Mossack Fonseca bites National on the arse
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7:19 am, April 29th, 2016 - 348 comments
Categories: david cunliffe, Globalisation, greens, john key, national, same old national, tax -
Tags: paul goldsmith, todd mclay
Maybe there is a God and if so she has to be a left winger. Latest events are trashing John Key’s carefully constructed persona of being an ordinary dude who is good to have a beer with and cares about everyone and have highlighted his fundamental weakness. He is not a former Housing Corp house dweller done good trying to make New Zealand a better place for all of us. He is part of the 1% and totally indifferent to the damage to societies and governments that tax evasion by the rich causes.
The trouble with issues surrounding Mossack Fonseca is that there is that much information and so many deals to be investigated the Government must feel like it is playing whack-a-mole in trying to deal with the fallout.
One recent issue was disclosed by David Cunliffe yesterday. The Overseas Investment Organisation had allowed a Mossack Fonseca associated entity to purchase a farm in the Taranaki. From Radio New Zealand:
Labour has found, using written Parliamentary questions, the date of the transaction and we were then able to search back through the OIO’s papers to find which one it was.
“And there’s only one it can be.
“[Ceol & Muir] has three directors which have together been associated with about 1400 other company purchases – most of those registered in Panama.”
Mr Cunliffe told Morning Report the two people who effectively own the station now were not currently directors of Ceol & Muir.
He said he was not claiming Ceol & Muir had done anything wrong – his concern was that the OIO must be relied upon to conduct a robust investigation of every application to buy sensitive land.
“We do not know and it must be now told to the public exactly what good character test was applied to whom when the application was made.
“As the minister herself has said that good character test is actually an ongoing test so we need also to know whether the OIO has recently satisfied itself that all the conditions have been met.”
Mr Cunliffe said the OIO was internationally known as a “wet bus ticket” having approved more than 99.75 percent of all applications since 2011.
And it emerged this morning that the two people behind the purchase were found criminally responsible in 2011 for polluting a river in Argentina with toxic material from a tannery they owned.
You have to wonder how an entity or individuals can pass the good character test given all of this. The OIO has power to review decisions to check on compliance. It should do so.
The second and potentially the most damaging issue is the disclosure that John Key’s lawyer Ken Whitney lobbied Key to not change rules surrounding foreign trusts. Key told Whitney to speak to revenue minister Todd McLay. He then did so and despite IRD advice that the issue be addressed the Government refused to do so.
A timeline based on an OIA response obtained by the Greens is fascinating:
- December 3, 2014 – Whitney emails Todd McLay, mentions that he had raised the issue with Key and was told he should meet with McLay to discuss concerns. His email also said “[w]e are concerned that there appears to be a sudden change of view by the IRD in respect of their previous support for the industry. I have spoken to the Prime Minister about this and he advised that the Government has no plans to change the status of the foreign trust regime.”
- December 4, 2014 – McLay’s staff writes to IRD to say that “after further reflecting on the discussion yesterday, he expressed some concern that one of the options that will be presented in the report to him before the end of the year would be the removal of the foreign trust regime.” A senior IRD official replied saying they will “bear this in mind in how we write the report.”
- December 12, 2014 – IRD urges the Government to add a review of foreign trusts to its work programme on the basis that the trusts regime has attracted adverse international comment because New Zealand based trusts with a foreign settlor and beneficiaries do not have to pay tax in New Zealand and New Zealand was perceived as a tax haven in that regard. It did not include an option of removal of the foreign trust regime but the option of reviewing the operation of foreign trusts was the next best thing.
- December 18, 2014 – Todd McLay meets with representatives of the industry at Whitney’s office. Nice that a Minister of the Crown should make a house visit and so soon after the request was made.
- January 22, 2015 – Olivershaw Ltd states in a letter “[f]oreign trust industry very pleased with their meeting with Minister”. A further meeting on February 19, 2015 is confirmed.
- March 18, 2015 – the NZ Trustee Companies Association Ltd writes to Paul Goldsmith and states “[l]ast year a report to ministers by tax policy officials was publicly released raising the possibility that this year the government might initiate a review of the foreign trust tax rules with a view to taxing such trusts on offshore income. This would be likely to close the New Zealand industry down – foreign investors can have their funds managed in many other countries that do not levy additional taxes on them, hence they would shift their funds to those countries.”
- May 15, 2015 – McLay decides that no review will occur.
- April 4, 2016 – The Panama Papers leak is announced.
- April 11, 2016 – Key announces review of foreign trusts regime, reversing the earlier decision although former PWC director John Shewan and not the IRD will conduct the review.
- April 12, 2016 – Key’s register of pecuniary interests is published and his deposit with Whitney’s Foreign Trust company is disclosed.
- April 14, 2016 – Key told media that “one of the [lobby] groups asked me about it [the IRD report].” He said he told the individual that “I haven’t got a clue about any changes but go and take it up with the minister”. He did not mention that the individual was his lawyer. It is surprising that the Government response was so immediately negative given Key’s presentation of the issue in such a passive way.
So basically Ken says to John changing the rules will destroy Ken’s business. John tells Ken to talk to Todd. Ken emails Todd and Todd immediately tells IRD to not say that foreign trust rules should be changed. IRD says to Todd that it thinks foreign trusts should be reviewed. Todd makes a special visit to Ken’s office to speak to Ken’s friends. Ken’s friends are happy with the meeting. Todd decides not to even review the foreign trust rules. Of course there is nothing to see here and it is all an unfortunate series of coincidences.
Make of it what you will. I suspect that over the next couple of weeks the media and political focus on this issue and on Key’s actions will be intense. And his Teflon coating will be shown to have been scoured.
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- Economists sound alarm on Government’s slash-and-burn approach
A group of prominent economists has released an open letter to the Government, raising grave concerns about the far-reaching consequences of its fiscal policy. ...1 day ago
- Release: Smoking numbers up under Costello’s watch
National’s repeal of Labour’s smokefree legislation has taken New Zealand further away from achieving a Smokefree 2025 and a smokefree generation. ...2 days ago
- Release: Call for Palestine recognition by NZ, Australian and Canadian MPs
Parliamentarians from Australia, Canada and New Zealand have written an open letter to their respective Prime Ministers calling on them to recognise Palestine. ...2 days ago
- Justice Select Committee opens floor for Treaty Principles submissions
Today, the Justice Select Committee has decided to officially open submissions for the controversial Treaty Principles Bill. ...3 days ago
- Power of the people on full display as hīkoi approaches Parliament
Today, Hīkoi mō te Tiriti arrived in Wellington, with thousands gathering to march in unity against the divisive Treaty Principles Bill. ...3 days ago
- Hypocrisy as Te Whatu Ora contractor bill balloons
Te Whatu Ora’s bill for contracting and consulting staff has ballooned by nearly 20 percent under the National Government, breaking a promise they made during the election campaign to cut contractors. ...4 days ago
- Release: Growing pressure to scrap Section 7AA Repeal Bill
The newly released Section 7AA Repeal Bill's select committee report is further evidence that the Government should scrap it. ...4 days ago
- Government’s move to monetise access to nature a slippery slope
The Green Party is voicing serious concerns over the Government’s proposal to charge for access to public conservation land, released today. ...7 days ago
- Green Party condemns the passage of Treaty Principles Bill
The Green Party condemns the passing of the Treaty Principles Bill at first reading, and is clear that the fight is not over. ...1 week ago
- Stand Up for Te Tiriti
Te Tiriti o Waitangi is our country’s founding document. It forms the basis of the relationship between Māori and the Crown – and the Aotearoa New Zealand we live in today. ...1 week ago
- Release: Over 15,000 sign Labour’s open letter to Luxon
As the hīkoi to Parliament continues, Labour has sent an open letter to Prime Minister Christopher Luxon in a last-ditch attempt to get him to kill the Treaty Principles Bill. ...1 week ago
- Fast Track Bill threatens environment, climate and reputation
The fast-track legislation passing its second reading in Parliament is another step towards environmental ruin. ...1 week ago
- Greens join King’s Counsel in calling for Treaty Principles Bill to be abandoned
The Prime Minister must answer the call from a group of senior lawyers of the King’s Counsel to abandon the divisive Treaty Principles Bill. ...1 week ago
- Chris Hipkins’ apology statement to state and faith-based care survivors
...1 week ago
- Release: Labour formally apologises to state and faith-based care survivors
Labour joins with the Government in unreservedly apologising for the abuse, neglect and trauma including torture in state and faith-based care and for ignoring the voices of survivors for too long. ...1 week ago
- Green Party stands in support of survivors of abuse in care
Today, the Green Party stands alongside the survivors of abuse in state care and faith-based care as the Government issues an historic apology. ...1 week ago
- Green Party calls for conscience vote on Treaty Principles Bill
The Green Party has written to the Speaker of the House requesting he enable a personal vote on the Treaty Principles Bill. ...2 weeks ago
- Govt move to exclude journalist risks chilling effect
The Green Party is alarmed by the Government’s move to exclude a journalist from covering this week’s apology for the survivors of abuse in state and faith-based care. ...2 weeks ago
- Without action, an apology will be empty air
For tomorrow’s apology to survivors of abuse in state and faith-based care to hold any water, the Government must not pursue the same policies that drove the abuse in the first place. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Concerns remain over tobacco interference
Concerns about the tobacco industry’s ability to interfere in government policy making remain, despite the inability of the Office of the Auditor-General to investigate the Government’s decision to halve the excise tax on heated tobacco products. ...2 weeks ago
- Urgent wake-up call on climate
The Climate Change Commission’s latest advice indicates Aotearoa needs to be stepping up on climate action. ...2 weeks ago
- Green MP’s Meme-ber’s Bill set to save the world
Break out the punchlines and dust off your meme folder: Green Party MP Kahurangi Carter’s Copyright (Parody and Satire) Amendment Bill was pulled from the Ballot yesterday. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Poroporoaki: Ta Robert (Bom) Gillies
Kua hinga te manawa kairākau o Te Rua Tekau Ma Waru Tiwhatiwha te po! Kakarauru i te po! Ka rapuhia kei hea koe kua riro! Haere e te Ika a Whiro ki o tini hoa kua ngaro atu ki te Pō ...2 weeks ago
- Labour, Greens and Te Pāti Māori call on the Prime Minister to block the Treaty Principles Bill
The opposition parties stand united for an Aotearoa that honours Te Tiriti, rather than seeking to rewrite it. Labour, the Greens and Te Pāti Māori are working together against the Government’s divisive Treaty Principles Bill. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Labour, Greens and Te Pāti Māori call on the Prime Minister to block the Treaty Principle...
The opposition parties stand united for an Aotearoa that honours Te Tiriti, rather than seeking to rewrite it. Labour, the Greens and Te Pāti Māori are working together against the Government’s divisive Treaty Principles Bill. ...2 weeks ago
- NZ must pursue independent foreign policy
The Green Party says the need is greater than ever for Aotearoa New Zealand to pursue an independent foreign policy. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Winston Peters must apologise
The Deputy Prime Minister should apologise to the public servant he named and blamed for something they did not do, and for misusing the rules of Parliament. ...2 weeks ago
- Government action provides Southland farmers more time to meet plan requirements
The Government is taking action to ensure Southland farmers and growers are not affected by unreasonable regional farm plan deadlines, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay, Environment Minister Penny Simmonds and Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard say.“Cabinet has agreed to provide more time for farmers and growers to comply with regional rules ...12 hours ago - Bill reaffirms Government’s commitment to crack down on serious youth offending
The Oranga Tamariki (Responding to Serious Youth Offending) Bill had its first reading at Parliament today. The Bill reaffirms the Government’s commitment to crack down on serious youth offending, Minister for Children Karen Chhour says. “In recent years we have seen an unacceptable spike in youth offending. “This Bill makes ...13 hours ago
- Critical milestones for earthquake buildings review
Fairer, more sensible rules about managing earthquake risks are a step closer with the passing of legislation and the appointment of an independent chair to provide expert advice, Minister for Building and Construction Chris Penk says. “The Government is committed to reinvigorating our cities and regions to support economic growth, ...13 hours ago
- State of the art radiology machine for Auckland
People in Northland and Auckland will benefit from a new machine for cancer treatment installed at the Regional Cancer and Blood Service at Auckland City Hospital. The MV5 linear accelerator, or LINAC machine, officially opened today targets cancer tumours with pinpoint accuracy. Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says this new, ...13 hours ago
- Foreign Minister to visit Europe
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Winston Peters will travel to Europe for high-level talks with France, Germany and the United Kingdom next week. "Since taking office almost a year ago, the Coalition Government has emphasised the importance we place on New Zealand's traditional and likeminded diplomatic and ...14 hours ago
- First arrests made under gang patch ban
Police have made their first arrests under the new gang patch legislation, with two gang members arrested, says Police Minister Mark Mitchell. “Just before 11 this morning, Police in Wairoa apprehended a gang member for wearing a patch to the supermarket. He has been arrested and will now face enforcement ...15 hours ago
- Better support for victims of sexual violence
The Government is proposing two major changes to name suppression laws that will put the views of victims of sexual violence first, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “We are committed to restoring law and order and these two proposed changes will help ensure the victims of crime are put at ...16 hours ago
- Government moving forward with Regional Deals
Cabinet has agreed to invite all regions to submit proposals for Regional Deals between central and local government that drive economic growth and deliver the infrastructure our country needs, Local Government Minister Simeon Brown and Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop say. Inviting all regions to propose a Regional Deal that boosts ...17 hours ago
- MSA pilot participant update
One of the ten young men selected to participate in the Military-Style Academy Pilot has allegedly reoffended. Children’s Minister Karen Chhour is disappointed but says it would be naïve to think that none of these young men would reoffend. “I’m saddened that this young person has not taken this opportunity ...17 hours ago
- Attendance rates increase, again
Associate Education Minister David Seymour says that school attendance is continuing to rise. In Term 3 of 2024 51.3 per cent of students attended school regularly, an increase of 5.3 percentage points from 46 per cent in Term 3 of 2023. “This Government has prioritised student attendance and it is ...19 hours ago
- Improving the lives of young New Zealanders
Ensuring New Zealand is the best place in the world for children and young people is the vision at the heart of the Government’s new Child and Youth Strategy, Child Poverty Reduction Minister Louise Upston says. “Childhood represents a huge opportunity to set people on a positive path towards living ...22 hours ago
- Government continues work to reinstate livestock exports by sea
The Government is reinstating the trade of livestock exports by sea while ensuring the highest standards of animal welfare, says Associate Minister of Agriculture Andrew Hoggard.“The Government will introduce legislation changes to reinstate the trade, enhance oversight, and strengthen requirements for exporters to identify risks and manage the welfare of ...1 day ago
- Speech to the National Quality Forum 2024
Tēnā koutou katoa – it is a pleasure to be here today. I would like to begin by acknowledging the important leadership role you all play in ensuring a quality health system New Zealanders can trust. There is enormous clinical expertise in this room covering a wide range of disciplines. ...2 days ago
- New Zealand’s COP29 National Statement
Tēnā koutou katoa. Mr President, Excellencies, Delegates. New Zealand, and all nations represented here today, are already dealing with the impacts of climate change. Our households, businesses, and economies are bearing the costs of its effects. The choices we make now will shape the severity of these impacts for generations ...2 days ago
- Latest Quarterly Investment Report released
The Government has released its second Quarterly Investment Report (QIR) which shows substantial work still to be done by agencies to improve investment reporting and meet the Government’s expectations, Infrastructure and Acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “New Zealand has significant infrastructure and investment needs. The Government is determined to get ...2 days ago
- New Zealand supporting loss and damage fund
Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced New Zealand will contribute NZ$10 million to the new Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage while at the annual United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan. “New Zealand is joining the global effort to address the significant challenge of responding to ...2 days ago
- Gang crackdown begins at stroke of midnight
The free ride for gangs is over when the clock strikes midnight tonight, with tough new laws officially coming into effect, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith and Police Minister Mark Mitchell say. “Gang patches will no longer be able to be worn in public. To earn the right to wear a ...2 days ago
- LGFA increases borrowing capacity to support high growth councils
The Government is welcoming the decision by the Local Government Funding Agency to increase access to financing tools for fast growing councils to support greater investment in critical infrastructure, Local Government Minister Simeon Brown says.“Communities across the country are facing an infrastructure deficit and significant population growth is projected in ...2 days ago
- Temporary Traffic Management costs revealed
The Government has revealed that over the past three years, the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) has spent an eyewatering $786 million of taxpayers’ money on road cones and temporary traffic management (TTM), Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“When I became Minister, I was surprised to learn that that NZTA did ...2 days ago
- Jurisdiction of Disputes Tribunal to double
Legislation that will double the financial jurisdiction of the Disputes Tribunal from $30,000 to $60,000 has passed first reading in Parliament today, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith. “We need to improve court timeliness and access to justice so that Kiwis and get on with their lives. Court delays affect everyone, the ...2 days ago
- Protecting New Zealand from foreign interference
Legislation that will specifically criminalise foreign interference and strengthen espionage offences has passed first reading in Parliament today, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “It is normal and appropriate for states to interact and work to influence one another. This encourages cooperation and can have mutually beneficial outcomes. “However, the reality ...2 days ago
- Significant milestone for Canterbury Road of National Significance
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed news that the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) Board has approved funding towards pre-implementation and early works on the State Highway 1 (SH1) Belfast to Pegasus Motorway and Woodend Bypass Road of National Significance (RoNS). “Reaching this significant milestone is a reflection of our Government’s ...3 days ago
- Health survey results to help drive change
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says findings from the annual Health Survey highlight the need to continue driving better health outcomes for New Zealanders. The New Zealand Health Survey is an annual snapshot of key metrics measured from July 2023 – July 2024. Findings released this morning include: In 2023/24, ...3 days ago
- Final push needed to get to Smokefree 2025
A renewed effort to get people to quit smoking will build on what has worked to date and target the groups who most need support, Associate Health Minister Casey Costello said today. “The latest New Zealand Health Survey results show the daily smoking rate at 6.9 per cent and we ...3 days ago
- New diplomatic appointments
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters has announced four new diplomatic appointments. “Our diplomats play an important role in ensuring New Zealand’s interests are maintained and enhanced across the world,” Mr Peters says. “It is a pleasure to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the Ministry of Foreign ...3 days ago
- Next steps for Regulatory Standards Bill
Regulation Minister David Seymour has today announced the next steps in the Government’s plan improve the quality of regulation by opening consultation on a proposed Regulatory Standards Bill. “New Zealand's low wages can be blamed on low productivity, and low productivity can be blamed on poor regulation,” says Mr Seymour. ...3 days ago
- Red Tape Tipline goes live
Minister for Regulation David Seymour has today announced that the Ministry for Regulation’s Red Tape Tipline is now live. “We want to hear about your red tape horror stories. From today, New Zealanders will have a say on how they are regulated through an online portal,” says Mr Seymour. The ...3 days ago
- Youth Parliament 2025 announced
The Minister for Youth Matt Doocey has today announced the eleventh Youth Parliament will be taking place in 2025. “Youth Parliament offers a unique youth development opportunity to young people from across New Zealand to experience the political process and learn about how government works,” says Mr Doocey. “The two-day ...4 days ago
- Police stats show promising change
After nearly a year in Government, Kiwis have seen significant change across law and order with promising early results shown across some Police statistics, says Police Minister Mark Mitchell. “In August 2023, I told New Zealanders that if they had not started to see a change in public safety within ...4 days ago
- Better coordination of anti-scam efforts
With the launch of Fraud Awareness Week, the Government is committing to new coordination efforts across industry and government to combat online scams, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly says. “Online financial scams are a growing problem for New Zealand. New data released today shows that Kiwis lost nearly ...4 days ago
- Minister to consider 7AA select committee report
Minister for Children Karen Chhour will consider the recommendations made by the Social Services and Community Committee in its report back to Parliament on the Oranga Tamariki (Repeal of Section 7AA) Amendment Bill. “I want to thank the people who made submissions and those who appeared before the committee in ...4 days ago
- Defence Minister to attend ASEAN meeting
Defence Minister Judith Collins will this week attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus in Vientiane, Laos. “We need to take every opportunity to engage with our international partners, given the increasingly unstable geo-political situation,” Ms Collins says. “New Zealand has a long-standing commitment to this ...4 days ago
- Launching the White Ribbon Ride
The Minister for the Prevention of Family and Sexual Violence, Karen Chhour, was on hand to wish riders well at the start of the North Island leg of the White Ribbon Ride in Whakatāne this morning. The ride helps mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, ...5 days ago
- Construction to begin on next stage of Papakura to Drury
Construction on the next stage of the SH1 Papakura to Drury project will begin early next month, with the contract for works awarded to Fulton Hogan, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. "SH1 Papakura to Drury is a key project that will drive economic growth and productivity, reduce congestion, and enable people ...6 days ago
- NZ signs trade deal with Costa Rica, Iceland and Switzerland
Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay has signed a pioneering trade agreement that prioritises New Zealand’s sustainable exports at a ceremony during APEC in Peru today. “The Agreement on Trade and Sustainability (ACCTS), between Costa Rica, Iceland, and Switzerland was concluded in July of this year and opens up significant ...6 days ago
- Government and iwi work together on aquaculture
Five new Aquaculture Settlement Areas will help ensure Ngāi Tahu shares in the opportunities aquaculture offers for Southland’s economy, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. “The Aquaculture Settlement Areas (ASAs) I’m announcing today set aside space so the Crown and Ngāi Tahu can assess their potential for aquaculture development. ...7 days ago
- Government launches review to ensure electricity market is fit-for-purpose
The terms of reference for a review of the performance of the electricity market have been released. The review, initiated by the Coalition Government during the power crisis in winter will look at whether current regulations and market design support economic growth and access to reliable and affordable electricity, Energy Minister ...7 days ago
- Speech to Social Investment Hui: Jack and his whānau need our help
Kia ora koutou katoa. Nau mai, haere mai, piki mai. Ki te mihi atu ahau, ki te manwhenua nei, Te Atiawa, Ngāti toa rangatira, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa. Thank you, Andy, for your introduction. Let me acknowledge you as the new Chief Executive of the Social Investment ...7 days ago
- Minister of State for Trade heads to Brisbane for PACER Plus meeting
Minister of State for Trade Nicola Grigg has travelled to Australia to attend the PACER Plus Ministers Meeting in Brisbane. “Trade plays a critical role in driving employment, economic growth, and improving the standards of living in the Pacific Region. The Government is strongly committed to supporting Pacific Island countries ...7 days ago
- Proposals to modernise conservation released
Toitū te taiao – Our environment endures The Government is consulting on proposals to modernise New Zealand’s conservation management system, aiming to protect relevant natural areas while supporting sustainable growth in tourism and regional economies, Conservation Minister Tama Potaka says. “Today, the Department of Conservation – Te Papa Atawhai is ...7 days ago
- This week three parties stood together – can they withstand the storm to come?
There is plenty yet to play out, but the next election is at this rate shaping up as trio versus trio, writes Toby Manhire. A subplot of this week’s historic hīkoi mō te Tiriti has been the sight of the three opposition parties presenting a unified front. Te Pāti Māori ...9 minutes ago - All 33 malls in Auckland ranked from worst to best
From the low lows of abandon empires to the high highs of a mall done just right. This is the second in the Malls of New Zealand series, where we rank the malls in major centres. Next week: Wellington. A note from the editor: This is the hardest ranking we’ve ...9 minutes ago
- The cost of being: A clothes-mad 20-something who walks everywhere
As part of our series exploring how New Zealanders live and our relationship with money, a 27-year-old apartment-dwelling marketing exec explains her approach to spending and saving. Want to be part of The Cost of Being? Fill out the questionnaire here. Gender: Female. Age: 27. Ethnicity: Pākehā. Role: Marketing exec at ...9 minutes ago
- Newsroom daily quiz, Friday 22 November
Loading…(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){var ql=document.querySelectorAll('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 22 November appeared first on Newsroom. ...10 minutes ago - Daily crossword, Friday 22 November
The post Daily crossword, Friday 22 November appeared first on Newsroom. ...10 minutes ago
- China likely to strengthen regional relationships in response to another Trump term
Opinion: Recent discussions in Shanghai provide some insight into what’s likely to be on the table The post China likely to strengthen regional relationships in response to another Trump term appeared first on Newsroom. ...10 minutes ago
- Nuclear winters know no borders
Opinion: The immediate horror of nuclear weapon explosions – the blinding flash, crushing blast wave, and radioactive inferno – is well documented.But what nuclear-armed nations either don’t grasp or won’t admit, is far more chilling: how their weapons could devastate even countries thousands of kilometres from any mushroom clouds.The collapse ...10 minutes ago
- This week’s bestselling books – November 22
FICTION1 Kāwai: Tree of Nourishment by Monty Soutar (David Bateman, $39.99)Sample dialogue, all from one chapter:“That can’t be,” replied Taona doubtfully.“You were right. The pā is unnervingly quiet,” Taona murmured.“The Hākuwai,” Motukia breathed. “Our grandfathers told us they rarely saw the Hākuwai in daylight,” Motukia muttered.“Their fight would have been futile ...10 minutes ago
- Burma the flying elephant
After about two and a half years of planning and waiting, New Zealand’s last elephant has moved to her new home at Monarto Safari Park in South Australia.Burma and her “human herd”, that is, her keepers, arrived last week, and she’s settling in well, according to Auckland Zoo’s Andrew Coers.“Something ...10 minutes ago
- NZ’s membership of Beyond Oil and Gas Alliance in jeopardy
Senior ministers in the coalition suggested NZ’s membership will be re-evaluated if it restarts offshore oil and gas drilling The post NZ’s membership of Beyond Oil and Gas Alliance in jeopardy appeared first on Newsroom. ...10 minutes ago
- Raw Politics: Six months in a leaky Bill
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon did not meet the Treaty Principles Bill hikoi crowd, sees “nothing” of merit in the Act-proposed law but the Parliament his Government dominates will spend six months debating a “divisive” measure.That’s because he has accepted there needs to be “aeration” of people’s views on the Treaty, ...10 minutes ago
- Taken to the brink, Govt is now close to selling big Whakapapa ski field
Bidder Whakapapa Holdings walked away from the sales process last year, but says it’s now ‘95% there’ on a purchase agreement – so who blinked first? The post Taken to the brink, Govt is now close to selling big Whakapapa ski field appeared first on Newsroom. ...10 minutes ago
- Watts nears a landmark deal on global carbon trading
A framework for global carbon trading under the Paris Agreement is finally nearing completion at COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan after years of halting talks.Climate Change Minister Simon Watts is one of two ministers tasked by the COP29 hosts with landing a long-sought deal on Article 6 of the climate accord, ...24 minutes ago
- Grattan on Friday: Marles plays a defensive bat on nuclear as the government rushes to get though la...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Richard Marles is an ambitious man who hasn’t given up the dream of one day reaching the top job. But, despite being deputy prime minister, his profile is much lower than that of Treasurer Jim ...6 hours ago - NEW POLL: Kiwis Overwhelmingly Support MPs’ Expenses Transparency Law Change
62% of respondents support the extension of the OIA to cover MPs’ spending, compared to just 13% opposed and 24% were unsure. ...8 hours ago - The House: Meanwhile, a week of passing law
The political week has been packed with worthy distractions, but all week Parliament has focused on passing new laws. Here are the highlights. ...8 hours ago - The biggest difference between Hīkoi mō te Tiriti and past hīkoi: More support from non-Māori
Analysis - The diversity of voices during the hīkoi was noticeable - from tangata moana to young immigrants to elderly Pākehā from the South Island. ...9 hours ago
- The House: Samoan citizenship restoration – ‘It means we belong to this land’
When the bill to restore NZ citizenship to some Samoans passed this week, Parliament's galleries were full to the brim with members of the community. ...9 hours ago
- More Delays In Action On Use Of Puberty Blockers With Children
Women’s Rights Party Co-leader Jill Ovens says the Ministry has put New Zealand children at risk by continuing to allow “off-label” prescribing of puberty blockers at far higher rates than other similar countries. ...10 hours ago
- Police Minister adamant he wasn’t aware of gang members training at gun clubs
That is despite two papers from police that raised the matter with him. ...11 hours ago
- Shorten declares himself ‘a proud moderate’, saying Australians ‘in the middle’ shouldn’t ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Bill Shorten has declared himself “a proud moderate” in a valedictory speech declaring parliament has the responsibility to ensure the extremes of left and right do not set the terms of political debate. Shorten, ...11 hours ago
- New ‘best practice’ principles for superannuation products are coming. We asked a panel of exper...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Matt Garrow, Editorial Web Developer Studio Romantic/Shutterstock We all know how important it is to save enough money for retirement – but what about spending it wisely when we get there? Even for those who have built up a suitable ...11 hours ago
- Government accused of betraying Kiwis’ trust over lack of consultation on live exports
The government has always vowed to reinstate live exports by sea, which was banned by the previous Labour government. ...11 hours ago
- 7 things you can do if you think you sweat too much
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michael Freeman, Associate Professor of Dermatology, Bond University ERIK Miheyeu/Shutterstock Sweating is our body’s way of cooling down, a bit like an internal air conditioner. When our core temperature rises (because it’s hot outside, or you’re exercising), sweat glands all ...12 hours ago
- Phenergan for under 6s is now banned due to hallucination fears. Here’s what to use instead
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nial Wheate, Professor of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Macquarie University Australia’s drug regulator has issued a safety warning over the medicine Phenergan and related products containing the antihistamine drug promethazine. The Therapeutic Goods Administration said the over-the-counter products should not be given to children ...12 hours ago
- A new stage adaptation of Peter Carey’s Jack Maggs is a delightful homage to theatrical storytelli...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Catherine Campbell, Lecturer, Performing Arts, UniSA Creative, University of South Australia Matt Byrne/STCSA Jack Maggs is a delight and a homage to theatrical storytelling in Australia. Based on Peter Carey’s bestselling novel, Jack Maggs follows the ex-convict as he lands ...12 hours ago
- The government has introduced laws for its social media ban. But key details are still missing
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Daniel Angus, Professor of Digital Communication, Director of QUT Digital Media Research Centre, Queensland University of Technology Ron Lach/Pexels The federal government today introduced into parliament legislation for its social media ban for people under 16 years. Communications Minister Michelle ...12 hours ago
- Archives NZ, National Library to cut 27 roles
The Department of Internal Affairs wants to bring the two organisations under the joint leadership of the Chief Archivist and National Librarian. ...12 hours ago
- Gang patch ban: Members warn of potential for violence to ‘erupt’ as new laws enforced
"I can't see this lasting unless they have a budget to lock fullas up in jail which I think is absolutely stupid, really it's ludicrous," Ngavii Pekapo, who set up a Mongrel Mob chapter 54 years ago, says. ...12 hours ago
- ACT leader David Seymour raises doubts about Waikato medical school
Government documents show ACT leader David Seymour told the government he was "dissatisfied" with a cost-benefit analysis. ...13 hours ago
- National’s Erica Stanford allegedly calls Labour’s Jan Tinetti a ‘stupid bitchR...
The Education Minister has apologised in Parliament for her remark. ...13 hours ago
- Labour backs new Police Commissioner – but warns against routine arming
The alternative to policing by consent would be a police state, which New Zealanders don't want, the party says. ...14 hours ago
- Youth on boot camp pilot re-offended five weeks after release
Children's Minister Karen Chhour said while it was disappointing, it would naïve to think none of the participants would lapse. ...15 hours ago
- In photos: People of the hīkoi, and why they marched
Hikoi mō Te Tiriti has come to an end, going down in history as the largest march to Parliament in Aotearoa. ...15 hours ago
- ‘Everything is becoming a culture war’: Jon Ronson on conspiracies and cycleways
Ahead of his appearance in Aotearoa, the acclaimed British journalist, podcaster and documentarian talks to Stewart Sowman-Lund about why people are still fascinated by the fringes. The last place I would expect to find Jon Ronson is relaxing in the countryside. The iconic British journalist and writer is best known ...15 hours ago
- Kia kaha Lebanon: NZ media only tell half your story of struggle
The United States has vetoed a UN Security Council ceasefire resolution — for the fourth time — in Israel’s war on Gaza, while Hezbollah demands a complete ceasefire and “protection of Lebanon’s sovereignty” in any deal with Israel. Amid the death and devastation, Joe Hendren reflects on his time in ...16 hours ago
- ‘Deserves a Bafta’: After the Party premieres in the UK to five-star reviews
The acclaimed New Zealand drama has just premiered on TV in the United Kingdom, and the five-star reviews are already flowing in. Six months after it was called a “blistering” “tour de force” by Australian critics, and nearly a year since The Spinoff declared it the best drama New Zealand ...16 hours ago
- Drugs are getting cheaper and easier to find in Aotearoa
New Zealanders are drinking and smoking less, but most other recreational drugs are becoming cheaper, more popular and more available, two new reports show. Two significant new surveys about drugs in Aotearoa were released this week, offering a rare insight into New Zealanders’ choice of substances, which ones are becoming ...16 hours ago
- COP29: ‘climate finance’ for the Pacific is mostly loans, saddling small island nations with mor...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Steven Ratuva, Director, Macmillan Brown Centre for Pacific Studies, University of Canterbury Lenora Qereqeretabua, the deputy speaker of Fiji’s Parliament, at the COP29 climate summit. IISD/ENB/Mike Muzurakis, CC BY-SA As this year’s UN climate summit reaches its final stage of negotiations, Pacific ...17 hours ago
- Review: The magic of Wicked and the curse of corporate greed
The new movie musical is undoubtedly a fun watch, but it’s also proof that bigger isn’t always better, writes Stewart Sowman-Lund. Contains minor spoilers for Wicked. There’s no doubt that Wicked is going to be huge. No other pop culture event this year, save from maybe Charli XCX’s Brat, has ...17 hours ago
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What an embarrassing situation. A shonkey PM supported by a “nothing to see here” media. Thank goodness that somewhere in the world people with integrity decided that enough was enough and that the world needed to know the extent of corruption. Shame it had to be a bunch of foreign journos running with the Olympic torch on this one (bar the likes of Nicky Hagar who I believe is looking into yet another scandal?).
Thank goodness for “dog with a bone” Politicians like David Cunliffe and praise be to leftie bloggers!
Yep, Cunliffe excellent on Morning Report this morning.
+ 1
Until he was made to look stupid by this http://www.odt.co.nz/news/business/381366/oio-satisfied-land-purchase
IR you would have to be one of the more stupid trolls we have …
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=11631031
I’m sorry, who is looking stupid?
A few hours after Labour does a sucker punch the OIO folds and re-opens the review of the Onetahi farmland sale
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11631031
Seems our troll, like so many of their kind, has problems with premature expostulation….
Ah no. Re-opening the review doesn’t mean anything.
It means that the person who lobbied to have it reopened doesn’t look stupid, and you can’t understand that, because you’re twisted by hate.
No, just waiting for the actual facts.
…and making false assertions, motivated by malice.
No false assertions made. No malice either. You, on the other hand, seem driven by it.
Malicious cretin spotting, 101.
In stage one, the cretin calls someone “stupid”, unwittingly describing himself. In stage two, this is pointed out, and in stage three, the cretin denies it all.
I think it is telling that none of the mainstream media outlets in NZ were involved in the initial investigation of the Mossack Fonseca papers.
Indeed, I just briefly skimmed an article on NZHerald.co.nz blaming the Greens for bringing it to light! Thank goodness for the likes of Cunfliffe, the Greens & Matt Nippert!!!!
The criticism was the hamfisted, and frankly dishonest, way the Greens offered this to the media.
“Wah wah wah, the Greens made Daddy launder money.”
Things are starting to unravel, these are the facts and there must be answers, no more tricky answers. Well done David Cunliff finding this information to help expose the shonkey dealings taking place in NZ
Stinks to high heaven!
Hopefully, all opposition parties will keep this one fired up and burning hot when Parliament resumes next week. Msm journalists need to also do the same, proving their worth as the proxy of the people, by exposing FJK and his ministers!
FJK telling his lawyer Whitney to have a word in the ear of the minister of revenue McClay, in an effort to prevent the IRD taking action against NZ’s foreign tax rules, demonstrates there is definite corruption in the ranks of NatzKEY! This is serious!
Something has to come out to corner FJK through his involvement here, enough to have him removed from office!
If not, then we are really in big trouble!!
That would be nice but I don’t think we actually have any laws against corruption in this country. And even if we did would they get applied?
We have one overriding law: Parliament is sovereign.
In case you don’t understand, it means whoever controls parliament can do whatever they fucking want.
No, the Sovereign is sovereign. That’s why she’s called the Sovereign. If parliament does whatever it fucking wants, it runs the risk of being dissolved by the Sovereign’s local representative.
@ Magisterium
Very funny. Are you just back from a visit to Planet Key or did you just forget to take your medication?
Even if 90% of Mossack Fonseca’s deal’s are legit, the problem for Key is that because of their total lack of transparency, no-one knows which ones are good and which ones are bad.
These secret arrangements reverse the usual burden of proof; it has to be assumed that they are ALL bad. Any association at all with any secret tax-haven entity must be judged as criminal until provable otherwise.
Good point.
Exactly. Essentially we need a law that says and and all dealings with tax havens is criminal and all assets of the person with such dealings will be confiscated.
We would need a list of all countries that act as tax havens and we would have to not be a tax haven.
Is that really what Mossack Fonseca has written on their t-shirts?
“Because taxes are for poor people”?
Unbelievable. Maybe it’s a set-up…
It’s photoshopped 😉
It’s also bs. The ‘poor’ pay virtually no net tax in NZ. Everything they get comes from the middle class and the wealthy.
HOW do the poor avoid GST?
They don’t. Nor do the non-poor. The non-poor just pay a whole lot more and don’t get the handouts.
Apart from the free education and healthcare and the rule of law and an educated workforce, and defending democracy and human rights against National Party values, no handouts at all.
Let’s face it, the vast majority of us are grateful for it too. Why are you such trash?
Oh you want some examples? Working for Families. Rent subsidies. Low cost housing. Transport subsidies. The list goes on, and on, and on, and…
No, you moronic numpty: I’m giving you examples of the subsidies the “non-poor” get. Why is basic English communication so difficult for you? It’s because your opinions are twisted by hate.
And I’m giving you examples of subsidies the poor get.
And you made another false assertion: that the wealthy get nothing back, when in fact they are the biggest beneficiaries.
“that the wealthy get nothing back, when in fact they are the biggest beneficiaries.”
Really? The poor get the same as the non-poor. Plus many other benefits and subsidies.
The wealthy get the same as the poor, plus vastly more money and capital and they don’t even pay tax. All the money and capital relies 100% on their living in a social framework that supports them: gardeners and cooks and drivers and politicians who must be bought and lawyers to hide their income.
Policing, a fire service, the internet, the rule of law, so that when their greed pollutes and destroys they can sometimes be forced (accompanied by cheers from the cheap seats) to hire even more expensive lawyers to duck their personal responsibility.
Not to mention (for a large percentage) Mummy and Daddy to inherit it all from in the first place.
What good choices they made 🙄
“The wealthy get the same as the poor, plus vastly more money and capital and they don’t even pay tax. ”
Where do you get this stuff? Tax is paid on income. Wealthy people will have paid tax when they earned that wealth. Any capital they have has been earned by someone.
“All the money and capital relies 100% on their living in a social framework that supports them: gardeners and cooks and drivers and politicians who must be bought and lawyers to hide their income.”
Do you have any actual evidence for these delusions?
“Policing, a fire service, the internet, the rule of law…”
Is available to all, paid for primarily by high income earners.
SO
no net tax in NZ. is untrue.
The richest get the handouts from the Gnats, and the poor get poorer.
If you want a healthy economy you need a government that realises that taxing the richest and letting the poorest in society spend those taxes, in the end,makes everyone richer.
IR you need to change your mind-set and realise that redistributing wealth downwards is essential for a healthy economy and a healthy society. Sure you can debate detail as about how you tax the rich and how you distribute the wealth to the poorer in society, but you must realise that a government that allows an increase in the disparity between the richest and poorest in society is damaging everyone in that society.
We have a government that has shown it is prepared to put the whole country in debt so it can give hand outs to the richest in the country, while cutting back on a wide range of social services for the poorest. The Gnats don’t even realise what an economy is, they think they are running a business, dohh.
“If you want a healthy economy you need a government that realises that taxing the richest and letting the poorest in society spend those taxes, in the end,makes everyone richer.”
That’s sort of what we do now. The rich and middle class pay virtually all of the tax in NZ, the poor pay virtually none, net of benefits.
The rich and middle class: those who have benefited the most from there being a society in the first place. You ungrateful, tiresome, graceless cretin.
Oh so in your world the rich and middle class benefit more than the poor? The same non-poor who pay their own medical insurance? Who pay higher school fees? Who most likely use less (subsidised) public transport? You jealous, one dimensional leftie.
They most certainly do, especially those who are in a position to “minimise their tax burden”. You speak of one dimension while only looking at one side of the ledger – the social welfare budget.
I find it funny that so many of you wingnut cretins reveal yourselves in your projections about me. You cannot conceive that someone successful and happy would give a shit about the less fortunate.
Paging Dr. Dunning-Kruger.
“They most certainly do, especially those who are in a position to “minimise their tax burden”. ”
The non-poor pay most of the tax. Fact. Whichever way you slice it.
“You cannot conceive that someone successful and happy would give a shit about the less fortunate.”
Actually I identify with that quite easily. I care very much about the poor, but my solutions empower people, yours enslave them.
Meanwhile, on Earth, poverty enslaves twice as many children (below 60% of median household income) as it did in 1984 (who benefited from that? Don’t answer! Look the other way! Call me jealous!), and your Daddy personally oversaw a law change which made it easier for child sex traffickers to hide their cash.
“Meanwhile, on Earth, poverty enslaves twice as many children (below 60% of median household income) as it did in 1984 ”
That’s not poverty. Poverty is when people have no access to food, clothing, power, clean water. Capitalism is reducing poverty across the planet, which is why silly measurements like the one you use has been devised by the left.
Pathetic: faced with an unwelcome message you shoot the messenger. Shall we measure it by the increased rate of “third world” infectious disease admissions to NZ hospitals, or is The Lancet a hotbed of Socialism in your litany of witless derivative denials?
“Pathetic: faced with an unwelcome message you shoot the messenger. ”
Pathetic. Failure to discern the difference between a comment about calculating poverty and shooting the messenger.
Preventable infectious diseases. Hospital admissions. The Lancet. Nah, blame the Left for pointing it out.
“Preventable infectious diseases. ”
By preventable, you must include by actions of people themselves. We have a first world water supply, for example. This isn’t India. Meanwhile…
http://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/diseases-and-conditions/rheumatic-fever.
The Lancet cites poor housing conditions. They blame income inequality. You’ll deny that exists, of course, and then I can quote the OECD’s estimates of how much the rise in the GINI has cost us in lost potential and GDP, and you’ll move the goalposts, and generally be a tiresome cretin.
Can’t be bothered. You are motivated by hate, your arguments are lies, and even your criminal money laundering Daddy has (belatedly, reluctantly) acknowledged that there’s a problem.
“They blame income inequality. ”
Newsflash…inequality is not the same as poverty. You raised the issue of poverty. There is poverty in NZ, but mostly self imposed. That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t fight it, but interviewing your keyboard and getting confused between inequality and poverty isn’t helpful.
Baker et al.
Keep twisting and lying, hatey boy.
Edit: mostly self imposed. Twisted hate speech, shithead: the unemployed crashed the global economy and doubled unemployment did they? What a loser.
“These findings support the need for stronger prevention efforts for infectious diseases…”
Like the rheumatic fever program, free doctors visits for children under 13…
“and reinforce the need to reduce ethnic and social inequalities and to address disparities in broad social determinants such as income levels, housing conditions, and access to health services.”
More confusion. Inequality is not poverty. Inequality is an inevitable outcome of all economic systems, and is mitigated in NZ by a substantial income redistribution system (tax and WFF) and welfare system.
So if there’s no poverty in New Zealand, cretin, who are these poor people you cite who are getting all the benefits? What a loser.
Back to the OECD and the rise in the GINI.
“So if there’s no poverty in New Zealand, cretin, who are these poor people you cite who are getting all the benefits?”
You don’t have to be in poverty to be poor. In the NZ context ‘poor’ is defined as “lacking sufficient money to live at a standard considered comfortable or normal in a society.”
I suggest two things for you:
1. Take a comprehension lesson. You are confusing terms rather too often.
2. Travel. Even a quick trip to Fiji will show you real poverty.
Tell that to people begging on the streets and families living in cars, and make sure to explain to them that it’s their own fault.
“Tell that to people begging on the streets and families living in cars, and make sure to explain to them that it’s their own fault.”
OAB there is absolutely no reason for anyone in NZ to be begging or living in cars. There is ample financial and other support from Gvt and NGO’s. We have an increasing problem with people who are unable or unwilling to access this support, and that’s where I get involved, because that’s where I see the need. You can carry on thinking this is some fault of a neo-liberal experiment if you wish, but your delusions are impoverishing of the mind.
Hi International Rescue,
First, relative to a lot of these people, ‘the poor’ includes those who most of us would consider high earners (e.g., earning over $100,000). They pay tax but are well out of the income league of these tax avoiders. So I took the t-shirt as referencing the perspective of the Mossack Fonseca ‘beneficiaries’.
Second, the poorest people in society pay in ways far more devastating than through taxes. They pay in their health, their prospects, their community (which have typically been dismantled, sometimes, repeatedly, over the last decades), their mental state, the removal of their dignity.
1. People earning over $100,00o pa cannot be poor, unless they are hopeless.
2. What nonsense. In NZ there is no reason for the poor to suffer as you imagine. We have universal health care and education (being made even better by partnership schools). We have a comprehensive welfare safety net, with overlapping NGO support services. The only people who could fit you alarmist description are those who are simply too hopeless to help themselves.
1. *whoosh* Looks like PG is going to have to use smaller words.
Nah, you’re wasting your time; International Rescue is channeling Bill English with the judicious use of the word “hopeless”.
And why not?
Or should we go back to workhouses?
It’s a piss-take teeshirt…
http://www.redbubble.com/people/redcowtees/works/21487355-mossack-fonseca-because-taxes-are-for-poor-people
Yep, only 18 bucks on line. I’m tempted to buy one.
Do you know that the word “gullible” isn’t actually in the dictionary? Try and look it up.
We’ll need to see more of a polling impact to put either Key or the electorate in play. As PM I would call a snap election now rather than grind remains of term out.
Not even Budget will clean this off media.
Still, good to see Cunliffe delegated to actually do something.
Hopefully he drip feeds stories over a 6 month spread.
Water on rock.
Cunliffe is the most able Labour caucus member to be doing this kind of high profile work. Why Little demoted him to unranked bottom of the caucus pile is unintelligible.
Done right this will totally destabilise Key’s leadership.
“Done right this will totally destabilise Key’s leadership”
And there lies the issue. They should be attacking McLay for being swayed, once he steps down attack the PM for putting him in that situation.
Why does the left (both Labour and the Greens in this case) always try to go straight at Key before they have anything on him!
The left need to read ‘The Art of War’ “Victorious warriors win first and then go to war, while defeated warriors go to war first and then seek to win”
@ Bob
You ALWAYS kill the leader first.
@ CV
“Why Little demoted him (Cunliffe) to unranked bottom of the caucus pile is unintelligible.”
Colonial Viper: There you go again trying to apply reason to the activities of a tribe. Tribes have their own social norms which they slavishly embrace, even when they are counterproductive and self-destructive. Penalties for violating the tribe’s norms are excommunication and banishment.
I forgot, was I describing the Labour or National caucus?
Not even Budget will clean this off media.
Take a look at the Herald or Fairfax, it’s already been and gone.
As a voter I want the power of recall so that we can directly hold these MPs to account.
Good luck Draco. It ain’t gonna come from Labour.
NZ First has a platform calling for binding referendums, which would include recall elections.
Great post. Good to see Labour and the Greens working on unravelling this disgusting government intervention on IRD to keep those in the 0.1% convicted polluters richer than ever and paying no NZ tax while buying up NZ real estate.
0.1%? What happened to the 1%?
The .1 percent are the true villains: What Americans don’t understand about income inequality
http://www.salon.com/2016/04/14/the_1_percent_are_the_real_villains_what_americans_dont_understand_about_income_inequality_partner/
“We are the 99 percent” is a great slogan, but is it distracting our attention from a sinister reality? There’s strong evidence that it’s not the 1 percent you should worry about—it’s the 0.1 percent. That decimal point makes a big difference.
Over the last decade, a gigantic share of America’s income and wealth gains has flowed to this group, the wealthiest one out of 1,000 households. These are the wildly exotic and rapidly growing plants in our economic hothouse. Their habits and approaches to life are far divorced from the rest of us, and if we let them, they will soon cut off all our air and light.”
Well when the reporter Corin Dann presenting this on the news acts like a Government defence lawyer to sum up the piece, its a much easier ride for National. (News clip at top of page)
https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/john-keys-lawyers-involvement-in-lobbying-government-over-tax-laws-revealed?autoPlay=4867168008001
Another one for Blip’s list.
A statement is only a lie if the speaker knows or suspects it to be false at the time it is spoken.
The vast majority of Blip’s list, and this latest item, cannot be proven to meet that standard.
Key’s defenders out in force.
Er, no.
Don’t think I need to say anything more than that, really.
@ Lanthanide
Basic ethics: There are lies of commission (when you know it’s not true) and lies of omission (when you withhold critical facts in order to deceive).
Lanthanide, when you say, “A statement is only a lie if the speaker knows or suspects it to be false at the time it is spoken,” is it because you don’t understand ethics or because you want to mislead us with your lie of omission?
Good work by Cunliffe and the Greens. Would love to see something at some point from both parties about reforming the OIO.
Have to admit to a certain degree of shade frauds at the thought of increasing stress some people will be feeling. Decide to leave the autocorrect in place 😉
@ weka
“Would love to see something at some point from both parties about reforming the OIO. ”
Whatever good they did would be immediately undone by the next Nats government. I’ll bet $100 on that.
Crikey mate, that’s pretty dark.
Yawn. nothing here is the smoking gun you are trying to turn it into. It’s another straw perhaps. but not the final one.
it’s hardly criminal any of this. And we still haven’t seen a single new zealand entity who has evaded taxes via mossack fonseca.
Last I checked, that was exactly the problem.
Rather a meaningless argument, since the issues raised from the very beginning have related to New Zealand being used as a tax haven by foreign entities.
Since when has New Zealand been the world’s tax policeman?
It’s OK Henry Filth, currently NZ is rather a long way from bearing that particular burden.
You should be more worried about the burdensome ‘policing roles’ NZ has already heaved onto its shoulders.
You know, all those other aspects of being a good ‘global citizen’ – the kinds of things that we supposedly relied upon to gain a Security Council seat.
Why, for example, did we ever become the world’s policeman on whaling? Why did we ever become the world’s policeman for peacekeeping (almost literally some of ‘the world’s policemen’)? Why did we ever become the world’s policeman on global terrorism (you know, and agree to all those restrictions on freedom)?
All entirely senseless commitments that have absolutely nothing to do with us, don’t you agree?
Seriously, are the benefits of good-faith cooperation completely lost on you?
“Not criminal” is not an appropriate measure for the conduct of a Prime Minister.
I Am Not A Crook.
9/5/2016 has a delightful ring about it….
Just the other day Trolls were trying to fill the blogs with how there was absolutely no connection with NZ in the Panama papers even though we are mentioned 60,000 times and convicted foreign polluters now have ended up with NZ farms…. yep mossack fonseca is only the 4th largest tax haven firm, there are three others much larger. This is the tip of the ice burg.
As for “haven’t seen a single new zealand entity who has evaded taxes via mossack fonseca”
NZ are still waiting to see John Keys tax returns…
@ save NZ
These tax haven trusts don’t go on an individual’s tax returns. That’s the beauty of them. You will need to somehow see all his financial assets. Only the GCSB and WikiLeaks can get that for you.
New Zealand has income tax returns, which do not measure wealth. Wealth is held in various vehicles, and any income is attributable to the vehicles, not an individual.
Or ayou really as naive as to think that. . .
+ 1 (Henry Filth)
“NZ are still waiting to see John Keys tax returns”
New Zealand is still waiting to see Andrew Little’s tax returns.
After he promised to table them in Parliament too. Anyone know when he is going to carry out that promise? Or is it like so many of the things he says. Just a load of bs.
He did.
Rubbish. The material that was published was only the figures from the EPMU and then Parliament, whoever there pays him. of the salary and wages they paid him and the PAYE that was deducted.
They weren’t his actual tax return.
John Key could have matched him by saying that his pay as PM was X and that he was taxed at 33% on the salary. That would have matched what Little produced.
It is conceivable that Little doesn’t have any other income at all but it hard to believe he doesn’t have even one bank account that pays some interest.
Let’s see his real tax return, which he promised, not some of the numbers he might have used to prepare it.
Oops theres another pin head.
“Oops theres another pin head”
I presume you mean your brain.
Try doing a tax return where you put in ONLY your salary and wages.
Ignore totally the $10,000 in interest and the $10,000 in dividends you have.
Ignore, like David Shearer, the interest on the very large bank accounts you have overseas.
Then see what the IRD are going to do to you.
Nope dancing on the head of a pin Alwyn.
I thought an erudite person such as your self would have got the reference.
Sigh
@ Nessalt (10) … OK. We will wait to see what comes out on 10 May, when a whole lot of information from the Panama papers is released. Expected to be some expose`, with names etc being revealed!
can’t wait. moment of truth. h fee etc etc
now 10/5……..NEVAH FORGET
don’t you feel just a little desperate pinning your hopes on these hail mary plays?
-Nessalt
All straws are welcome. There seems to be a never-ending supply, so keep them coming!
Meant to include in my previous post. Excellent work from David Cunliffe and James Shaw. Great to see Labour and NZ Greens working well together on this.
But they’re not working together. David is talking about farm ownership and the OIO, and James is talking about Key changing government policy for his mate.
They’re unrelated issues.
@ Lanthanide (11.1) .. the two issues might well be unrelated, but they are still connected, getting back to the same thing. Possible incompetence in the OIO and likely corruption in government, with both issues in turn pointing back at FJK.
But they’re not working together.
@ Lanthanide (11.1.1.1) … I concede you are not wrong there.
Quite. We can’t celebrate ‘working well together’ if it just means fortunately not standing on one another’s toes.
Arguably this is an example of them not working together for the best impact.
As far as I can tell, both stories first came to light yesterday – Cunliffe’s in the morning news, and the Green’s sometime later in the day (I first heard it on the evening news, and again this morning on the radio).
While there is some benefit to having two stories out at the same time, I think we would have had more of a lasting impact in the media news cycle if Cunliffe’s story was left to run today and this weekend, and the Green’s hadn’t come out with their story until Monday or maybe Tuesday next week.
The MSM has a short attention span and largely prefer to concentrate on a couple of stories at a time. By working together and spreading these stories out over time, they could have had a bigger impact than what we’re seeing now.
Guessing the Greens have not hired their next comms manager yet.
Or their next chief of staff.
same issue from different directions…corruption
@ Lathanide
“But they’re not working together.”
If you work for the SIS or GCSB, you can tap all their communications and know that. Otherwise your statement is pure conjecture.
By the same token, assuming they are working together is pure conjecture.
And, I’ve already offered an opinion that suggests if they were working together, they would have delayed the Green’s story until this upcoming week, instead of having both stories appear in the news on the same day.
How the IOA didn’t bother to do a thorough search for good character of the owners of the Tannery who bought the farm in Taranaki, before permitting them to buy the farm, beggars belief. To neglect to do a simple Google search and find they had serious charges brought against them for polluting a river in Argentina and to discharge a “good character” pass to the buyers, requires some heads to roll and resignations to apply. Just how many more slack decisions have been made and permissions granted to buyers of our beautiful land is a disturbing prospect to think about.
Now I read in the Listener this morning in Jane Clifton’s column that metropolitan real estate agents in Auckland are not unfamiliar with homes being bought with “suitcases full of the readies” – since when has it become acceptable for very big purchases to be bought with swags of bills of notes – surely the car yard franchises and real estate companies are complicit in this for not advising the Govt Depts who should be notified, that this is happening. Jane Clifton was referring to the 50/60 people that China wishes to have extradited for corruption – shouldn’t this area be investigated and the companies receiving this money charged for aiding and abetting.
Methinks this is the beginning of the end of this current government and it can’t come soon enough, we will all be wearing nose pegs if this continues.
Somewhere buried deep in a filing cabinet must be the smoking gun, the memo directly from John Key ordering the IOA to look the other way. Finding this memo is now your holy quest.
There are two possibilities.
1. Key didn’t realise that the law change he personally lobbied for in 2011 would be used to launder money, in which case he’s incompetent and a little bit dull.
2. He did realise, and went ahead anyway because…?
The thing is, money laundering. As a direct result of the PM’s personal involvement (sly or bumbling, who cares?), we are now a money laundering enterprise.
Keep twisting and turning and avoiding that to your heart’s content.
Smoking schmoking.
” “suitcases full of the readies””
That is very interesting. I’m pretty sure that banks will ask if deposits of cash are over a certain amount. I (vaguely) remember attending an anti money laundering session while temping at a merchant bank in London decades ago.
Given the preponderance since then of electronic transactions, large cash transactions seem even more suspect.
What makes you think they didn’t do a thorough search?
http://www.odt.co.nz/news/business/381366/oio-satisfied-land-purchase
“While the OIO was conducting a search of its records, the OIO noted that Ceol & Muir’s registered office is at the Panama office of Mossack Fonseca,” the agency said.
“The OIO has no evidence that would suggest that this connection with Mossack Fonseca is in breach of any laws.“
You are boring …
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=11631031
OIO decides to reopen application.
From your own source:
“Yesterday it released a statement said it was confident due process was followed and emphasised the foreign buyers had to “be and remain of good character” for OIO approval.”
Nothing has changed.
Yet they’ve re-opened the application.
Since the events being discussed occurred before the application was originally lodged, the fact that they have re-opened it in order to further investigate these events just tells us that although “due process was followed”, the process itself was clearly flawed.
Actually no, at least not until the application is processed.
If work, of any sort, has to be re-done, it tells you the work wasn’t done to the proper standard to begin with.
I find it difficult that you would seriously try to argue that point.
I guess work could be re-done for shits and giggles, but government departments don’t usually do things for shits and giggles.
No, it simply means new information has come to light. It may or may not affect the outcome. My point has simply been that this is an OIA investigation, yet it is portrayed as a hit on Key. Another silly bluster by the left.
“No, it simply means new information has come to light.”
Ahh, there’s you problem.
This information existed and was publicly accessible at the time the first application was processed. It is not “new” information, it is “old” information that they did not properly account for.
That’s the whole point. They didn’t do their job properly because they missed information that was material to the application that was easily publicly accessible.
This isn’t information that was in a locked toilet stall with “beware of the leopard” scrawled on it in a basement of a disused local planning office.
“My point has simply been that this is an OIA investigation, yet it is portrayed as a hit on Key. Another silly bluster by the left.”
Please show me anyone who is saying that the OIO incompetence is a “hit on Key”. I don’t recall anyone saying that. What I recall is various discussions about how much of a problem it is for the government that he leads, and that it raises questions about the competence of the party he leads to hold the government benches.
Perhaps you got this issued confused with Key’s personal dealings with a lawyer who successfully lobbied the government to change its review process over legislation that a government department had determined to be ethically questionable and needed review?
“Please show me anyone who is saying that the OIO incompetence is a “hit on Key”.”
You’re kidding, right? Read the article. Then read the heading.
@IR:
I take it by your reply that you concede all other points I raised, and that you therefore agree the work wasn’t done properly the first time and that they didn’t do a thorough search.
“You’re kidding, right? Read the article. Then read the heading.”
I see that you have poor reading comprehension (not surprising given you tried to argue that a government departing re-doing their work is not a sign that they did the work poorly the first time):
“Mossack Fonseca bites National on the arse”
Nowhere does the heading say “John Key”.
As for the text, there are clearly two separate issues being discussed – both together are bad for Key, but the specific one we are talking about in this comment thread is the OIO one, which reflects on Key’s government and party, but not directly on him. The bulk of this part of the text is quotations from David Cunliffe, where he also does not mention Key once.
The OIO one points out that they have approved 99.75% of all requests since 2011 (I believe when the rules were last updated by this current government). In other words they’re a wet bus ticket.
So, nothing in the article talks about the OIO issue being “a hit on Key” like you claim, instead it talks about his crappy government.
I guess you have internally made a permanent conflation between “National party” and “John Key”. Pretty good demonstration that the party really doesn’t have anything else going for it…
Micky, you’re right, he really is boring. I’ve wasted a heap of time dealing with IR’s inability to read or think.
Labour and Greens seem to be finding their common core? Good. 🙂
John Key’s legacy: He unified Labour and the Greens 🙂
Why is Shewan leading the review and not the IRD?
How about Adam Feeley? Now that would be far too truthful.
I suspect that over the next couple of weeks the media and political focus on this issue and on Key’s actions will be intense.
Yeah sure, given past history, I suspect MSM will bury it.
“Yeah sure, given past history, I suspect MSM will bury it.”
Yep. Quite right, Richard Christie. I “can’t wait” for the “Look – over there – Pandas” moment,
Any minute now.
It’s a conspiracy. Every single employee of every newspaper, radio station, and website is in on it.
Nah, just their editorial overseers and boards.
I know that the lefties on here are desperately trying to find something, anything to pin on john Key, that the lefties think that this, finally, is the smoking gun that will lead to John Keys eternal damnation
It isn’t and that’ll be reflected in the next few polls but keep up the good work
So what do you think about the disclosures? Endlessly repeating “nothing to see here” is not going to work.
Endlessly repeating “the PM’s corrupt” is not going to work.
FIFY, you see the difference is, I have 7 years of evidence to back my version up.
Let’s run through this story shall we:
Ken asks John for help, John says not my portfolio talk to Todd, John carries on being PM…
Wow, that will really stick to him! I can almost see the Teflon coating peeling off now! PR, how dare you say nothing to see here!
John says that Ken changed firms and happened to store John’s money at the new firm, a firm whose relationship to a current tax scandal is questionable. It turns out that Ken owns said company and has been associated with it for a couple of decades. The PM is obliged to be absolutely certain of his financial and legal dealings when explakning his actions to the NZ electorate. A massive inaccuracy (or imprecision at best) like that raises questions as to whether he is actually operating in NZ’s best interests. Whether his mishandling is by accident or by design is of no importance. He appears to be acting in a manner that is unfit for the office he holds.
Anyway, John can’t remember and it all depends on what hat he was wearing at the time.
Was it this one?
https://clubfantasci.files.wordpress.com/2014/04/ehp-logo-square-300×265.png?w=529
Perfecto!
.. Ken tells Todd that John said he should set up a meeting with Ken’s pals in the industry. Todd jumps like a good boy to do what the boss wants.
Nope, can’t describe that as peddling influence. Nothing to see here.
Apparently endlessly repeating “the PM’s not corrupt” is going to work.
The difference is, in this country people are raised on the legal presumption of ‘innocent until proven guilty’, running around shouting GUILTY, GUILTY, GUILTY with no proof just makes you look like the Labour Party
No-one’s being charged with a crime here and facing a jury and judge. Your hyperbole says a lot. Meanwhile in the rest of the world, people look at evidence long before proof is required. There’s plenty of evidence surfacing, various people are asking questions and wanting things investigated. That’s what happens in a democracy.
Hey, I’m just reading the email the PM’s lawyer sent:
http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/keys-lawyer-lobbied-over-foreign-trusts-greens-ck-188356
“The PM asked me to contact you to arrange a meeting at your convenience with a small group of industry leaders ..”
Either he’s over-egging the strength of the PM’s endorsement, or Key is ‘misremembering’ it by claiming he said go talk to the minister and nothing more.
Who to believe? If only there were prior form to guide us ..
Lol, I’m betting they’re both as slippery as each other. Hope the lawyer throws Key under the bus when the time comes.
Notice he said PM.
Not my friend John.
From a voters point of view, nothing.
Now if theres some actual evidence that links John Key or another National MP then yes it absolutely is a big deal but at the moment all you’ve got is insinuations
The people who vote John Key probably won’t change their votes over this or if they do they’ll vote NZFirst as a protest but they won’t vote Labour/Green, in fact I wouldn’t be surprised if National don’t receive a slight bump in the polls as people get tired of the lefts constant “boy who cried wolf” act
You already gave your assertions on an imaginary majority of voters’ point of view in the previous post. The question regarded what you think.
Linking them to what? There is already evidence of the link between Whitney and Key, and the emails show that Whitney asked Key about the issue, got a fairly cosy hearing with McLay and ultimately got the outcome he desired. As far as “actual evidence” goes, that’s about as “actual” as you can get. It isn’t proof of wrongdoing, but it’s essentially incontrovertible evidence that the PM was linked to one of the main lobbyists, and that said lobbyist received a very sympathetic hearing with McLay on Key’s recommendation. An impartial investigation is definitely warranted.
My opinion is this is a nothing, belt-way interest only story. Whiney asked Key and Key him nothing to do with him and directed him to correct person.
http://www.odt.co.nz/news/business/381366/oio-satisfied-land-purchase
“The OIO has no evidence that would suggest that this connection with Mossack Fonseca is in breach of any laws.”
Unless the left have more then its game over for this smear.
So you still have no opinion on the issue, only on who’s interested. Typical tory obfuscation.
“Puckish Rogue” endlessly presents the same claim; “this is nothing, Key’s support will rise”. He takes the position that everything Key and National does is clean, and mocks those who say otherwise. No one, however, believes that Key and his team are spotless and Puckish Rogue’s “superior” tone rings untrue. It’s not possible that he genuinely holds those shallow views so his reasons for being here on The Standard and holding so fast to his line have to be strategic and intended to destabilize and disrupt.
Can you prove anything illegal has occurred? No, then stop trolling
@ Puckish Rogue … we will see what’s exposed next month shall we?
Well if its more of the same insinuations then it’ll be a big yawn, I prefer the results of the polls to gauge the public reaction
“I prefer the results of the polls to gauge the public reaction”
Well, my dear Puckers, the first post-Panama Papers Poll has come out and what do we find ?
(1) National down to its lowest rating in any Post-Election Poll.
(2) Opposition Bloc’s 54% = Highest in any poll since last Election
(3) Oppo Bloc’s lead over Govt Bloc by 8 points = Largest since last Election
(4) Govt’s 46% and Broader Right’s 47% = Lowest in any poll since last Election.
True, Labour’s also down. but in the scheme of things, that pales into insignificance. Since February, the Nats are down 5.5 points, whereas Labour have slipped by just the one point (Roy Morgans).
**************************************************************
Story breaks Early April (4th-5th), Shewan review announced April 11. Roy Morgan fieldwork = 4-17 April.
UMR Research Poll (April 14-18) says 57% “Concerned” / 23% “Not Concerned” about NZ’s reputation as a tax haven.
(40% of Nats “Concerned” / 36% “Not Concerned”)
Thinks he’s clocked off.
Red delusion is now on duty.
More details from UMR Research Poll
46% said the Key Govt had handled the fallout “Poorly” / with just 21% saying it was being handled “Well”
52% said the Shewan review was an “inadequate” response to the issue.
All before the latest, much more specific and damaging revelations.
illegal is a bit of a red herring – appearance matters as much as fact in govt
and thats what the rules say – not my opinion
You are spot on there framu, and the appearance of the opposition trying to pin this on John Key when his part in this was to say “I’m not the minister, talk to Todd McLay” just goes to re-enforce that this is nothing but a personal smear campaign by an opposition who has nothing else to do with their time.
They do it time and again and it always backfires!
H-fee, living in a leafy suburb, blind trust, now this…insanity
no – your 100% incorrect re: what the cabinet manual has to say on this
keys lawyer meets key > key (according to the lawyer) says that they are looking into trusts > lawyer lobbies govt > lobby group gets what it wants
thats the chain of events that causes the appearance of a conflict of interest
stop painting those who are central to this as the victims – they are grown adults who should be able to either explain them selves or stand up to a look from the relevant bodies
Bob.
Just another paid or deluded supporter of the uber rich.
Loves tax havens.
Paul, I am neither paid by, or a supporter of the super rich, and I particularly hate tax havens (on a global scale) and (on a side note) a big fan of the UBI.
What I am a fan of is strong opposition, the issue I have is it has been so long since we have had one I am starting to give up hope. This obsession with trying to pin absolutely everything to John Key directly is starting to do my fucking head in!
The opposition have a chance here to take down Todd McLay and pin his demise back to the PM putting him in a compromised position. Instead, as usual, the opposition have gone off half cocked, got two steps ahead of themselves and will once again fall flat on their face.
The problem for the left is that they have falsely cried ‘crisis’ or ‘corruption’ so many times that no-one is listening anymore. The ‘moment of truth’ is now in political folklore.
There is nothing in this story, yet Labour and the Greens are doing their usual histrionics. They just don’t learn that Key is immensely popular, and they’ve been trying this personal attack agenda on him for a decade and failed every time.
That must be true, because the IRD is full of Lefty Greeny types.
Meanwhile, money laundering for crims and terrorists is profitable enough for you to look the other way? Your lies are showing 😆
Do you have any evidence of this money laundering by ‘crims and terrorists’? A real example? Anything?
Of course I have evidence, hatey-boy: my employees, the Inland Revenue Department, mentioned it specifically as a reason not to relax the rules.
Also, dupe, the adverts from the money-laundering law-firms.
Also, loyal unquestioning authoritarian team member, my employees, the Justice Department:
Also, why are you cuddling up to crims, trash?
“Of course I have evidence, hatey-boy: my employees, the Inland Revenue Department, mentioned it specifically as a reason not to relax the rules.”
Ah, evidence? Not warnings about something that might, maybe, could, possibly happen. Evidence of it actually happening.
Cough up.
No crim-cuddler, if I had direct evidence I’d take it to the Police. There’s a reason the IRD warned against your Daddy’s money laundering plan. The reason being that money laundering is a thing.
You’ve got your tongue stuck so far up the Prime Minster that you can ‘t abide the fact that he personally lobbied for the money laundering rules to be relaxed.
So far, the best you can do is pretend that no-one’s taken advantage yet. That’s because your opinions are twisted by hate.
On the contrary, the thing about this one is that nobody seems to be needing to try especially hard at all.
“I know that the lefties on here are desperately trying to find something, anything to pin on john Key, that the lefties think that this, finally, is the smoking gun that will lead to John Keys eternal damnation”
Citation needed. Go on, give us 3 credible links to lefties saying this is the One that will bring Key down. If you can’t do that, I’ll happily spend the rest of the day calling you a liar, because here you are again making shit up, about the left, and using it to push your CT-esque agenda.
and I care about your opinion of me why exactly?
Fair enough.
Puckish Rogue, spending another day on the Standard as a liar and RW shill.
He/she is a complete tosser.
do you add anything of value to the world? anything, no matter how minor.
How about these examples?
From the original post, at the beginning.
“Maybe there is a God and if so she has to be a left winger. Latest events are trashing John Key’s carefully constructed persona …”.
And at the end
” I suspect that over the next couple of weeks the media and political focus on this issue and on Key’s actions will be intense. And his Teflon coating will be shown to have been scoured.”
Then from Heather at comment 2
“Things are starting to unravel”
or Colonial Viper at comment 6.1
“Done right this will totally destabilise Key’s leadership”
or Whispering Kate at comment 12
“Methinks this is the beginning of the end of this current government and it can’t come soon enough”.
They all look to be examples of what PR is proposing, don’t they?
None of those things suggest the belief that this latest scandal is The smoking gun that will damn Key forever. Which is what PR was claiming.
Of course many people think that Key’s teflon is wearing off, and that it’s a reasonably significant point in the wind down of his career and National’s goverment, lots of analysis on that. But that’s not what PR claimed or based his line of argument on. He told some outright lies about what lefties are doing, and he did this intentional misleading in order to push a certain agenda.
Apparently sarcasm and hyperbole is unknown to the left…
Hyperbole is very well known to the left.
They just don’t realise that most of their comments about Key and the current government involve a very large dose of it.
How about from mary_a on Cunliffe
“And why was that? Because FJK and his corrupt mob of miscreants, used a compliant msm to take David Cunliffe down, knowing full well what he is capable of doing to them”
She probably thinks that that is simply an uncontentious statement of fact with no hyperbole at all..
alwyn you are dribbling again,
here, have a napkin.
Those polls already showing the Gnats at 42.5% and plummeting?
Obviously, it’s all been a series of ghastly misunderstandings, Puckers.
PR, just keep repeating “John Key is not a crook, John Key is not a crook, John Key is not a crook………”
I remember a friend working for the public service saying a few years back that all sorts of people could walk straight into National ministers’ offices that normal people couldn’t. This sort of situation is probably endemic to this government.
That’s called “knowing people”.
Now it’s obvious why David Cunliffe should have stayed as Leader – He is feared by Steven Joyce and all the Nats, and rightly so. He has done a great job on exposing this so far, as have the Greens. I have no doubt there will be more, much more, and joy of joys, Parliament is back next week!!! Looking forward to Key passing out due to excessive sucking in of the breath!!
Let me explain something to you (it won’t help but I’ll try anyway)
National do not fear The Cunliffe. National took out The Cunliffe because The Cunliffe was leader of the opposition. National took out Goff because he was leader of the opposition, National took out Shearer because he was leader of the opposition and National will be taking out Little because he is leader of the opposition.
National are taking them out because of their position not because they’re feared.
strange….I always thought that Labour selected its own leaders….guess the Nats must have more control over the Labour Party than i understood.
Judging by how often Little sticks his own feet in his mouth I wouldn’t be surprised if Little was a National sleeper agent
I think you mean Shearer and the Labour membership dealt to him.
Hami, did it escape your notice that he led Labour to its worst electoral result since the 1920s?
Why would that scare anyone?
@ The Gormless Fool formerly known as Oleolebiscuitbarrell (19.1.1.1.1.1) …
You post … “Hami, did it escape your notice that he led Labour to its worst electoral result since the 1920s?
And why was that? Because FJK and his corrupt mob of miscreants, used a compliant msm to take David Cunliffe down, knowing full well what he is capable of doing to them.
What’s happening right now with Cunliffe’s recent work, questioning some of the rot involving NZ in the Panama papers, is evidence of this! Hence the reason, NatzKEY don’t want him anywhere near the Labour leadership!
NatzKEY has good reason indeed to be very scared of David Cunliffe!
Cunliffe is doing msm’s job of sourcing details, informing NZers, because mainstream media is too gutless to publish anything which is likely to incriminate its beloved leader “honest” John!
The public hates Cunliffe. By all means make him leader again.
No, no The Cunliffe only needed a couple more months in the job then the public would have loved him
Your scary face is showing.
What David Cunliffe needed was some fair and even treatment from the MSM, which he never got.
Case in point: “I’m sorry for being a man” – in CONTEXT that actually was a reasonable thing to say, but out of context it sounds insane. That’s why the media repeated it out of context.
Case in point: the Dong Hua Liu story was a complete beatup, where the media failed to get an affidavit for his claims of donations (which were later shown to be grossly exaggerated and spun), followed up by Cunliffe being crucified for a purely procedural letter that his electorate office had written 11 years ago. At least one prominent MSM reporter has publicly apologised for their involvement in the letter ‘scandal’.
What also hurt Cunliffe a lot was The Internet-Mana party, which was a case of collateral damage, no matter how much distance he tried to put between Labour and them.
Cunliffe was also a victim of circumstance with Nicky Hagar’s book. No-one was expecting that bombshell, but Labour had already embarked on a policy platform where they wouldn’t outright criticise National or John Key. That left them unable to capitalise on the scandal as much as they should have. A strategic mis-step by Cunliffe there, but Dirty Politics was a black swan event that no-one could anticipate.
A good summation of the circumstances Lanthanide.
If we’re talking desperation to see a leader brought down, the best example is that 6 month period prior to the last election when much commentary in the media seemed remarkably keen on depicting Cunliffe as some kind of an exceptionally sneaky, tricky, lying, arrogant person, apparently undeserving of a ‘fair go’.
Whatever motive such commentators had it was remarkably unprofessional behaviour.
@ The Gormless Fool formerly known as Oleolebiscuitbarrell …
You post … “The public hates Cunliffe …”
Are you able to support your claim with some substantial evidence?
Msm virtually ran David Cunliffe out of town, with nasty, petty statements, obviously intended to turn the public against him, making him seem insignificant and foolish!
Go back and read some msm headlines and stories in 2014, leading up the the last election, if you can’t remember! One from NZH’s John Armstrong in particular, calling for Cunliffe’s resignation, over an 11 year old letter he wrote. When he retired, Armstrong said he regretted writing that column! Then there was the pathetic piece about Cunliffe wearing a red scarf for goodness sake! And don’t forget at the same time, Fairfax media through STUFF etc, was also putting the boot into Cunliffe!
Are you able to support your claim with some substantial evidence?
The 2014 general election.
The Gormless Fool formerly known as Oleolebiscuitbarrell whilst you still ignore the valid points Lanthanide and Mary_A wrote, the election doesn’t show “the public hates Cunliffe.”
OK, leftie. Why do you think fewer people voted for Cunliffe than any Labour leader ever since Ava Garnder was born?
Lanthanide and Mary_A already told you, The Gormless Fool formerly known as Oleolebiscuitbarrell.
I do believe Cunliffe would do a better job than Little of further reducing the Labour vote in 2017.
While Cunliffe is the pin up boy to the left of Labour…he is toxic to middle NZ (where the votes are that Labour needs to pick up).
David Cunliffe is by all accounts a talented intelligent man.
He is also the worst political campaigner in the world.
“Because FJK and his corrupt mob of miscreants, used a compliant msm to take David Cunliffe down, knowing full well what he is capable of doing to them.”
No, that’s just delusional. Cunliffe lost because the voters saw through the veneer and realised there was no substance. We have seen what Cunliffe is capable of, getting Labour thrashed.
You have been living on planet key way too long IR.
Oh, did Cunliffe win the last election?
Shill
Flibbertigibbet
So down to sexist insults now are we Puckish Rouge.
You like to cry wolf don’t you
http://www.dictionary.com/browse/flibbertigibbet
You mean some else who has read Shakespeare.
Scared and lying again ah Puckish Rogue – just to much of a habit.
Here another definition
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flibbertigibbet
And the context it is generally used in, is to degenerate young women – just letting you know – scared one.
So taking your link we see:
“Flibbertigibbet is a Middle English word referring to a flighty or whimsical person, usually a young woman. In modern use, it is used as a slang term, especially in Yorkshire, for a gossipy or overly talkative person.”
– Usually being the key word, usually not always
but lets move on shall we:
“This word also has a historical use as a name for a fiend, devil or spirit. In the 15th-century English morality play The Castle of Perseverence, the Bad Angel addresses the vice figure Detraccio (also called Backbiter and the messenger of the World) as Flyprgebet (line 1724). In Shakespeare’s King Lear (IV, i (1605)), he is one of the five fiends Edgar (in the posture of a beggar, Tom o’ Bedlam) claimed was possessing him.”
“he is one of the five fiends Edgar claimed was possessing him”
But wait theres more:
“Flibbertigibbet similarly features as a name in a local legend about Wayland’s Smithy. According to the tale, Flibbertigibbet was apprentice to Wayland the Smith, and greatly exasperated his master. Eventually Wayland threw Flibbertigibbet down the hill and into a valley, where he was transformed into a stone. Scott associates his Flibbertigibbet character in Kenilworth with Wayland Smith.”
Still more hes in there or didn’t you read that far?
Also amusingly enough:
“By extension it has also been used as a synonym for Puck. Through its use as a nickname for a character in Sir Walter Scott’s Kenilworth, it has gained the meaning of an impish child”
If you’re going to post a link in defence of your argument you should probably read it first 🙂
This from Richard Harman is interesting (although his last sentence about the Shewan investigation is a bit of a joke). According to Key all foreign trust register with the IRD only it seems more than a third don’t.
http://politik.co.nz/en/content/economy/827/How-the-foreign-trusts-operated-in-the-shade-away-from-Inland-Revenue's-gaze-Inland-revenue-Antipodes-Trust-Ken-Witney-trusts-tax.htm
If they specialised in that area, for sure, that is entirely apt
Green Leader Shaw says
“”Ordinary people, those who care about child poverty or about the environment and want the Government to change its policies, do not get this kind of access or this kind of immediate response to their concerns,” Mr Shaw said.”
I wonder if he proposes to introduce the actions he is asking for where his own party is concerned?
For example I suppose he will have to say things like.
“Our MPs will not meet with organisations such as Greenpeace as that would give them preference over ordinary members of the public”.
“Our MPs will not attend any meetings at which Green Party members are present or talk to any party members as that would give our party members preference over ordinary members of the public”.
“Party members will not be allowed any say on party policy as that would give them preference over ordinary members of the public”.
Why not tell the truth Shaw? Tell the public you think it is fun to attack John Key and to throw s**t at him and at anyone who has anything to do with him. We have been taking lessons from little Andy.
Wow whole lot of irrelevant stuff and false equivalences there alwyn. Next thing you will say is because there is no actual evidence of Key drowning kittens there is nothing to see. How about addressing the allegations.
What allegations? All I see here is a long string of smears with nothing to back them up.
Even Cunliffe says “He said he was not claiming Ceol & Muir had done anything wrong”.
The other rubbish appears to be saying that because someone knows John Key they shouldn’t be allowed to express an opinion on what Governments should do.
Did the Labour Party in Clark’s day refuse to talk to people who had opinions on public affairs? I certainly hope not. Our MPs should listen to everyone.
This is a blog which has a post complaining that Talleys are trying to silence a union. You attack that but appear to be in favour of gagging anyone who doesn’t happen to be on your side of politics.
Just why don’t you want people to be able to write (e-mail) a Minister?
Jeez thats a hard choose Alwn
Listen to green peace or foreign trust lawyers.
How to believe?
Personally I would much rather listen to old recordings of Janis Joplin or Joan Baez but to each his own.
“Just why don’t you want people to be able to write (e-mail) a Minister?”
Rhetorical question plainly stupid Alwyn.
Well hello you silly little man.
When are you going to put up or shut up for your lies about me?
Ready to apologise yet for lying about me?
http://thestandard.org.nz/johns-keys-lawyer-is-not-a-lawyer/#comment-1163386
Blah, blah, blah, the Greens do it too 🙄
Not even going to bother explaining why your argument is false. If you can’t see the difference between open lobbying by public interest groups and covert crony capitalism, then there’s no point in discussing it. Of course, you also haven’t posted any evidence to back up your claim about Shaw and Greenpeace.
“If you can’t see the difference between open lobbying by public interest groups and covert crony capitalism, then there’s no point in discussing it”
Like Pharma lobbyists meeting with opposition leaders, then said opposition leaders lobbying for Pharma products to be subsidised? Is that the type of thing you are referring too?
Can you give an example?
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/77406691/Andrew-Little-dines-with-drug-company-executives-months-before-adopting-Keytruda-stance
In what ways specifically is that the same as or similar to the Mossack Fonseca/foreign trust/dodgy boundaries PM thing? Or are you suggesting that politicians never meet with industry or vested interests? How would they govern then?
Lobbyist meets politician (Whitney and McLay/Merck Sharp and Little), politician supports lobbyists stance. That is what is specifically the same or similar, that is basically the gist of this whole situation.
We just need to find out the Merck Sharp lobbyist used to be Andrew Little’s local pharmacist and its a slam dunk apparently.
But Bob, its not the same as the PM’s friend/lawyer, who specializes in tax havens, and who actively sought out ministerial favours to ensure foreign trust rules remained untouched, is it?
You have just answered your own question…they all do it weka!!
“you also haven’t posted any evidence to back up your claim about Shaw and Greenpeace.”
And just what do you think is this “claim” I am making that needs evidence? All I did was give examples of things Shaw would have to do if he was going to do the things he is demanding National do. In other words, “Don’t listen to anyone”.
I am quite sure that Shaw is never going to come out with such a statement so there will certainly never be any evidence that he is going to propose the same things for his own party that he expects from National.
Shaw isn’t demanding that National never listens to anyone. I was going to give you some credit for not telling outright lies about the Greens and instead using inference, but you just couldn’t help yourself could you.
You’re talking a load of nonsense. There’s no valid comparison and your argument today is particularly stupid. I’m guessing you understand that because you can’t even defend it properly.
Hand them a napkin weka, they are dribbling.
Seems like alwyn isn’t the only person to receive the CT reminder to blame other people. Frances Cook, in this appalling article, writes that the Greens can’t be trusted because they didn’t give her a scoop. She seems to th ok that is worse than tax havens, corruption and dodgy money.
The msm is part of the problem.
The comments below her article, though, are priceless.
Here is one of my favourites.
‘I thought given the headline this was a story about how John Key cannot be trusted, turns out it was a bleat about news organisations not getting exclusives fed to them from political parties.
When are you lot going to stop blaming the messenger and actually scrutinise the actions of dear leader?
Who cares who got your story first? If journalists in this country actually did any investigative journalism then we wouldn’t need the Green’s to be digging this up and doing your job for you! This is self serving rubbish, try focusing on the guy running the country!
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11630702
Another riposte to Frances Cook’s ghastly Herald article.
‘So you’re trying to turn a story about just how corrupt this government is into ‘Bad Greens’ for exposing it. Maybe the media should have done some investigative reporting instead of just waiting for the press releases to regurgitate. John Key has survived harassing and physically assaulting a waitress for months, he’s survived rubbing little girl’s hair in his fingers, he’s survived having ministers accused of corruption. Maybe now that it’s all to do with money people will finally pay some attention and see that he is not fit to be running the country.’
And another..
‘”We are concerned that there appears to be a sudden change of view by the IRD in respect of their previous support for the industry. I have spoken to the Prime Minister about this and he advised that the Government has no plans to change the status of the foreign trust regime,”
This passage from the email clearly indicates that the PM was wholly aware of the situation with foreign trust and what the governments position and intent was before his lawyer than met with the (so called) minister in charge.
IF this was an isolated incident then it would be fine however this is part of a much larger pattern of behaviour since becoming the PM and shows our laws are for sale to the highest bigger, need we list all the dodgy dealings the PM has had personal hand in?
The fact is this foreign trusts business benefits no-one except a few lawyers back pockets but hurts the countries reputation. Even the tax man sees very little benefit so for the sake of our countries reputation we need to fix this issue quick smart.
IT is also very interesting that this publication takes (yet another) faux pas by our PM and turns it into an attack on the opposition instead!’
And PR and the shill brigade wonder why some of think the tide has turned.
No you misunderstand me, I mean of course the tide is turning, once a political party gets into power theres only one way for it go and that’s out
I just think that National has more then enough left in the tank to win the next election, helped in no small matter by a pretty useless opposition
So really we agree on the main point, Nationals on the way out but the only difference is the time frame
“No you misunderstand me, I mean of course the tide is turning, once a political party gets into power theres only one way for it go and that’s out”
Sorry but that’s just pathetic, especially as you’ve made a career out of crowing about Key and National’s apparent popularity and how they will go on an on. It does show a level of desperation though.
They’ll go on and have four terms sure and they’re still very popular (calling swordfish and his stats and why Andrew Little is actually more popular than John Key) but of course they’ll lose eventually
But not before John Key gets his fourth term
What’s this ? Did somebody call my name ? …
What a sad career. Shilling for the 0.01%.
The Defender of the 0.01% speaks.
Isn’t IRD like the rest of the civil service apparatus and meant to sit kind of independent from government?
Ministers do give policy directives to their departments (think the raft of legislation and policy that Bennett foisted onto the MSD/WINZ). The wording of the IRD bod is interesing though. It does suggest that McClay wasn’t giving policy direction so much as hinting at what should be done. In which case yeah, looks like political interference.
(can’t find the context for the IRD quote because the OIA report isn’t searchable. Are they always like that?)
This will end up like Kim Dotcom’s moment of truth…
You mean another milestone in the now very long saga of John Key’s corrupt career?
More like this: http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/a+damp+squib
The more you know 🙂
http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/shill
By all means keep up with the spin, and the rest of us will continue to understand that there is no silver bullet, just a long line of disgraces that National will eventually collapse under.
They surely will but not before the 2017 election
Puckish Rough is scared – his hero’s got caught lying – again.
That’s nice dear
The supporter of tax havens for the super rich pontificates.
“the super rich pontificates”.
Really? I haven’t seen him supporting the Roman Catholic Church and its leaders during their tenure.
And doesn’t the Pope take a vow of poverty?
I realise that the church is (obscenely) rich but I didn’t think you could say it about the Pope or the Bishops personally.
It’s another damp squib, insinuates “Puckish Rogue”. Same message, on repeat. There are now a great number of smouldering issues for Mr Key, all producing smoke. People, on smelling smoke, think, “fire”. Despite all that “Puckish Rogue” and handy-chaps like him are doing, “it’s nothing! NOTHING!!!”, the smell of smoke is in everyone’s nostrils and the primal reaction that creates cares not a whit for witterings like, “nothing to see here”.
Or people will see that, once again, Labour are shouting wolf and eventually people tire of the Little boy that cried wolf
(ref. Election 2014.)
9th May.
Ok I admit that I have no idea about what that’s referencing specifically
See 10.4
Ah I see you’re referencing H-Fee 2.0 or is it KDCs moment of truth redux?
So please explain why this worries me because I’m quite baffled…unless you think this will implicate john Key?
I mean it won’t obviously
The fear is showing.
It’s not all about Key you know. It’s about a national led government who let criminals and corporations defraud other nations of there tax income.
And I think we all get you love John Key Puckish Rouge. Grow your hair out, then put it in a ponytail, and he may just show you the love you so desperately need…
🙂
Your so funny when you are scared.
Ok I’m intrigued, scared of what exactly?
You enjoy behaving like a total prat, don’t you?
I really don’t get why you think I’m scared. Since 2007 the left have tried and failed to smear John Key, politicians have flown to other countries to find dirt and failed, a hacker spent millions to find some dirt and failed, John Campbell tried all his tricks and failed etc etc
Yet you think this going to be different and that I should be scared, well I’ll tell you this, I’ll be scared if or when the left manage to find something, anything substantial
and is it a full time job, or a zero hours contract? Do you get commission base on how many people you can wind up?
Its more a labour of love really
“politicians have flown to other countries to find dirt and failed”
Party staff, but yes, same result.
Just keep repeating, “John Key is not a crook, John Key is not a crook, John Key is not a crook,,,,”
Just keep repeating, “John Key is not a crook, John Key is not a crook, John Key is not a crook,,,,”
PR, I wouldn’t bother…. it’s like arguing with a creationist.
That’s harsh 🙂
“Or…”
I don’t think so.
Key and co are skilled at stripping any and every “incident” down into its tiny parts until there’s “nothing to see”, but where that clever ploy falls over is when the regularity and number of those incidents becomes apparent, that is, the room fills with smoke.
“FIRE”
“Or people will see that, once again, Labour are shouting wolf and eventually people tire of the Little boy that cried wolf”
Translation – Crosby Textor’s memo this morning said to focus on attacking Labour because they’re still an easier target than the Greens. Don’t worry if the conversation isn’t about Labour, just keeping parroting “Labour are stupid”.
Well yes Labour is an easier target (whats up with that?) but really the more the left something is there and it isn’t the public will tire of it
You’re slurring PR, time for a lie down.
Some truth to that last statement weka
Read your own words – Labour are being accused of crying wolf, not being stupid, though it seems likely that both are true.
I look forward to Oliver Stone making a movie about this…
Indiana.
Just another troll for the 0.01%
isn’t politics meant to be nasty?
No
what rock are you living under?
Jeremy Corbyn would agree with my stance.
It was the 0.1% last time, and the 1% before that. What’s happening?
National s fans are blowing flat out today I see, it must be abig job blowing the stench of corruption coming from this one A! pucky bob and al
And they have no case.
Just diversions and petty little squabbling.
Sounds like you’re describing Labour
When do you clock off?
Puckish Rogue, liar and shill on duty.
Reading his comments reminds me of the puerile oneupmanship some kids engaged at in school, when we were about 11.
Stop fibbing paul, you left school well before you where 11😀
“Reading his comments reminds me of the puerile oneupmanship some kids engaged at in school, when we were about 11.”
What, like “liar and shill on duty”?
so how much do you get paid for doing this? That is a genuine question.
More then what begging letters for $2 or a sausage sizzle could come up with matey
Interesting, so you are paid to troll TS
It would make my day if someone broke the news that there are paid trolls on political blogs and used me as an example
Public announcement.
“puckish Rogue is a paid troll on political blogs”.
There, does that make your day?
I get my evidence, and I won’t use the word “facts”, from what the nutters on the left claim.
Given the accuracy of their claims over the last decade though I wouldn’t put any money on the truthfulness of this one.
Public announcement withdrawn.
I’ve always hoped that, despite all the hard evidence to the contrary, it isn’t happening. It’s just too pathetically sad and desperate.
Nick Naylor wannabes 😆
Edit: seriously, paying someone to say nice things about you. It’s just creepy.
Puckish Rogue is one of a team of trolls working around the clock and funded by the Koch brothers and Monsanto with the funds channelled through Mossack Fonseca… as I’m sure David Cunliffe will reveal on May 9
yes dear
I have a real job, something I will look back on with pride, you should try it………. matey.
Burn 🙂
PR is right about 2 things….
1. Everyone needs to do a better job to nail Key. He’s a slippery customer.
2. They surely will fall
I think you are 6th defender of tax dodging and tax havens on this thread.
Your blind hatred of John Key / National does not allow you to see how examples like this at best only have a small bearing on non belt way NZ’s (which is 99% of us).
Over play it and it,s like pissing into the wind…not a good idea.
You support these tax havens?
Tax havens have been around since the 1800’s so nothing new here.
Sovereign countries are free to decide if they want to be a “tax haven”. Hence tax havens are here to stay.
In some cases people can have a legitimate use for them…in other cases they are abused and used by criminals (be it drug dealers or corrupt politicians etc).
Swiss Bank secrecy is nothing like it used to be…they cave in when the US ask for customer information. OECD task force are working on making tax havens more transparent.
Do I support tax havens…no.
No one cares about john key, it’s this corrupt national government which is the problem – Oh and the tax evasion, the lies, and the bribery. Did I mention the lies?
Dirty John,the creature of the polls
bernard, forget Dirty John, it’s the national government which is the problem. Dirty John is just one man, it takes a party to wreak a nation.
The good people of NZ are of course very interested in these startling revelations, yet the most read stories on the Herald are about:
1: A stolen phone
2: An avocado
3: Hamburgers on Lincoln Rd
4: The Warriors drinking
5: Airplane toilets.
The above is a sad indictment of the state of the NZ media, and people in general, but the Left has cried wolf so many times that people just don’t listen anymore. The headline was dramatic, but reading the story reveals that Key’s lawyer asked him about trusts, so Key said speak to the minister responsible. All the rest is trying to join dots with links that are tenuous at best.
Bingo, of course the Herald will be blamed for people not reading about these revelations, it’s MSM bias!
I really do hope the left block get the shit together and win an election soon, at least then I can see an effective opposition in parliament again!
The state of the media facilitates the rule of the 0.01%.
You should know that.
Yes Paul
You enjoy George Carlin?
Bill Hicks is even better.
Hey Bob, was National effective when they were in opposition for 9 years? The msm are completely biased. You are in denial.
Ben, don’t forget to add the fluffy all warm and fuzzy feel good animal stories as well.
Sportsers drunk-dialling for an avo burger from a plane, you say? Now that’s news.
Nation of sheep beget a government of wolves, as they say
A lot of energy is being burned by right wing trolls to kill this story.
Wonder why?
Paul, the rw trolls are in a panic, that’s for sure.
Throwing money at it by paying their thugs, like they do with anything that interferes with their opulent lifestyle, sad twats.
Shuddering in fear, we only come here for entertainment, don’t over play your relevance
Entertainment? Are you that lonely, or do you have so little imagination, or are you paid?
Sad or disgusting?
this is nonsense just like dirty politics you lot are left wing nutters this will only make john key more popular nobody who is anybody pays taxes .john key lies to hid the truth behind new Zealand fire economy with out the bull shit new zealand would be Greece who whats the truth nobody so stop exposing the lies you all need to practice self censorship
[r0b: You will need to choose a different name if you want to keep commenting here]
1. It is not the Overseas Investment ‘Organisation’.
2. Ceol and Muir went through the full approval process and have broken no laws. http://www.odt.co.nz/news/business/381366/oio-satisfied-land-purchase
3. Once again a dirty politics hit by Labour on private individuals has bitten them.
It amazes me that Labour never learn.
It’s all Labour’s fault that your Daddy launders money.
Do have any proof of anyone money laundering?
Yes: it’s all over the news: the Prime Minister personally saw to it that the money laundering rules were relaxed, and you can’t admit that because you’re twisted by hate.
I’m asking for evidence that this actually happened. A real life example of some terrible individual laundering their ill gotten gains here. “It’s all over the news” is quite pathetic.
Well done to Team Labour – king hit!
OIO re-opens review of farmland sale
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11631031
+1000 Joy.
The NZ CORRUPT CLASS can’t conceal the INTERNATIONAL criminality revealed by the (tip-of the iceberg) Panama papers. Their political cronies can survive this in the medium term only if media lickspittles succeed in normalising corruption in the public mind. That’s a meme the NoToSeHe commentators are spinning.
Won’t work (despite the best efforts of NAct, NZ is not yet a Banama republic), but good luck to them – every self-serving utterance is worth a chuckle, every vacuous jibe gives me a lift; the Panama papers are a gift that keeps on giving.
Good ole lyin’ John