Open mike 09/12/2019

Written By: - Date published: 7:00 am, December 9th, 2019 - 34 comments
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34 comments on “Open mike 09/12/2019 ”

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    • ianmac 1.1
      9 December 2019 at 9:10 am

      Is it right that the Terrorist currently in Court should be prevented from talking to the Media? If so the same reasons should apply to the Bill.

      • weka 1.1.1
        9 December 2019 at 9:13 am

        The Bill applies to people returning to NZ where there isn't enough evidence to prosecute but where there is still significant concern. So not comparable with the Chch shooter.

  2. Anker 2
    9 December 2019 at 9:26 am

    Anyone watch the doco last night about fraudster Joanne Harrison?
    mainly focused on interviews with Michael Mathews and three people from Tower who had dealt with Harrison aka sharpe when she embezzled money there.

    this documentary barely mentioned the three long standing public servants who drew irregularities with Harrison’s invoicing to Matthews attention, which he failed to address. Harrison then effectively re-structured them out of their jobs held for 20 years plus. Sue Moroney picked up this story and it was investigated and they were apologised to and given compensation.

    but the documentary starts with Mathews, who was tipped off about Harrison saying, I did the right thing and I was punished. It was almost as if he thought he deserved brownie points for at that late stage doing the right thing and the inference I drew was it was just possible from a moral stand point he might not have done the right thing, IMO he came across with no recognition that his job would be untenable as auditor general and the idea that he expected to keep it reeks of a sense of entitlement. It was all very poor me and oh yes he did mention that tax payers had been swindled by Harrison, but the impression was he was the bigger victim.

    i really smell a rat about this programme. Not helped by Glenda Hughes appearance on it bleating on about Matthews being the victim here (don’t these guys who earn the big money justify it because they carry the risk and responsibility?).
    now Geoffrey Palmer has been very quick to say unconstitutional……it all looks like the most enormous set up to me. Interested to hear anyone else’s views

    • Jimmy 2.1
      9 December 2019 at 9:45 am

      I missed the TV programme on this but there was also a huge article on the Stuff website with a 40+ minute video attached.

    • A 2.2
      9 December 2019 at 9:49 am

      Matthews does appear to have been mistreated, even if there are other issues like ignoring the warnings

      https://interactives.stuff.co.nz/2019/circuit/unprecedented-breach-of-constitution/

      One of New Zealand’s most senior public servants said MPs effectively acted “like gangs and mafia” to force his resignation.

      Martin Matthews resigned as Auditor-General in August 2017, only six months into the job.

      Former Prime Minister Sir Geoffrey Palmer has called the episode an “unprecedented” breach of New Zealand’s constitution. He said it rode over the independence of the country’s most independent financial watchdog, and denied Matthews natural justice.

      Matthews feels like his “scalp” was offered up by politicians who needed him gone to please voters ahead of an election.

    • Anne 2.3
      9 December 2019 at 10:16 am

      Anker, I would be very careful about passing judgement at this stage.

      Having gone through a similar experience in the Public Service (although my status was well below his level of course) I am well aware of the way a person can be demeaned and discredited purely for internal and external political reasons. My detractors adopted the same line as appear to have been used in the case of Matthews.

      I, too, was charged with misdemeanours I had not committed and could have proved as much but they wouldn't let me. The fallout destroyed my career and left me with scars that still have not fully healed to this day.

      At best he was turned into a scapegoat to save the skins of others. At worst he was the victim of a travesty of justice designed to please the political masters of the day ahead of the 2017 General Election.

      That's the way it is looking to me thus far.

      • ianmac 2.3.1
        9 December 2019 at 10:53 am

        My sympathy Anne. All those books and movies where in the end justice is served. But in the real world, injustice can be delivered to suit the will of those with power. A refined sort of bullying?

        I read the Stuff feature and believe that Mathews was very poorly treated.

        • Anne 2.3.1.1
          9 December 2019 at 12:06 pm

          A refined sort of bullying?

          Not always very refined at that too ianmac. 😉

          • OnceWasTim 2.3.1.1.1
            9 December 2019 at 1:17 pm

            "Not always very refined at that too ianmac."

            Indeed. In fact sometimes it can be so amateur and crass you have to wonder how some of the protagonists involved in it all think they're able to get away with it.

            Often they do, but you almost have to feel embarrassed for some of them. (I certainly do having seen many of their antics, and watching their careers progress as they shuffle themselves sideways – sometimes taking stints overseas or other 'gigs' in "lil 'ole NuZull that punches above its weight" where often some really dumfounding idiocy gets to pass)

            Public service reform is long long long overdue – whether it's the "Yes Minister" shit that's existed for yonks (based on the former Empire), or what followed during the 80s which only served to make matters worse.

            There can be no "transformational" or "kind" gummint until some basic reforms happen.

      • Sacha 2.3.2
        9 December 2019 at 11:18 am

        At best he was turned into a scapegoat to save the skins of others.

        Whose?

        • Anne 2.3.2.1
          9 December 2019 at 12:01 pm

          Don't know Sacha. Presume it was colleagues, but how far up the chain they were has yet to be determined. Of course the motive could have been something else but if Palmer is involved it sounds like something was amiss.

          I knew just how partisan, nasty and bullying some senior personnel in the P.S. could be if it suited their purpose. Doubt much has changed.

          Off now to have windows 10 installed. Yeah I know, but 7 suited my purpose adequately so why bother to change? Got to now. 🙁

          • OnceWasTim 2.3.2.1.1
            9 December 2019 at 1:32 pm

            " Doubt much has changed."

            It hasn't. It's worse in fact – and if you hadn't noticed, thankfully there are now a few more beginning to speak out.

            And even if they didn't (speak out), you can see trends in things like staff high turnover (even within Muntry 'cost centres'); people (victims) who're now beginning to scream "enough"; where the worst of them are shuffled sideways – from and to, both inside and outside of the public sector; and so on. That's the good thing. The bad thing @ Anne is that we're still buying into it all.

            They usually end up fucking themselves up though @Anne (EVENTUALLY), so don't get all bitter and twisted over it. Let 'em go for it – the faster the better. You can be sure they will, and if they have an epiphany in the meantime – that's OK too isn't it?

          • anker 2.3.2.1.2
            9 December 2019 at 4:07 pm

            I have to say, I believe it was untenable having a cheif auditor who had ignored a number of warnings about irregularities in invoicing from a number of staff who had been in the job for many years. I really don't see how this could be overlooked……….

            He may have been badly treated.

      • Climaction 2.3.3
        9 December 2019 at 4:52 pm

        How is this situation similar to yours? rather than consistently alluding to yourself as an aggrieved party, why don't you lay out the case so all can judge whether or not you deserved what you got. then we can clearly compare it to Matthews, who definitely deserved what he got.

    • Gabby 2.4
      9 December 2019 at 8:08 pm

      I take it that it's been clearly established that there was no collusion?

  3. Jimmy 3
    9 December 2019 at 10:13 am

    I am very disappointed with Kris Faafoi (and Jason Kerrison) for giving the opposition (and Mike Hosking) ammunition to attack the government. I have always thought Kris as being extremely hard working and trustworthy and one of the best in Labour. Jacinda is under enough pressure with the under performance of other ministers and is doing well holding it all together.

    • anker 3.1
      9 December 2019 at 10:46 am

      Jimmy, Hoskings will always find something to attack this govt on. I saw the headline and deliberately click. Really Hoskings should officially be on Nationals pay roll if he's not already.

      And yes a big mistake by Kris, who is highly competent and likeable. A valuable lesson for Labour to learn though. I already posted that I think that Kerrison's behavour was totally rubbish.

  5. anker 5
    9 December 2019 at 10:44 am

    always good to keep an open mind Anne. re Mathews case.

    I had thought this happened under Labour's watch, not Nationals. Not that that changes my impression of how Mathews came across in the programme, and the omission of key evidence i.e. the whistle blowers who were ignored by Mathews. It would have been impossible to have the auditor general who had been alerted to irregularities and ignored/not investigated them properly keep his job, i would have thought.

    • Anne 5.1
      9 December 2019 at 11:20 am

      always keep an open mind Anne.

      that is what I suggested to you @ 2.3 anker.

      Here is what Matthews apparently did – courtesy of the stuff Report:

      • Martin Matthews receives a tip from a contact that Joanne Harrison has another identity and a previous conviction for fraud.

        APRIL 11, 2016

      • Matthews informs State Services Commission and asks for advice.

        APRIL 12-13, 2016

      • Internal investigation into Joanne Harrison begins. Joanne Harrison claims she is on sick leave.

        APRIL 18, 2016

      • Serious Fraud Office advises Matthews to investigate using Deloitte forensic accountants. Matthews commissions Deloitte review.

      After Deloitte investigated the case was handed over to the SFO and we all know what transpired.

      In Matthew's defence, he probably needed a bit more than just a suspicion before he could act on it, and when he did get something concrete he acted quickly. I also know from personal experience how clever and convincing fraudsters and gangsters (some wear suits and come across as pillars of society) can be.

      There's a lot more to play out here. I can't imagine Sir Geoffrey Palmer being involved if there wasn't something 'not quite right' about this case.

      • Sacha 5.1.1
        9 December 2019 at 11:53 am

        Palmer being concerned about the constitutional aspects does not really say much about the rest.

  7. mpledger 7
    9 December 2019 at 4:22 pm

    Just seen that their is a volcanic eruption on white island and the boat Te Puia Whakaari is heading back to Whakatane at 30 knots. That's shit scary speed for the sea (55km/h).

    https://www.myshiptracking.com/

    • mpledger 7.1
      9 December 2019 at 4:38 pm

      Who ever is driving the boat has pushed it up to 34 knots – you don't do that unless there is some serious shit going on.

  8. joe90 8
    9 December 2019 at 4:29 pm

    The pogromsRus party.

    Nothing shows the real face of the Conservative Party more than Priti Patel’s cynical move to criminalise one of the most abused communities in the United Kingdom.

    In an attempt to hoover up the votes of the “concerned” and “I’m not racist but” brigades, Patel spent the last day of parliament releasing a consultation document about the fate of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller (GRT) communities in Britain. In this document, she suggests that the next Tory government would allow police the right to confiscate the vehicles of “anyone whom they suspect to be trespassing on land with the purpose of residing on it.”

    This was followed in the Tory manifesto with a commitment to seize “the property and vehicles of trespassers who set up unauthorised encampments,” a clear signal that a Boris Johnson government would launch a new campaign of attacks against GRT communities.

    Although past laws such as the 1994 Criminal Justice Act relieved local councils of any duty to find official camping sites for GRT communities, no government has ever before made it clear they deem trespass to be so serious that you could lose your home by committing it.

    I’m not sure what the Tories want those of us who belong to GRT communities to do next. Sign on to the council housing register and wait 10 years while we freeze to death in a local bus shelter, instead of waiting a similar amount of time for a council-approved plot?

    The housing crisis is bad for all of us, but for the GRT it is another league. Even those of us who own their own land have a hard-enough time battling local councils. It was telling that after the notorious Dale Farm eviction, where local Tory authorities claimed the area was uninhabitable, permission was given for a private developer to build houses on the land. It wasn’t that no one could live there, it was that we couldn’t live there.

    https://tribunemag.co.uk/2019/12/persecuting-travelling-people