lakeland Rustlers. Alberta is currently home for the 20-year-old point guard, who is in her first year of a scholarship at Lakeland College, where she is studying for a business degree. She has certainly made ...8 hours ago - Emissions fall again – now NZ needs to up the paceOfficial figures confirm New Zealand produced less climate pollution in 2022 than in any other year in the 21st century The post Emissions fall again – now NZ needs to up the pace appeared first on Newsroom. ...8 hours ago
- Warning of death from a million cuts as Oceans Secretariat dissolvedShane Jones says people voted for change, but opponents say small cuts such as ending a special oceans secretariat are starting to add up The post Warning of death from a million cuts as Oceans Secretariat dissolved appeared first on Newsroom. ...8 hours ago
- Defence deal to counter Beijing’s aggression in South China SeaNew Zealand and the Philippines have signed a new maritime security agreement and stated their concerns over activity in the South China Sea, as Chinese vessels continue to flout international law. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Philippines President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos committed to signing a Mutual Logistics Supporting Arrangement by ...8 hours ago
- Wellington’s ebb and flow of public servantsThe thousands of government “back-office” job cuts are causing widespread pain in the capital city. In today’s episode of The Detail, we speak to three journalists and a think tank researcher, looking at the larger picture around the cuts and what effect it will have on Wellington, a city that’s ...8 hours ago
- New Zealand transport planning has gone off the railsOpinion: The famed American architect and urban designer Daniel Burnham once said, “Make no little plans. They have no magic to stir men’s blood!” Burnham wouldn’t have been referring to the transport plans in Aotearoa New Zealand over the past five years; projects so big they hadn’t the credibility to ...8 hours ago
- Daily crossword, Friday 19 AprilThe post Daily crossword, Friday 19 April appeared first on Newsroom. ...8 hours ago
- Brakes on transport and logistics sector as demand for freight slowsThe transport sector is currently in the slow lane The post Brakes on transport and logistics sector as demand for freight slows appeared first on Newsroom. ...8 hours ago
- Newsroom daily quiz, Friday 19 AprilLoading…(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){var ql=document.querySelectorAll('A[quiz],DIV[quiz],A[data-quiz],DIV[data-quiz]'); if(ql){if(ql.length){for(var k=0;k<ql.length;k++){ql[k].id='quiz-embed-'+k;ql[k].href="javascript:var i=document.getElementById('quiz-embed-"+k+"');try{qz.startQuiz(i)}catch(e){i.start=1;i.style.cursor='wait';i.style.opacity='0.5'};void(0);"}}};i['QP']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){(i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o),m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m)})(window,document,'script','https://take.quiz-maker.com/3012/CDN/quiz-embed-v1.js','qp'); Got a good quiz question? Send Newsroom your questions. The post Newsroom daily quiz, Friday 19 April appeared first on Newsroom. ...8 hours ago
- Financial literacy should be on all of usOpinion: With maths understanding at 42 percent for Year 8 students, there’s no doubt something has to be done. But how? The post Financial literacy should be on all of us appeared first on Newsroom. ...8 hours ago
- Grattan on Friday: Ethnic tensions will complicate the Albanese government’s multicultural policy ...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra When ASIO boss Mike Burgess delivered his annual threat assessment earlier this year, he stressed the rising danger posed by espionage and foreign interference. “In 2024, threats to our way of life have surpassed ...14 hours ago
- Group plans work to improve safety of female MPsNew research shows harassment of elected officials - especially women - is on the rise. ...15 hours ago
- Ukraine warns of WW3 ahead of long-stalled Congress aid voteUkraine's Prime Minister says his country desperately needs the US to approve long-stalled security assistance. ...16 hours ago
- PSA astonished Education Minister expects hiring of contractors to review curriculumHiring contractors is an appalling solution when people who could do the work are losing their jobs, the PSA says. ...17 hours ago
- Crown lawyers attempt to block Waitangi Tribunal summons to Minister for ChildrenThe Tribunal had called on Minister for Children Karen Chhour to provide evidence at an urgent inquiry into the repeal of Section 7AA of the Oranga Tamariki Act. ...19 hours ago
- Luxon refuses to guarantee public consultation on AUKUS Pillar 2Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says it's "far too premature" to be confirming whether the public would be consulted on joining AUKUS Pillar 2. ...20 hours ago
- Visualising the 1800s or designing wedding invitations: 6 ways you can use AI beyond generating textSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By T.J. Thomson, Senior Lecturer in Visual Communication & Digital Media, RMIT University Midjourney image by T.J. Thomson As more than half of Australian office workers report using generative artificial intelligence (AI) for work, we’re starting to see this technology affect every ...20 hours ago
- Falls, fractures and self-harm: 4 charts on how kids’ injury risk changes over time and differs fo...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lisa Nicole Sharwood, Injury epidemiologist | Expert Witness, UNSW Sydney Sergey Novikov/Shutterstock Injuries are the leading cause of disability and death among Australian children and adolescents. At least a quarter of all emergency department presentations during childhood are injury-related. Injuries can ...20 hours ago
- Choice and control: will NDIS reforms mean people with disability don’t get to decide who they liv...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Di Winkler, Adjunct Associate Professor, Living with Disability Research Centre, La Trobe University Shutterstock/Ground Picture Many Australians with disability feel on the edge of a precipice right now. Recommendations from the disability royal commission and the NDIS review were released late ...20 hours ago
- Asbestos in playground mulch: how to avoid a repeat of this circular economy scandalSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Salman Shooshtarian, Senior Lecturer, School of Property, Construction and Project Management, RMIT University Salman Shooshtarian Asbestos has been found in mulch used for playgrounds, schools, parks and gardens across Sydney and Melbourne. Local communities naturally fear for the health of their ...20 hours ago
- Could Albanese’s bet on homegrown green industries be the boost our regions deserve?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Madeline Taylor, Senior Lecturer, Macquarie University Cloudy Designs/Shutterstock Right now, there’s a global race underway. The goal: bring back manufacturing and energy jobs as the energy transition speeds up. In 2022, America launched its mammoth Inflation Reduction Act and the ...20 hours ago
- Watch: Prime Minister Christopher Luxon won't say if government will consult public on joining ...Asked multiple times if the public will be consulted on joining the defence pact, Luxon repeatedly said that was yet to be worked through. ...21 hours ago
- Watch live: Prime Minister Christopher Luxon speaks in PhilippinesPrime Minister Christopher Luxon is speaking to reporters on the third leg of his Southeast Asia trip, from Manila in the Philippines. ...21 hours ago
- Māori lawyers call Shane Jones' Waitangi Tribunal comments 'inappropriate'The Māori Law Society says his comments breach the principle of the separation of powers and the Cabinet Manual. ...22 hours ago
- Abortions Increase 25% Since Law ChangeFamily First says that the latest abortion statistics make grim and upsetting reading, with a 25% increase in abortions since the decriminalisation of abortion in March 2020. According to an Official Information Act request received by Right to Life ...23 hours ago
- Over Half Of New Zealanders Feel That The Country Is In Decline And That Our Society Is BrokenIpsos New Zealand's inaugural participation in a global study on populism reveals a pervasive sense of societal and economic decline among New Zealanders. MORE DETAILS AND FULL REPORT HERE Ipsos New Zealand's inaugural participation in a global study ...23 hours ago
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GEEZ, just imagine the clusterfuck running country.
YIKS
Talking of clusterfucks, how's the Sharma affair coming along? Well, let's hope voters have a short memory. Say what you want about Luxon's handling of the Uffindell affair, at least he had an independent inquiry that put space between the facts and allegations, and the National Party. Some voters will no doubt take that into account. My suggestion is if anyone on this blog has the ear of someone in Labour's hierarchy, they tell them to pull finger. It worries me how many posters are failing to comprehend the precarious position Labour is in with the voting public. Forget Luxon. Surely there are more pressing concerns?
This OP is about National, Luxon, and Uffindell. If you want to raise any other pet issues then use OM.
Independent inquiry"? With no terms of reference or findings, a secret cover-up comes to mind.
If you want to discuss it, come over to OM. Either it was an independent inquiry, or it wasn't.
Terrible judgement on Luxon's part.
Should have thrown Uffindell under the bus…and moved on.
Blazer, that would have meant taking responsibility, something these people are big on when it comes to others.
I wish he had thrown him under a bus because that is what he deserved, but from a political perspective this appears to have been dealt with well by Luxon.
He intentionally buried the release on the day of the Queen's funeral, and 48 hours later the story is running out of puff due to him controlling the story. The story already seems to have been superseded today by the Mahuta probe.
Deeply cynical and typical of National, but far from being a clusterfuck, at this stage, it looks to have been very effective political management.
Lets see what Tauranga voters do in 12 months.
Tauranga voters will re-elect Uffindell, in a safe National seat. But that is not the issue that matters at the general election.
Luxon's management hasn't been "very effective" at all. It's noticeable how much of the (non-lefty) political commentary has criticised him in the last 48 hours. The real problem for Luxon is that this is very much in keeping with the narrative about his leadership … unforced errors, again and again.
He really struggles with being upfront. He takes a minor matter (a vote on Matariki, a trip to Hawaii, ruling out Brian Tamaki) and then gets all evasive and makes it much worse.
And he doesn't learn. It seems to be his default setting – it is who he is, and that's a much bigger problem for National.
Really? I was hoping for this to be front page news, leading the news for a week, and the Nats being hounded for real answers by every journalist. In reality it has largely been a page 5 story. That was because of the intentional timing and something which he managed.
The report, and its release, was never going to be a good news story for the Nats so mitigating the negative headlines was always going to be Luxo's sole objective. From my observation they have done pretty well in that objective.
The problem when a CEO becomes a politician is that when he's a politician he has to back-up decisions he would have got a free pass on as a CEO.
"Tauranga voters will re-elect Uffindell, in a safe National seat"
If he is selected
National always had major shortcomings with transparency and accountability, a gang of hollow men & women. They are not fit to run this country, not the previous lot, not this current lot, and not the next lot, in all likelihood. I look forward to a special opinion poll by Curia on the abysmal lack of professional conduct and sound judgement of the National Party and Luxon.
Luxon has again acted as a CEO would act, with no regard for openness. His word is law and does not require explanation, the result is that Sam will never be exonerated and leaves National under a cloud. The National Caucus is happy to take Luxon's word and remain in the dark about the reports content.
uffindell is a sore that will fester .
Let's put to rest one part of your post Micky:
He wasn't a bully, he beat a sleeping 13 year old with a bed post – that makes him a thug!
Just imagine, for a moment, if a brown 16 year old had done something similar!
This is what "delivery" delivers – the missing direct object of the orphaned transitive verb. What gets delivered is a self-serving crock of sh*t dumped on your doorstep under cover of darkness. "Hey look, what I'm saying to you is that I delivered".
“The flat itself was completely trashed. There wasn’t a stick of furniture left. There was no crockery left. There were no handles left on anything. It had all been broken.”
National Party HQ.
Very good, Robert. It's a reminder that we should all get involved in political parties to control and keep away from the levers of power such individuals.
They can also trash a country…….
"She had originally said she fled to her friend’s house but later said she ran to the library where she called her father, who put her up in a motel for the night."
So she's a liar, she's not to be trusted?
To me that's like saying someone claiming to be a rape victim is not to be trusted when they say it happened on the sofa then saying it happened on the floor by the sofa.
That young woman is telling the truth!
Thirty years ago, I went through a similar experience. The difference: the bullying and intimidation occurred in the workplace but it did eventually go beyond. My Public Service bosses chose to believe the bully and not me. They effectively told me I was a liar and they placed me under a twelve month caveat. I was not allowed to talk to anyone during that time. It went further than that too.
They got away with it for the same reason… fear of further intimidation and reprisals ensured I never took the matter further.
Money buys white-washes and kicks the victims down the road – sans justice.
'There is a KC report that we have not seen, not even the executive summary. We do not know what the terms of reference are. We do not know who the KC interviewed, or what they said."
Do National think they are the government ?
subtle …yeah not so much
Given natz inability to lie straight in bed do we even know that what Cluxon says is a true reflection of the KCs report
Well of course they can't lie straight in bed – Sam has flogged one of the legs.
National want a Finance Minister with cruel streak to carry out their darstedly policies IF they are elected.
MISSION ACCOMPLISHED
My reaction was Luxon "I'm wearing my forgiving friend hat, not my leader hat" imo.
What a total crock.
You miss the point. I wasn't comparing Sharma's case to Uffindells. I was comparing how Labour handled the former, and National the latter.
The victim of his violent abuse is happy to have the report released but her name redacted and said it wasn't an isolated incident .The ODT has an statement from the woman who Uffindell was threatening with menace.Luxon's body language looked really bad as he lied his way through the press interview. Luxon and National are in big trouble over this.The victim of Uffindell's wideapread abuse wants the report published with her name redacted,She says the National Party are white washing Uffindell's violent bullying as an isolated incident when in fact Uffindell was behaving like this regularly and he had trashed the flat completely not a stick of furniture left unbroken.The woman's father had to pay for his daughter for a hotel room for the night .Then her father helped her move out ,the father gave Uffindell a good dressing down while helping move his daughter out.A complete story in the OtagoDailyTimes.Luxon and National are in big big trouble over this whitewash trying to save face and another byelection will cost National ,it would have been much better to sack Uffindell and say we are a Party of the highest standards.Now Luxon has painted himself into a corner and will have to weasel his way out defending the undefendable.Luxon's credibility especially with women is completely down the gurglar given New Zealand's very high domestic abuse rates this has set a horrific example of criminal accountability ,a Party who says we are tough on crime Uffindell's own campaign saying we should be much tougher on youth crime .Uffindell saying young criminals should have more serious consequences .But not for him he doesn't have to he has his enablers the National Party to hide behind.
please fix your email address so you don’t get caught in the new commenter filter. And please provide a link to the ODT article seeing as how you are referencing it a lot.
Sorry Weka The ODT article is a subscriber only article paywall I don't have a subscription hopefully some else has.
Yes, the ODT has just added a paywall. Please paste the link for each article quoted from here anyway.
Edit: Sorry I just realised you are saying you do not have a subscription either – so where are you getting the information in your comment?
Sometimes the paywall only hides the full text using javascript. Its an elabourate way of letting people who know how to use browser view source see the full article for free.
The victim of his violent abuse is happy to have the report released but her name redacted and said it wasn't an isolated incident .The ODT has an statement from the woman who Uffindell was threatening with menace.Luxon's body language looked really bad as he lied his way through the press interview. Luxon and National are in big trouble over this.The victim of Uffindell's wideapread abuse wants the report published with her name redacted,She says the National Party are white washing Uffindell's violent bullying as an isolated incident when in fact Uffindell was behaving like this regularly and he had trashed the flat completely not a stick of furniture left unbroken.The woman's father had to pay for his daughter for a hotel room for the night .Then her father helped her move out ,the father gave Unfidell a good dressing down while helping move his daughter out.A complete story in the OtagoDailyTimes.Luxon and National are in big big trouble over this whitewash trying to save face and another byelection will cost National .It would have been much better to sack Uffindell and say we are a Party of the highest standards.Now Luxon has painted himself into a corner and will have to weasel his way out defending the undefendable.Luxon's credibility especially with women is completely down the gurglar given New Zealand's very high domestic abuse rates this has set a horrific example of criminal accountability from a Party who says we are tough on crime. Unffidell's own campaign saying we should be much tougher on youth crime .Uffindell saying young criminals should have to face more serious consequences .But not for him he doesn't have to he has his enablers the National Party to hide behind.
So much for Luxon's Christianity and principles – and honesty… I only abide by them when it suits.
Luxon's god (deliberately small g) works to a different set of rules to what we might consider original Christianity.
Never ever trust a religious fundamentalist!
"Luxon said the terms of reference would not be released, but he outlined the “objectives” of the investigation.
“One was to get clarity and conclusion around the events in Otago,” he said.
“Secondarily to make sure that, subsequent to King's College, there was no ongoing pattern of bullying behaviour.”
So does this mean Dew found isolated instances of bullying behaviour? The terms of reference are pretty important, all right.
I listened to Mark Sainsbury on that Panel bit… at first I thought, who cares what Sainsbury says he 'reckons' about her? How is that evidence, or even relevant?
But then, that's what de Luxe is expecting of us re with his own words. 'I says so, the woman's a liar, trust me.'
Bit of a bad smell about it.
This whole saga points out why we have, and need, open courts, and indeed open democracy.
Who can be held accountable when things are secret and cannot be critically examined?
This Uffindell report is open to inaccuracy and suffers from that lack of scrutiny that enables accountability.
There are these factors. 1. The terms of reference are not open. 2. The evidence is not open. 3. The evidence has not all been heard. 4. The court style proceedings are lacking where juries and judges can judge body language and spoken testimony, and both prosecution and defence are able to question and pursue lines of enquiry. 5. The weighting of opposite views as decided by the KC is not given to us to see, and judge.
Trust in the process from the probity of the examiner to the enquiry's terms, to the completeness and accuracy of the evidence, to the accuracy of the actual publishing of the report-the trust is lessened by the fact of the secrecy.
I do not btw doubt the probity of the KC involved. She would not countenance a cover-up, I believe from trusted sources.
Need this obscurity be such,? Could not a redacted and anonymised report be published?
The only reason is that is not happening is that Uffindell would not survive that scrutiny.
I don't believe he will unless he was to allow and be fairly found free of serious misbehaviour by an open report, held according to good practice.
Is there any avenue for civil or criminal proceedings to be held in the open?
It is a revealing insight into Luxon's self-regard. He talks about forgiving as if he were the one to forgive. The woman's right to forgive (or not) is of no consequence. After all, if he has decided it didn't happen, then there's nothing to forgive … in Luxon's mind.
As for the political perception, it doesn't help Uffindell at all. If the report said "You were a dick, own it" and he said "Yes, I was a dick, I own it, I'm sorry" then perceptions of him might change. But now they are locked in.
Precisely! And that is how many people in powerful positions see it. If it is inconvenient, suppress the evidence in any way necessary. Never let the victim win. That is how they view proceedings – a battle between themselves and the victim. Justice doesn't even enter the picture.
Yep – which means it's Luxon's mind that is unforgiveable.
Is it just me, or is Luxon looking more and more like ScoMo?
I thought Muldoon with the smirking etc and the bug like glaring.
It is absolutely standard not to release this type of report due to privacy concerns. In fact, Labour has done similar for those reasons. I am not criticizing Labour in this. The way the handled it was entirely appropriate.
But what it does demonstrate is issues of confidentiality for those who may have given evidence, and the fact that it can sometimes be difficult to release information without also providing enough detail for those people to be identified by people they would rather not know.
From that article:
Labour has released the recommendations in Austen's report and updated its internal policies to reflect them, which Szabó said "assures Labour members and the public that we are making the required improvements to our processes following this incident".
The Herald understands, however, the reason the public won't see the full review is because it would require a "substantial edit" to redact any potentially identifying material.
The other point is that a promise of complete confidentiality including a guarantee that no part of the report would be released publicly may have been given by the KC to encourage maximum willingness for complainants to come forward.
It is absolutely standard to release a summary, including the terms of reference and findings.
Yes, Luxon's original point was valid (protect complainants' confidentiality). But then he stepped off that solid ground and onto much flimsier pretexts, including:
– inquiry terms of reference kept secret. No valid reason for that.
– no National MPs allowed to read the report. Just Luxon saying "trust me". The MPs can't publicly criticise their leader, so they are left looking like fools, as they did on the news last night. "I haven't read it but I believe it" is a hopeless position to have to defend.
– he was then scuppered by the woman and her father, saying today that they are fine with the report (or summary, redacted) being made public. So Luxon's justification is gone.
As I say, the original decision (call in Drew, suspend Uffy) made Luxon look credible. But since Monday he's been anything but.
Summaries are anonymised, so privacy was always a red herring.
It may be difficult to fully anonymise a document so that it is impossible to identify, or hazard an educated guess about people who have contributed to the report on the basis of confidence.
Names can be removed. But times, dates, locations, actions etc may enable some people to put two and two together. There may only be a few people able to connect the details. But they may be precisely the people that the contributors feel unsafe if they were to know.
And if those details were removed entirely, the report may provide little more information than what already has been provided.
According to the quote in my previous post, that was one of the reasons why that particular report was not released.
"Similar", not the same. There's full transparency (release the lot), partial transparency (release a report's summary, as Lab did in the example you cited), and 'Trust National – nothing to see here – move along.' I'll trust the Gnats when their leader repudiates the political obscenity that was (and is) Dirty Politics. Trust National? Yeah Right!
Let's be clear – the Uffindell affair wasn't brought to light because of a political attack by Labour. It's National, true to form, doing it to themselves – Key's real legacy. If the Gnat's could sort themselves out, then this kind of attack might be more credible, imho.
The Mahuta family contracts investigation has now been announced.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/475199/commissioner-to-review-contracts-with-nanaia-mahuta-s-husband-s-company
Thanks for that link Bella – fleshes out the comment by James Simpson @2.2.
How likely is it that any current or future ‘leader’ of the Gnats will publicly repudiate the political obscenity that was (and is) Dirty Politics, in your opinion?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dirty_Politics
“partial transparency (release a report’s summary, as Lab did in the example you cited)”
According to the article, they just released the recommendations:
Labour has released the recommendations in Austen's report and updated its internal policies to reflect them, which Szabó
It could be argued that this is as much as what National has done, given that the recommendation was that there was no charge to answer.
Apologies ts, my mistake – was thinking of the parallel (unrelated) QC's report.
"Mr Uffindell's own acknowledgement that he is a different person now to the person he once was" is unremarkable; I'd prefer 'a better person', but 'better' is in the eye of the beholder.
If Luxon chooses to release verbatim any section of the KC's report on allegations against Uffindell (unrelated to his assault on a 13-year old), then that would be welcome, imho, and about as likely as the current or any future Nat ‘leader’ publicly repudiating the political obscenity that is Dirty Politics.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dirty_Politics
"I, once beat a boy,
or should I say, not me but we.
We entered his room.
Isn’t it good? Bedpost of wood.
I went to Dunedin to flat,
and just smashed everywhere.
Harassing my flatmates regardless,
I hadn’t a care, yeah.
I, hung up her grunds, biding my time,
Drank ginger wine.
Passed out until two.
Male flatmates said:
Mate, you’re an egg.
I told her I’d be an MP
and she started to laugh.
I tried masturbating then
crawled off to sleep in the bath.
And when I awoke
I was alone.
No student loan.
So I lit a fire
Burned now for good.
Sylvia Wood."
https://www.facebook.com/mark.cubey
Terrible stuff that ginger wine – I'll be glad when I've had enough of it.
Seems neither Sam nor Xris have much experience of saying sorry – good folk to keep tf away from the levers of power.
Here are some thoughts about this 'report' that have now crossed my mind.
If Luxon is so willing to hide away the report then why is he so reticent to make it public? Are there some aspects of the report that National don't want the voting public of NZ to know about?
Is National so willing to show double standards when it comes to Trust?
For example I vaguely recall Luxon saying he 'trusts' one thing or another but his "trust' seems to be only on what he deems as necessary and in HIS BEST INTERESTS.
As he(Luxon)seems to have a problem with "Trust" then it indicates to me that we NZ voters needs to draw a line as to how much we can trust HIM???!!!
Bullying no matter in what shape or form is unacceptable to me. I have experienced a considerable degree of workplace bullying over the past so many years. Even to this day I find myself feeling like a failure because I had to deal with workplace bullying and made to feel like an imbecile due to it.
It's a weird combination of contradiction by the way in regards to National. One minute they are condemning the youth of today and yet they are so willing to excuse the Sam Uffendill's of the world for their "actions made whilst a young person"???!!!
All I can figure out about Luxon etc is they are very selective as to who does what in their youth and what is forgiveable etc . It so reminds me of I think John Key explaining away the activities of the Roast Busters(of which Max Key had close links with)with "Boys will be Boys…".
And the end thought(until something else crops up that is) is if Luxon is so happy to keep this report hidden then WHY? Is a portion of the report so bad and a bad reflection back upon National that Luxon doesn't want to let it see the light of day?
Luxon once beat the mantra drum of having been CEO of an airline. I do now wonder as to what reports made about Air NZ whilst Luxon was CEO that he managed to get 'hidden' from public attention???!!!!!
Is there something about Luxon and his past whilst CEO of Air NZ that also needs to be made public??!!!!
Both Air NZ and the NZ National Party have depended upon NZ taxpayers money and quite honestly I feel we all need to have an idea of what has happened both in Air NZ and of course the Sam Uffindell report.
Because if any reports involved NZ taxpayers money then we as VOTERS have the right to know.
The behaviour of National however seems to be the habit of 'Nothing to see, hear or say… Move along please…"
If National cannot be honest let alone trustworthy then that throws into doubt their credibility or worthiness of a vote in any future election.
How many times has Tauranga NOT voted a national party stooge into parliamentary largesse? It is a cruisy electorate for national.
Yes Peter, eg. anyone who voted for "Bob the Builder". Just need blue and their money!!
This is not going away for National and that will only help the other parties including Labour and Act… oh and Nicola Willis.
Are there any lawyers out there who are able to bring some kind of sanity and justice into this farce? There must be legal channels through which this absolute travesty can be addressed. If not, the outcome will be luxon and the national party will have been successful in “making it all go away” and get back to lying their way toward the next general election!
" He wasn't a bully, he beat a sleeping 13 year old with a bed post – that makes him a thug!
Savage does not know the difference obviously.
Wasn't there supposed to be a report into National caucus bullying after the JLR affair? Did that ever get released?