National’s very bad week

Written By: - Date published: 9:51 am, August 26th, 2023 - 13 comments
Categories: Christopher Luxon, national, Parliament, same old national - Tags:

A welcome reprieve for the left this week as the right had what is known in football terms as a bit of a shocker.

National MP Tim Van Der Molen has been found to have been in contempt of Parliament for aggressive, hostile and threatening behaviour towards Labour MP Shannan Halbert during a select committee hearing.

An independent review of Van Der Molen’s behaviour by Barrister Wendy Aldred concluded that Van Der Molen had behaved in a way that was aggressive, hostile and unprofessional.  From Radio New Zealand:

The independent review found van de Molen had become frustrated with a perceived unfairness over how many questions were being allocated during the select committee’s hearing with the Transport Minister.

The report said van de Molen’s conduct as a whole was aggressive, hostile and unprofessional.

“Early in this exchange he approached Mr Halbert and stood close to him (but did not ‘stand over’ him [as was alleged by Ms Boyack]), being about three-quarters of a metre away from Mr Halbert in the confined space between Mr Halbert’s chair and the members’ exit,” the report said.

“Mr van de Molen told Mr Halbert ‘stand up mate’. [The reviewer found] that he said that to Mr Halbert while he was standing within a short distance of Mr Halbert’s chair, facing him, and that it was a challenge to Mr Halbert to rise to his feet. Mr Halbert reasonably took this to be a threat to his safety.”

“Mr van de Molen stood between Mr Halbert and the members’ exit and by not moving when asked to do so on a number of occasions, he effectively prevented Mr Halbert from leaving when he initially wanted to leave. This lasted about 30 seconds.”

It said van de Molen’s conduct had impeded Halbert’s ability to perform his duties as whip, and to attend a debate outside Parliament later in the day, though it did not affect his ability to perform his duties as chairperson of the select committee.

Halbert attempted to resolve the issue privately with Van Der Molen but he (Van Der Molen) refused to accept that he had done anything wrong.  Similar attempts to resolve the matter with National’s whips met with the same response.

How unfair was Halbert’s sharing of questions you may ask.  Aldred’s report indicates that questions asked were shared as follows:

  • National: 33 (15 Brown; 16 Bishop; 2 van de Molen);
  • Act: 11 (Court); and
  • Labour: 11 (5 Halbert; 2 Boyack; 3 White; 1 Ngobi).

Only a Nat would think that only getting 60% of the questions at a sitting was unfair to them.  If Van Der Molen thinks he should have had the chance to ask more questions he should have taken it up with Chris Bishop and Simeon Brown.

This was pointed out to Van Der Molen at the time as the transcript shows:

Halbert Don’t question my integrity.
van de Molen [Inaudible] integrity [Inaudible] Halbert Look at the count. Look at the count.
van de Molen Stand up, mate.
Boyack Ooh, oh, that’s pretty aggressive.
van de Molen Yeah, it is; it’s really disappointing to see—
Boyack No, it’s—work as a team. If—if—
van de Molen You treat the Minister as if his defence is being run by the chair.
Boyack If Chris Bishop—
van de Molen [Inaudible] Halbert Tim, you’ve half of—over half of the questions. Do your maths.

I find it astounding that:

  1. Van der Molen thinks that National getting 60% of the questions is somehow unfair.
  2. He should choose to make a scene about it at the select committee hearing.
  3. He should lose his cool and threaten Halbert or at the very minimum conduct himself in such a way that led Shannan Halbert believe that he was potentially going to be attacked.
  4. Van der Molen did not sort this out privately when invited to do so by Halbert.
  5. National’s whips did not sort this out privately when invited to do so by Halbert.

But what really amazes me is Christopher Luxon’s handling of the matter.

For a start he apparently did not even know about the incident until just before the formal complaint was made to the speaker.

From Mark Quinlivan at Newshub:

[Luxon] said the facts of the case were “disputed”, as highlighted by a statement from van de Molen on Tuesday.

Asked if he backed van de Molen, Luxon said, “Yes, I do”.

“He’s a hard-working member of our team, he’s a great representative for the Waikato, he advocates very strongly for rural issues in particular and, as I said, the facts are disputed and it’s before the Privileges Committee,” Luxon told AM host Ryan Bridge.

“In terms of our caucus meetings, he can raise the issues that are going on for farmers and for the rural community… he’s doing his job which is representing his constituency.”

Luxon said van de Molen didn’t raise his voice during caucus meetings.

He said the accusations against the MP were raised with him over the past few days.

This don’t tell the boss so he can say he knows nothing about it should not be an operational model for a party who wants to lead the country.

Then after the the finding was released Luxon claimed to be decisive.

From the Spinoff:

National leader Christopher Luxon has been talking to reporters in Auckland. There have been “severe consequences” for Tim van de Molen, Luxon said.

“His behviour was unacceptable. It was aggressive and hostile. It’s not the standard I expect of my MPs, and as a result he’s had severe consequences.

“All his portfolios have been taken away. He won’t be a minister in the next government.

“He’s done public and personal apologies to everybody involved, and importantly he’s also going to seek out coaching support.

“I think that’s appropriate, proportionate, and it’s decisive.”

Decisive leadership would have involved dealing with the issue at the time, not after the news finally broke and there was a finding of inappropriate behaviour.

His previous attacks on Michael Wood and insisting that he should be sacked immediately has led Jenna Lynch of all people to accuse him of hypocrisy.

And you really get the feeling that for Luxon if it is out of the public view then he can ignore it and that he will make all sorts of outlandish attacks on Labour and try and hold them to standards he would never hold National to.

Thuggish behaviour, being deeply upset at getting disproportionately too many questions because they were not enough, the denial and your boss covering up for you by being kept blissfully ignorant of what you have done.

This is so typically National.  Thanks for reminding everyone about what it means when you think you are born to rule.

13 comments on “National’s very bad week ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. Blazer 1
    26 August 2023 at 10:24 am

    Doubt whether voters will care much, if at all.

    National does not look to have much 'talent' .Where are these 'big brains' hiding?

    The leader is a slow learner that gives corporate execs a bad name,the deputy should be renamed 'shriek',and bash the Bishop, Chris is as shallow and over zealous an individual as you could find.

    Van Molen,Kuriger,Uffindel….all display an amazing lack of ..self awareness.

    Add Act's motley cru and you have all the ingredients for a disastrous coalition that will be a giant leap backwards for this country, should they prevail.

    • Anne 1.1
      26 August 2023 at 10:55 am

      Maybe some will care Blazer.

      As far as I can tell the background to this case as outlined by ms has not been reported. Interesting because it shows this Van der Molen character was intentionally trying to threaten and intimidate Halbert. He is claiming "he didn't realise it". That is poppycock.

      Had a boss like that once – even looked like Van der Molen. He was an American – ex Marine working on a NZ Defence Force base. I can fully understand why Shanon Halbert felt so "shaky" after the incident. It is a very scary situation to find oneself in.

      • mickysavage 1.1.1
        26 August 2023 at 10:57 am

        I checked the report because the number of questions allowed had not been publicly mentioned. When I saw that National had 60% of the questions my response was WTF?

        • AB 1.1.1.1
          26 August 2023 at 11:38 am

          When I saw that National had 60% of the questions

          With right-wingers, every accusation is a projection of their own habits onto others.

    • Jilly Bee 1.2
      26 August 2023 at 5:27 pm

      Yep, the good folk of Morrinsville couldn't care less – they will still vote for TvdM. It will be the same in Matamata where I live. Of course some of us will recall that Jacinda Ardern lived in Morrinsville for a few years.

      https://www.waikatotimes.co.nz/a/nz-news/350061493/morrinsville-unfazed-van-de-molen-malarkey

    • Mike the Lefty 1.3
      27 August 2023 at 9:21 am

      I tend to agree with you Blazer.

      National is not, up til now at least, really promoting individual talent in their government-to-be. There are the obvious ones like Luxon and Willis, but after that the pool is stacked with faceless underperforming dullards like Paul Goldsmith.

      Where is National's talent – who are the people who would aspire to deliver us from evil for the next three years? and I use the word "talent" very loosely.

      They are sorely lacking in National. If National runs a flat faceless campaign they are asking to be trumped (pun intended) by Seymour and the redneck ramblers of NZ First.

      Perhaps they think that Labour is so bad that all National has to do is put down their candidates and party list and coast to victory easy peasy.

      That kind of arrogance can cost you plenty.

      • PsyclingLeft.Always 1.3.1
        27 August 2023 at 9:46 am

        the people who would aspire to deliver us from evil for the next three years?

        Ah, MaybeTO evil ? ….there is a great Author Hannah Arendt.

        The sad truth is that most evil is done by people who never make up their minds to be good or evil.

        https://philosophybreak.com/articles/hannah-arendt-on-standing-up-to-the-banality-of-evil/

        None of NActFrst wear actual uniforms..or jackboots (as far as we know ! ) …but IMO there be a few of their supporters, who either dont mind a bit of Authoritarianism or would be keen to implement.

        Why we on the Left..must fight back. To prevent NActFrst "vision/fantasies" becoming… reality.

  2. PsyclingLeft.Always 2
    26 August 2023 at 1:11 pm

    “Early in this exchange he approached Mr Halbert and stood close to him (but did not ‘stand over’ him [as was alleged by Ms Boyack]), being about three-quarters of a metre away from Mr Halbert in the confined space between Mr Halbert’s chair and the members’ exit,” the report said.

    Ah..that sounds pretty much like stand over tactics…, They dont have to actually be "standing over" someone to impose their bullying/intimidation . and..the size difference would exacerbate all of that.

    and of course there was……

    Mr van de Molen stood between Mr Halbert and the members’ exit and by not moving when asked to do so on a number of occasions, he effectively prevented Mr Halbert from leaving when he initially wanted to leave. This lasted about 30 seconds.”

    That…would be pretty much blocking..Shannan's safe exit..if he felt "fight or flight". A threat for sure….

    IMO a stand over bully. Maybe thats worked for him in the past?

  3. georgecom 3
    26 August 2023 at 2:24 pm

    everything but taking a bed leg into the select committee. This week van der molen exposed for complaining and getting agressive about National ‘unfairly’ having 60% of the questions and Seymour complaining how his 'blow up a ministry' was questioned. talk about soft and woke.

  4. Corey 4
    26 August 2023 at 2:25 pm

    It's crazy that he did that and it's crazy that labor is so weak that the right got 71% of questions in a committee.

    But it's irrelevant cos noones paying attention. The elections a foregone conclusion in most people's minds and have hence tuned out.

    Labour have committed the worst sin imaginable : being boring and defending the status quo (on nearly every issue) during a time where a majority of nz thinks we are headed in the wrong direction.

    Gosh. I know the Labour machine well enough that it cannot be THIS incompetent, I know it sounds crazy but I feel Labour have been actively trying to lose the election.

    I feel like they just gave up when Jacinda left, elected captain beige for the express reason of losing.

    If they are actually trying to win the election, by offering nothing in two years, then gosh after the election there needs to be a massive internal change in Labour, from the caucus to the candidates, to party machine leaders to the policies and an end to the worthless focus groups and pr that have seen this govt rule out policies that poll incredibly well with the electorate in favor of worthless unpopular policies that a few unrepresentative people in focus group reacted well too thanks

    • Patricia Bremner 4.1
      26 August 2023 at 8:34 pm

      Labour are aware of the "state of the world" and our biggest focus should be surviving the constant "waves" sent our way. No-one can be certain of the future, and the number of crises to overcome is quite daunting.

      I think the failure and the difficulties caused by carelessness, (Wood)or self interest(Nash) Health (Allen) all coming in the lead up has flattened spirits.

      However, the troops are rallying with a very good online fund raiser.

      Blaming Chris Hipkins and the focus groups is a tad silly. Decisions are made on what can be delivered, not just what is wanted.

      You may have "feelings", but that does not make them true.

      We have been spoiled by instant gratification and become very impatient and demanding .imo

  5. Ngungukai 5
    28 August 2023 at 3:39 am

    Even the Drunken Dwarf at Winston First is looking sensible this time around, however we have 6-7 weeks to go until the 2023 General Election, whereby he will usually, no doubt shoot himself in the foot, or both feet as he usually does.