Open mike 14/08/2014

Written By: - Date published: 6:41 am, August 14th, 2014 - 298 comments
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openmikeOpen mike is your post.

For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose.

The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy).

Step up to the mike …

298 comments on “Open mike 14/08/2014 ”

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  1. mickysavage 1
    14 August 2014 at 6:42 am

    Kia orana. I have been spending the week in wonderful Rarotonga. So what is happening locally in politics? Anything unusual?

    • karol 1.1
      14 August 2014 at 6:47 am

      BAU from the right – deny, deny, deny.

    • One Anonymous Bloke 1.2
      14 August 2014 at 6:55 am

      You’re not going to believe this, Micky…

    • miravox 1.3
      14 August 2014 at 7:01 am

      For Stuff.co.nz there’s nothing to see here…

    • Te Reo Putake 1.4
      14 August 2014 at 8:31 am

      Guyon Espiner reckons you’re the left’s equivalent of Whaleoil. I’m suspicious; there are so many similarities. You both blog, you both go on holiday at the same time, and to the best of my knowledge you’ve never been seen in the same room at the same time. Is there something we should be told?

      • TheContrarian 1.4.1
        14 August 2014 at 9:23 am

        Na, Bomber is the left-wing equivalent of Slater

        • Puckish Rogue 1.4.1.1
          14 August 2014 at 10:10 am

          Bomber wishes hes the left-wing equivalent

          • Pasupial 1.4.1.1.1
            14 August 2014 at 10:44 am

            PR

            Your assertion does not appear to correspond to reality. Bomber points to the differences; between himself and Slater, which he has no wish to emulate, in a post this very morning:

            This line of attack that the Left blogs somehow get up to the same level of dirty tactics that the right do is an utter lie. I am in contact with all the Left wing Parties all the time, but sweet Christ I don’t get briefings from the SIS! I don’t trawl brothels to try and entrap Len Brown, John Boscowan, Labour MPs, the Herald’s editors or Duncan Garner! I don’t blackmail MPs into standing down! I don’t hack political party computers, I don’t arrange to have prisoners moved to remote prisons who then attempt suicide. I don’t go onto Wikipedia and edit in sexual smears about MPs! I don’t get police evidence from the Minister of Fucking Police to publish on TDB and I don’t get OIA requests that are worded for me!

            http://thedailyblog.co.nz/2014/08/14/refuting-the-claim-that-all-hager-reveals-is-just-politics-as-usual/#sthash.YX8l0VZ8.dpuf

          • Macro 1.4.1.1.2
            14 August 2014 at 1:43 pm

            I’m sure he doesn’t..

            Nobody on the left would want to be compared to that creep,

          • adam 1.4.1.1.3
            14 August 2014 at 3:05 pm

            Sorry PR wrong again, bomber is a bit of a dick, not a complete ass-hole.

    • ianmac 1.5
      14 August 2014 at 9:05 am

      You were mentioned on National Radio as an example of an anonymous Labour Party blogger Micky, though everyone knows your name and that you are not a member of Mr Cunliffe’s staff.
      So according to Joyce the Hager book is all old stuff and nothing to be ashamed of. Poor Mr Key was on a very long flight to somewhere and unable to talk to anyone.

      • mickysavage 1.5.1
        14 August 2014 at 11:35 am

        Fark.

        I just had a listen.

        I can honestly say I do not get paid to blog, especially from the likes of British Tobacco or Fonterra. I do it in the hope that my contribution to the standard helps the progressive movement.

        My actual identity is well known. I outed myself nearly 4 years ago.

        The only similarity between me and Slater is that we are bipedal males.

        • vto 1.5.1.1
          14 August 2014 at 11:44 am

          Slater is quadropedal

          • McFlock 1.5.1.1.1
            14 August 2014 at 1:28 pm

            Though he’s not so fat, Jabba the Hutt always comes to mind when slater’s photo appears.

            edit: hmm. I appear to have been imprecise as to the subject of the sentence. Better change it otherwise tories will be all pc about fat-shaming and probably call me anti-Semitic to boot:

            Though slater’s not so fat, Jabba the Hutt always comes to mind when slater’s photo appears.

        • Kiwiri 1.5.1.2
          14 August 2014 at 5:29 pm

          Heard about you. Never met you.
          Understand you are a Man of Integrity.
          A guy with a kind heart and a good head.
          Wishing you a good holiday.

    • Hami Shearlie 1.6
      14 August 2014 at 10:18 am

      Funny you should ask that Mickey! LOL

  2. CnrJoe 2
    14 August 2014 at 6:48 am

    Guyon and suzie are having a real problem this a.m. more world news anyone?

    • Paul 2.1
      14 August 2014 at 7:07 am

      Headline news at 7
      Yes it’ll be very interesting to see how the MSM handle this story.
      As they repeat many of the stories sourced from these dubious origins, they are compromised.

      • Paul 2.1.1
        14 August 2014 at 7:14 am

        Did Jason Ede write Guyon Espiner’s questions?
        Appalling for a public broadcaster.

        • tc 2.1.1.1
          14 August 2014 at 7:41 am

          Saw tvnz news at 10.30 where big head boyed had a go at discrediting hager and asking about the left and their dirty politics even cut him off which is very sloppy even by tvnz standards.

          hager handled it ok you can see the counter measures and note to tvnz; a pre recorded interview should be edited if practical to remove the impatience and bias of the churnalist.

          boyed needs acting lessons to hide his arrogance.

          • Paul 2.1.1.1.1
            14 August 2014 at 7:44 am

            Hager had Farrar on the ropes on RNZ
            Has shown him up for what he is..a key policy adviser for the Nats

            So bad Stephen Joyce has picked up the phone and told RNZ he must speak.
            The Nats are terrified.
            Have the RNZ got some intestinal fortitude…

    • karol 2.2
      14 August 2014 at 7:10 am

      First Line willl have Hager on sometime before 7.30am – probably fairly soon.

  3. karol 3
    14 August 2014 at 7:16 am

    John Armstrong says there are serious questions to answer, and, while Hager is left wing, he is not a “screaming left wing theorist”. He is a credible journalist.

    • Ennui 3.1
      14 August 2014 at 8:43 am

      I laughed like crazy at the Key accusation of “left wing conspiracy theorist”…so John, tell me the bits he has not got right so far? He has been right on the ball on everything to date.

      • Rosie 3.1.1
        14 August 2014 at 8:50 am

        Nicky Hagar wasn’t feeling particularly left wing when he wrote seeds of distrust……….And as it was pointed out by Liam Luff on the radio this morning, if it weren’t for Nicky Hagar, Key wouldn’t be in job now, after The Hollow Men exposed Brash and the Crosby Textor tactics, and everything turned to custard for Brash

        • Lanthanide 3.1.1.1
          14 August 2014 at 9:11 am

          Yes he would. Brash said in his autobiography that he stitched up a deal with Key that Key would replace him as PM after about a year of him winning the 2005 election.

          • Rosie 3.1.1.1.1
            14 August 2014 at 11:55 am

            Can’t say I’ve ever read Brash’s biography so wasn’t aware of that little gem.

            Remember the expose on Brash contributed to his downfall. Had Hollow Men not been published and life had trundled on normally for the National Party, then in an alternate universe they won with Brash at the helm in 2008, imagine the damage that could have been done under him within a year would have even been worse that it had been in that first year under Key.

            Even if Brash would have been replaced by Key within a year as you say, at least the Hollow Men fast tracked the demise of Brash, putting Key in the job well before he would have been other wise.

            Key emerged from Brash’s ashes as the New Golden Leader, so funnily enough he does owe his fortunes, in part, to Hagar.

            • Lanthanide 3.1.1.1.1.1
              14 August 2014 at 12:00 pm

              I, of course, haven’t read it either. It came out in the publicity for it.

              And yes, Key’s rise to power as opposition leader was probably cleaner than a coup for the PM would have been, but the fact that they considered it is par for the course for the nats.

            • Hami Shearlie 3.1.1.1.1.2
              14 August 2014 at 3:00 pm

              Personally, I have always suspected that Key was the one who leaked Brash’s emails to Hagar – only going on a gut feeling of course. I always say to myself “Who benefits by this” when looking for a likely culprit!!

        • grumpystilskin 3.1.1.2
          14 August 2014 at 10:03 am

          Brash was a man out of his depth.
          I was present on an occasion leading up to a debate where he had no opinion of his own, everything was party policy. In fact he often asked Richard Long, “what’s our line on this?”

      • weka 3.1.2
        14 August 2014 at 10:54 am

        I noticed that too Ennui, that Key’s statement contained not a jot of anything that suggested that Hager’s book is wrong. Just that Hager is a leftie.

  4. harry holland 4
    14 August 2014 at 7:28 am

    Nothing on Stuff.co.nz front page and Herald headline halfway down is simply John Key’s denial.

    This is exposing more than Key. This is exposing ms “print” media also. Looks like it may be largely left to Campbell to follow… I hope he has the stomach for it.

  5. CnrJoe 5
    14 August 2014 at 7:56 am

    Hes on a plaaaane!

  6. CnrJoe 6
    14 August 2014 at 7:57 am

    I feel dirty after the joyce espiner encounter

    • Weepus beard 6.1
      14 August 2014 at 8:13 am

      Did Joyce ring in again? They’re terrified all right.

      • felix 6.1.1
        14 August 2014 at 8:43 am

        Joyce’s embarrassing “tells” are on full display this morning.

        And there’s that bizarre “devil-beast” reference again! Popcorn please…

        • Te Reo Putake 6.1.1.1
          14 August 2014 at 9:17 am

          Farrar also has a tell; his RNZ interview had him swallowing and gulping like, um, a beached whale.

          http://www.radionz.co.nz/audio

          From a body language site:

          Persistent Swallowing.

          A dry throat is often a physical symptom of telling a lie and therefore the person telling the lie will often find that they need to swallow a lot more in order to keep their throat lubricated. In addition this swallowing is also designed to bring about a break in the conversation in order to facilitate the liar thinking for a few seconds.

          • TheContrarian 6.1.1.1.1
            14 August 2014 at 9:25 am

            Isn’t it more a consequence of his lisp/speech impediment?

            • Te Reo Putake 6.1.1.1.1.1
              14 August 2014 at 9:34 am

              Eh? Wasn’t aware he has a problem in that area. It’s not obvious in his speech.

              Edit: Just looked at a bio and you are right. That might explain it. But so can the bullshitting, panicking liar theory. They’re not mutually exclusive.

              • TheContrarian …
                14 August 2014 at 9:39 am

                Yeah he has a slight one, you can see when he talks – his face moves in a very strange fashion.

                • trickledrown …
                  14 August 2014 at 9:47 am

                  Contrarian he doesn,t appear to have that problem on Jim Moras show probably overtired from working late to figure out attack lines!

                  • TheContrarian …
                    14 August 2014 at 10:15 am

                    http://www.listener.co.nz/current-affairs/technology/kiwiblog-david-farrars-nine-year-old-baby/

                    “When he was a kid, David Farrar suffered from a grinding speech defect. Language had arrived relatively late, and when the magic finally came it sometimes felt like the words were sticking to the back of his throat, crawling out of his mouth, marking him as some kind of fool. For a time, life seemed to have delivered him a raw deal. As he recalls, it took the better part of a decade of intensive speech therapy to get his language fully up and running. Even in 2012, Farrar admits, he sometimes needs to practise a new word as many as a dozen times before he feels confident enough”

                    • trickledrown …
                      14 August 2014 at 10:32 am

                      No doubt he puts as much effort into his denials and spin lines .
                      But good on him for overcoming his disability TRPs link to body language site is poor science their is no scientific relation between body language and lying how ever their is a link between obfuscation and lying not answering a question directly is sure sign of lying!

                    • TheContrarian …
                      14 August 2014 at 10:39 am

                      Hager did say they Farrar was only a very bit part in this whole thing but I am reserving judgement until I have read the book (picking it up today).

                      Looking forward to giving it a read

                • Once Was Tim …
                  14 August 2014 at 9:50 am

                  that’s about the ONLY thing I admire him for – his commitment to something I understand was quite debilitating

                • felix …
                  14 August 2014 at 10:50 am

                  Isn’t it possible his “impediment” is simply a symptom of his continuous bullshitting?

      • Wensleydale 6.1.2
        14 August 2014 at 12:48 pm

        Damage Control! Damage Control! Evasive manoeuvres! Reroute power to the main deflector!

  7. Tiger Mountain 7
    14 August 2014 at 8:01 am

    The media jocks all look a little queasy today.

    Paul Henry had a ‘speed reader’ on Nicky Hager’s book–Charles Finny from lobbyists Saunders Unsworth no less! Our pompous man decided there was nothing to see here, not worth purchasing, “the beltway” people knew all this anyway, and advised people just to download “Dirty Politics” from the net “when someone puts it there” and he did not seem to mean a paid digital copy from Unity Books.

    Well Charles the news for you is that thousands of people do not engage with political blogs or facebook or the internet that much at all like some of us do. They still read books and Hager will reach some of these people before September 20. They will be not be impressed with what they read.

    This will be a vote changer for some, and there is still Dotcom’s Sept 15 meeting tick tick ticking.

  8. RedBaronCV 8
    14 August 2014 at 8:05 am

    I’m only half way through the book and it’s like wow! my jaw is still dropped.It’s joined lots of dots.

    I imagine the lights burned all last night at Nact’s headquarters and a lot of other places. The internal Nact bloodletting must be a sight to behold given the internal party type attacks undertaken. I imagine it’s divided into 3 groups, the “yea we did it”, “why did you get caught” and “what the F did you do it for”.

    Lots of lawyers fees coming down the track. All corporates should probably check they are not advertising on the blog and

    ‘sorry MickyS you have picked the wrong time to be on holiday”

  9. Draco T Bastard 9
    14 August 2014 at 8:37 am

    This blog on UBI may interest some people.

  10. Local Kiwi. 10
    14 August 2014 at 8:41 am

    Hey Micky “Watergate 2” Nixon. “I have never lied” – “I will resign effective at noon today”
    Should now be Key’s turn at these immortal words.

    When you get back march around to the electoral Commission office with a copy of Dirty politics and request they review every page in the book and request a ruling (legal) that there is or mot any political advertising evidence in the book that the NatZ have used illegally hacked from Labour and SIS files and used on a public media whale oil blog site please?

    Ask “Electoral Commission go check the book out for wrongful electionerring by NatZ here please?”
    while there Micky ask them can we have the excellent song/video Planet Key back on MSM please?

    Maybe we can add some rope with a neck loop around a branch on a tree inserted in that paddock and all opposition targeted MP;s standing around like Hang em high?

  11. TeWhareWhero 11
    14 August 2014 at 8:42 am

    My email to Morning Report

    The difference in the manner and tone of Guyon Espiner’s interview with Stephen Joyce and his interview of David Cunliffe was so striking as to be both embarrassing and distressing for those of us who hold treasured notions about RNZ’s political neutrality. For example, he did not challenge Joyce when he claimed Hager is a conspiracy theorist and allowed him to be evasive about Judith Collin’s relationship with Cameron Slater but harassed Cunliffe over his relationship with Greg Presland. His partisan attitude has been shamefully apparent previously but in the context of this current situation it was appalling.

  12. TeWhareWhero 12
    14 August 2014 at 8:59 am

    I think perhaps the best thing about this book is that it will force journalists to prove they deserve that designation and are not just churnalists and PR puppets who do the bidding of the National Party and the economic elites.

    Some are so stupid and/or so mired in their role as the latter nothing will change, but others will have to choose between knowing that Nicky Hager is an internationally respected investigative journalist who is scrupulous in his research – and the demands of their paymasters to join the chorus of those who are trying to discredit Hager’s work by labelling him as a ‘screaming left-wing conspiracy theorist’.

    And let them be torn. It throws a spotlight on the schism that exists between journos and commentators with intelligence and integrity – and the rest.

  13. Rosie 13
    14 August 2014 at 9:02 am

    Did anyone get out of bed with an extra spring in their step this morning?

    Heading out the door soon to get my copy of Dirty Politics. Wondering how this will play out over the next few weeks. Will the govt manage to effectively dilute any reaction using the reasoning on the bingo board weka posted last night on karols first post on the book? They will be “on message”, spinning for their lives.

    Or will NZer’s who by and large do still have a sense of fair play, want to see justice done, the characters held to account?. Will they be put off giving their loyal vote to a party they once believed in? Not all National voters are RWNJ’s, they are just ignorant and have poor judgement, but such deceit they may not be able to stomach.

    • Tiger Mountain 13.1
      14 August 2014 at 9:09 am

      Nixon Key and all the rest will have to start answering questions soon.
      http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=11308471

    • Puckish Rogue 13.2
      14 August 2014 at 12:24 pm

      I sure did because this is the lefts last roll of the dice and its turned out be nothing but smears, half-truths and insinuations but no proof so its all good from here on in

      • Rosie 13.2.1
        14 August 2014 at 1:32 pm

        God you’re funny pukish brogue (Watch out, that’s puke on your shoes! Oh no, or is bile from Wail Oil’s gut?)

        So I take it you purchased a copy of the book from Unity in Willis St, Wellington yesterday and have read the book overnight? No? Didn’t think so.

        Pretty confident for day one of the dissection of the content of the book, or is it that you are just parroting your vile masters? Did you all receive the memo about staying “on message” with your spin?

        • Puckish Rogue 13.2.1.1
          14 August 2014 at 1:53 pm

          I’m parroting Nicky Hager himself when he was asked point blank by Marcus Lush if he had any proof on John Keys involvement and he had none to give

          • Rosie 13.2.1.1.1
            14 August 2014 at 2:41 pm

            …………..Possibly because Key was intentionally kept at a certain distance to keep himself “clean and untainted”? Key’s hardly going to get his hands dirty is he?

            “He relates the situation to United States politics, where “the leader is kept clean” while “there is a system of people, including the Prime Minister’s office to Cameron Slater and various other National Party activist friends, who are being used in continuous and organised attacks on their opponents”.

            http://www.3news.co.nz/Nicky-Hagers-new-book-Dirty-Politics-will-shock-readers/tabid/817/articleID/356721/Default.aspx

            I haven’t got time for this Puke. I’ve got to go. I’ve got my name down for a copy of the book at soon as it arrives it the local book store, either later today or tomorrow. I suggest you do the same too.

  14. Pete 14
    14 August 2014 at 9:04 am

    The top 5 trending terms on Twitter are:
    #hager book
    Dirty Politics
    Watergate
    Slater
    Whale Oil

  15. Ant 15
    14 August 2014 at 9:19 am

    Wow Plunket is bending over backwards to downplay #dirtypolitics

    LOL @ “joining the dots” he has fricken documents mapping their interactions….

  16. weka 16
    14 August 2014 at 9:19 am

    Hooton just called Hager a master of public relations (RNZ). Jealous much Matthew? lolz.

    • weka 16.1
      14 August 2014 at 9:20 am

      And he’s filling out the Bingo card pretty quick.

      btw, what is Hooton’s relationship with Slater? Katherine Ryan is just pointing out that Hooton is part of the cabal, and is in the book, and asking Hooton if there is anything he wants to discuss. WTF? Why is Hooton even on RNZ this morning as one of their political commentators. Complete conflict of interest.

      • weka 16.1.1
        14 August 2014 at 9:35 am

        Almost total fail from Ryan and her producers on what the point of Hager’s book is. She seems to think it’s just the normal rough and tumble of party politics, with a new twist of the blogging medium.

        A pathetic offering from RNZ this morning, couldn’t find anyone more interesting talk to than Hooton and Williams.

  17. Weepus beard 17
    14 August 2014 at 9:24 am

    Extreme turncoat Michael Bassett indulging in some revolting, smearing whataboutery on ZB. Playing the victim card. Calls Hager a “ferret faced fruitcake”.

    I feel ill.

    • vto 17.1
      14 August 2014 at 9:45 am

      A ferret faced fruitcake?

      That’s charming isn’t it – what a great man Michael Bassett is…… not. It is clearly all over for Bassett then.

      • TeWhareWhero 17.1.1
        14 August 2014 at 10:03 am

        If I wanted to stoop to gutter politics I could probably come up with an apt moniker for Michael Bassett but I am so enjoying the unobstructed view from the moral high ground I won’t. But, I do think it is my duty as a citizen to tell everyone I know that Bassett’s response is to Hager’s book was spiteful and ad hominem and suggest they share it with all the people they know.

        Same as sharing Slater’s comments about eastern Christchurch ….

        • vto 17.1.1.1
          14 August 2014 at 10:49 am

          Yep, people don’t forget that sort of shitbile..

          Just like they have most definitely not forgotten Slater on the West Coast. Have received comms from people there overnight relishing this – Slater has made very real enemies and I would not like to be in his shoes

          • Rosie 17.1.1.1.1
            14 August 2014 at 12:19 pm

            Slater’s display of sociopathic tendencies (I mean that seriously, coming from the abnormal psychology perspective) within his words particularly on the young man from the West Coast killed in the car accident, and the people of CHCH in Feb 2011 have made my brain explode with incomprehension at such cruelty.

            Why anyone would support such vile person by reading his blog is beyond me.

      • Wensleydale 17.1.2
        14 August 2014 at 12:57 pm

        There’s a reason David Lange later regarded Bassett in the same manner he’d regard something stuck to the sole of his shoe.

  18. karol 18
    14 August 2014 at 9:42 am

    Re RNZ, Joyce, et al. So us bloggers are meant to be routinely briefed or contacted by pollies on topics to write on.

    Should I be offended that nobody has ever contacted me in such a way? Nor has anyone privately asked me to blog on any matter.

    And certainly not routinely.

    • lprent 18.1
      14 August 2014 at 10:24 am

      The most that I’ve ever had has been people suggesting that I have a look at something and maybe write about it. Oh and the odd Q&A that I’ve set up where we do a guest post from named politicians.

      Nothing like the paid orders that Cameron Slater appears to have been taking from Key, Ede, Collins, Fonterra, Posts of Auckland, Tobacco trilobites, Graham and many others.

      It looks like Cameron Slater never really says no to cash.

      • karol 18.1.1
        14 August 2014 at 5:40 pm

        Yep. And nothing like releasing smears through WO (Len Brown for instance) that is then picked up by the MSM.

        You just need to compare what we post.

        I pretty much always use evidence that is in the public domain – most of it gained from online searches – occasionally hard copy print material, or my own reports from public meetings.

        Suggestions from others comes in the form marked as “guest post”.

        And nothing like the alleged digging for sleaze and using it to blackmail pollies or journos.

        The one thing that HAS really surprised me, is indications of putting pressure on some journos, under threat of releasing info about their private lives. I’d never considered that might have been going on. I’d always thought the dominant rightward leaning form of MSM journalism, was due to the political leanings of the editors, and possibly also many journalists.

        I am not happy with the way Joyce, Key et al, are trying to defend themselves by throwing mud at us all. Their claims that we all (especially singling out TS) do what WO and KB have been doing, is just spreading mis-information – smoke and mirrors to cover their own ethically challenged methods.

        And I’ve NEVER been offered money (or payment in kind) to blog at TS.

        • karol 18.1.1.1
          14 August 2014 at 5:58 pm

          Whoa! And Julie Fairey has tweeted this today:

          I was threatened with having some emails released to Slater earlier this year. (I didn’t care)

          Followed by this tweet:

          What I’m meaning to show is that threats of leaking to Slater are being used even at a pretty low level in politics. To intimidate & silence

          And this one:

          I’ve also had the experience of Slater publishing total lies abt a local Puketapapa issue on his site & refusing to correct.

    • felix 18.2
      14 August 2014 at 11:10 am

      Well spotted karol.

      It seems they haven’t yet figured out what to deny and what to admit and minimize.

      • vto 18.2.1
        14 August 2014 at 11:16 am

        Exactly mr felix, that is the sense I get from listening to all the apologists so far such as Hooton, Joyce, Hosking, etc etc…

        The Nats are all at sea at the moment and have no idea how to respond. They have been caught in the headlights like possums. They have been genuinely surprised and caught out.

  19. Puckish Rogue 19
    14 August 2014 at 10:13 am

    So when by Marcus Lush asked if there were any links (and proff, lets not forget proof) Hager couldn’t provide any…as I said yesterday: its a damp squib but it won’t stop the left calling for John Key to resign even though theres no proof of wrong doing

    Better luck next time but I’m sure Cam appreciates the extra publicity 🙂

    • Draco T Bastard 19.1
      14 August 2014 at 5:13 pm

      A one liner by a known National Party apparatchik doesn’t negate an entire book.

  20. One Anonymous Bloke 20
    14 August 2014 at 10:19 am

    I will not be in the least bit surprised if Trevor Mallard turns out to have been fed false information about exploited railway workers, and looks like a total idiot in the process, while letting his team down. Hope I’m wrong.

    • Puckish Rogue 20.1
      14 August 2014 at 10:24 am

      I don’t think anyone takes Mallard seriously anymore

      • Pasupial 20.1.1
        14 August 2014 at 11:05 am

        I don’t think anyone takes Slater seriously anymore

        I don’t think anyone takes Collins seriously anymore

        I don’t think anyone takes Key seriously anymore

        They are all just a bunch of sociopathic manipulators who believe that they are better than everyone else.

        FuJohK

        • Rodel 20.1.1.1
          14 August 2014 at 7:52 pm

          I don’t think anyone takes Steven Joyce seriously anymore. Ohno I’ve made yet another meaningless statement.

    • Te Reo Putake 21.1
      14 August 2014 at 10:44 am

      Um, isn’t Slater the master at putting up people’s addresses? And I seem to recall he got a criminal conviction for outing an innocent family. Pot, kettle etc.

      • Puckish Rogue 21.1.1
        14 August 2014 at 11:17 am

        For which he recieved a conviction and learnt his lesson whereas these cowards haven’t

        • Te Reo Putake 21.1.1.1
          14 August 2014 at 11:26 am

          Ha! I love your optimism. The first thing Cameron did about the fb post that so outrages you was to post a picture of the woman concerned. I’m really not sure he’s learned his lesson, Pukish.

        • adam 21.1.1.2
          14 August 2014 at 3:21 pm

          So PR slips into emotive attack speech – mmm was that not just what you accused me of failing into a day or two ago?

          And what left wing people PR? Again your making assumptions – again and again.

          It’s the lies that hurt

    • trickledrown 21.2
      14 August 2014 at 10:51 am

      Cameron Slater has had 2 convictions for breaking court orders this time it could mean Jail time under Jamie Whytes new tougher laws!

    • McFlock 21.3
      14 August 2014 at 1:50 pm

      still link-whoring for him?

      Are you getting paid to do so, or do you need time to check whether that is in Hager’s book, too?

    • Weepus beard 21.4
      14 August 2014 at 1:59 pm

      I know the moderators don’t like people telling them how to run the site but PR’s constant linking to that site has got to stop. Not to mention the trolling.

      If there was a report button, I’d use it right now.

    • Rodel 21.5
      14 August 2014 at 7:56 pm

      Please Please lots of people click on to Whelloilbef*cked..It’ll make him feel less insignificant.

  22. Hami Shearlie 22
    14 August 2014 at 10:34 am

    The one person apparently mixed up in this mess that has really surprised me is Katherine Rich, former National MP – I haven’t read the book yet, and I’m dying to know what part Ms Rich has played in the whole nasty story! John Campbell showed her photo as part of the web of people involved last night on Campbell Live!

    • Pasupial 22.1
      14 August 2014 at 11:53 am

      HS

      Why so surprised about Rich’s inclusion in the web? Big-Milk, Tobacco and Alcohol were clearly funding Slater’s poisonous activities, why not the Supermarket duopoly’s lobbyist too?

      The appointment of the head of an influential lobby group for the food industry to a health promotion agency is not a conflict of interest, Prime Minister John Key said… Food and Grocery Council chief executive Katherine Rich.
      The council represented the $15 billion food and beverage industry and was an influential voice on food legislation and trade practices.

      http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10815422

  23. vto 23
    14 August 2014 at 10:40 am

    I suspect this sort of ugliness is what Simon Power foresaw and got away from. Good for him.

    • thatguynz 23.1
      14 August 2014 at 10:50 am

      I wouldn’t hold Simon Power in such high esteem. He allegedly has quite a lot to answer for about the SCF debacle and their admittance to the Crown Guarantee Scheme..

      • vto 23.1.1
        14 August 2014 at 11:01 am

        Oh, didn’t realise.

        It’s a shame that no investigative journalist has yet looked into the SCF entry to the Crown Guarantee Scheme, as that is the biggest fraud in NZ’s history imo.

        • Kiwiri 23.1.1.1
          14 August 2014 at 11:03 am

          And he exited politics and entered Westpac?

        • thatguynz 23.1.1.2
          14 August 2014 at 11:31 am

          Fully agree mate. Wishart had a look at it but really only scratched the surface. Would dearly love Hager to have a crack at the SCF case however as from what I am led to believe, it would be explosive and could quite conceivably leave this present episode for dead by way of political exposure.

  24. Puckish Rogue 24
    14 August 2014 at 10:44 am

    If anyones interested in some rebuttals (I doubt it because it would ruin your narrative)

    http://www.whaleoil.co.nz/2014/08/two-biggest-lies-hagers-book/

    • Rodel 24.1
      14 August 2014 at 7:58 pm

      Please Please lots of people click on to Whelloilbef*cked..It’ll make him feel less insignificant.

  25. yeshe 25
    14 August 2014 at 10:47 am

    Interesting new note from Average Kiwi ..

    “NOTE – BREAKING NEWS: There are some allegations starting to be revealed that show some Mainstream Media Personalities may be being blackmailed to support National – via their commentaries, after allegedly Prostitutes were approached and information requested about who in the Media were frequent ‘customers’! This would explain much of the media’s constant defense of Scumbags Slater and Key, and their attacks on Left Wing Parties.”

    links to the blog ..

    http://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-14082014/#comment-866049

  26. Weepus beard 26
    14 August 2014 at 10:55 am

    Looks like the PM’s going to defend Slater and to do that he’s going to have to publicly endorse the guy and get reeeeeal close.

    Bit risky.

  27. felix 27
    14 August 2014 at 11:04 am

    Oh dear. I just heard John Keys’ drawling, slurring, pretending-to-be-relaxed denial on te radio.

    I’ve never heard him take the act this far before.

    He’s really, really, really worried.

  28. Clemgeopin 28
    14 August 2014 at 11:13 am

    TV3 has reported that the Greens have laid a complaint-with-police:

    I was quite irritated with the dirty tactics of the Greens here!
    It is people in the Labour party, Goff, Winston etc that should be considering this police complaint rather than the party vote stealing political scavengers, the Greens. Shameless Plonkers!

    http://www.3news.co.nz/Dirty-Politics-Greens-lay-complaint-with-police/tabid/1607/articleID/356799/Default.aspx

    • Rosie 28.1
      14 August 2014 at 12:24 pm

      What wrong with that Clemgeopin? I admire that they have kicked off the formal proceedings into investigating the alleged events. This is a national scandal after all. RNZ reported that Labour are speaking with lawyers at present, so they may also follow with a police complaint.

      • Clemgeopin 28.1.1
        14 August 2014 at 7:49 pm

        Oh, Rosie! Can’t you see what is blatantly obvious here? The Greens are simply exploiting the situation ahead of Labour to get some publicity, come across to the public as their saviours, the good guys and grab some more party votes off Labour. Pathetic cheap two bit parasitic plonkers. Of all the parties, the most calculated innocent looking political and electoral harm to the Labour’s party is done by the Greens.

        • karol 28.1.1.1
          14 August 2014 at 8:02 pm

          Oh Clem. Still trying to smear the Greens at every opportunity.

          They will never do anything good in your eyes.

          • Clemgeopin 28.1.1.1.1
            14 August 2014 at 8:27 pm

            Encroaching on the Labour’s traditional voters and traditional social policies and stealing our party votes is not something I can see as ‘good’ in my eyes. If Greens stick to their traditional environmental clean green policies, sure, you have a point. What they are now doing is cheap political stunts and calculated cunning harming Labour not only in grabbing our votes but scaring off some left and centre voters off towards National and NZF.

            • McFlock 28.1.1.1.1.1
              14 August 2014 at 8:35 pm

              parties don’t own votes, especially as a right.
              Votes need to be earned.
              If Labour voters are going to the greens, it’s because Greens are doing more to earn them than Labour.

              • Clemgeopin …
                14 August 2014 at 9:26 pm

                Greens are Labour’s parasites and leeches, just like Conservative are trying to be of NZF and ACT of National.

                • McFlock …
                  14 August 2014 at 9:49 pm

                  so apparently the greens are better at attracting previous Labour voters than Labour is?
                  And this is their fault how?

                  • Clemgeopin …
                    15 August 2014 at 12:27 am

                    Not fault. Just crookedness, wickedness, treachery, encroaching, cunning and calculated scavenging. That is what progressive ‘friends’ do, right?

                    • McFlock …
                      15 August 2014 at 12:53 am

                      so having better policies and more engaging politicians than Labour is “calculated scavenging”?

                      AFAIK the greens haven’t been even badmouthing Labour. If you have any examples to the contrary, feel free to back it up. Shit, the most active bad-mouthers of Labour here (other than tories) include Labour party members.

                      The greens aren’t my cup of tea, and have too many hippies for my taste. But blaming them for Labour’s woes is pretty lame.

          • Clemgeopin 28.1.1.1.2
            15 August 2014 at 12:21 am

            Not smearing. Stating my honest opinion as I see it.

        • Rosie 28.1.1.2
          14 August 2014 at 8:28 pm

          Clem, I’m just not that cynical, and I don’t believe The Greens are that small minded and manipulative. It just isn’t their style.

          The act of making a Police complaint just can’t be seen as vote grabber.The ordinary voter just wouldn’t care if The Greens are the first to do it. It’s only Day One remember, so much more to unfold yet. (That’s coming from someone who will be a two ticks Labour voter come 20th September).

          • Clemgeopin 28.1.1.2.1
            14 August 2014 at 9:31 pm

            You may not be cynical but I think, like many Green and Labour voters, you are a nice person, but quite naive and trusting of their well calculated methods and innocent looking tactics designed to cut into Labour.

            I too will stick to Labour and I hope that not many more traditional Labour voters get fooled by these plonkers.

            Just as one needs to be weary of wolves in sheep clothing, be weary of scorpions dressed as lovely green grasshoppers.

    • just saying 28.2
      14 August 2014 at 12:27 pm

      It’s 12.27. Where are they?

    • tinfoilhat 28.3
      14 August 2014 at 1:45 pm

      What are you going on about ?

      The Greens are about the only party in NZ that are acting with any dignity and clarity in NZ at the moment.

      • Clemgeopin 28.3.1
        14 August 2014 at 3:53 pm

        If you consider the cunning shameless opportunistic party vote grabbing tactics of the Green pathetic political parasites as acting with ‘dignity and clarity’ you are either sadly mistaken, badly fooled, one of the green party smarty schemers or just a lovely feel good nice simpleton.

        • karol 28.3.1.1
          14 August 2014 at 5:55 pm

          Or they just want to ensure politics in NZ is cleaned up.

          Also, it actually works better for Labour that the Greens ask for the inquiries, as they appear not to be the aggrieved party.

          • Rosie 28.3.1.1.1
            14 August 2014 at 8:33 pm

            +1 karol. It’s also quite possible for the parties of the Left to show some sense of solidarity to one another, even if that was not their initial motivation for making the complaint.

            It’s bigger than just the Labour Party, in isolation, being the victim.

  29. felix 29
    14 August 2014 at 11:31 am

    left: hey you guys all seem to be acting in concert, and it all seems to be linked to the 9th floor.

    right: silly conspiracy theories never happens.

    left: oh look here are dox it’s true.

    right: so what? you knew that all along.

    funny, eh? this is why we don’t have to believe anything you lot say.

    • tinfoilhat 29.1
      14 August 2014 at 11:50 am

      I don’t know I can’t really see what the fuss is about….. it’s not as if this is really news to anyone is it ?

      I remember reading an article on Ede in stuff some time ago that said his job was basically to feed PR to bloggers and thought at the time that it was sad that that is where a lot of politics in the media sits these days compared to when I was younger and there was a bit more open debate of the issues and it just didn’t seem so overtly manufactured.

      I also remember saying a while back on this blog that it was shaping as the silliest election in my memory and that certainly looks like it’s coming to pass.

      • Roflcopter 29.1.1
        14 August 2014 at 12:23 pm

        Stop being reasonable, you’re making Felix look like a dork.

      • Te Reo Putake 29.1.2
        14 August 2014 at 12:37 pm

        It’s news to me that Ede broke the law by going into a private database. It’s also news that someone leaked SIS information to Ede. Don’t know that is, but I think we should be told.

        • tinfoilhat 29.1.2.1
          14 August 2014 at 1:14 pm

          Yep the article was on stuff as below.

          http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/9510189/Senior-Key-staffers-rubbish-pic-duty

          And the Labour server stuff is old news.. not sure why Labour didn’t go after the Nats/Slater at the time ?

          http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10731963

          … bah I’m getting dragged into the detritus as well…my point was is that I really wish politics was a debate of ideas but I suppose those days are long gone. Karol’s still fighting the good fight on this site releasing the Green policies but there seems to be little else in the MSM apart from scuttlebutt.

          • Puckish Rogue 29.1.2.1.1
            14 August 2014 at 3:12 pm

            “my point was is that I really wish politics was a debate of ideas but I suppose those days are long gone.”

            • For what its worth I’m guessing the ancient Greeks didn’t have those days for long before it ended
        • TheContrarian 29.1.2.2
          14 August 2014 at 3:27 pm

          “It’s news to me that Ede broke the law by going into a private database.”

          Wouldn’t that be the same of Hager’s source?

          • Te Reo Putake 29.1.2.2.1
            14 August 2014 at 3:36 pm

            Possibly. So what? Hager has the (limited) protection of the law as journo. And he didn’t actually do it himself, as you note. The relevant fact is that a trusted advisor to the PM appears to have broken the law. That’s a bit more interesting than some unknown hacker doing it as well.

            • TheContrarian 29.1.2.2.1.1
              14 August 2014 at 3:50 pm

              One crime doesn’t absolve the other – just sayin’

              Will be interesting to see what happens if Slater pushes to have the courts reveal the source.
              Will also interesting to see what happens to Ede et al.

              I think there’ll be more to come…

            • McFlock 29.1.2.2.1.2
              14 August 2014 at 3:52 pm

              wasn’t hager’s position merely that a memory stick was sent to him anonymously in the mail?

              So even if he felt like naming the source, he couldn’t.

              • TheContrarian …
                14 August 2014 at 4:13 pm

                Last night he said that someone contacted him and also said he would talk to his source if someone asked him to clarify some of the information.

                I took that to mean he knew who the source was

                • One Anonymous Bloke …
                  14 August 2014 at 4:55 pm

                  Whoever they are deserves a gong for services to New Zealand, unless you believe Ministerial corruption is the lesser offence.

                • McFlock …
                  14 August 2014 at 5:52 pm

                  interesting – I wonder if his source in that comment was the supplier of the emails, or someone who could simply verify some of them as true (I’d be surprised if Hager wrote a book with only a memory stick of emails to go by – he would have checked much of it with someone).

  30. Bob 30
    14 August 2014 at 12:17 pm

    Great interview by Mike Hosking (never thought I would say those words!) talking to Nicky Hager: http://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/auckland/listen-on-demand/audio/1592045740-mhb—nicky-hager–dirty-politics

  31. Populuxe1 31
    14 August 2014 at 12:29 pm

    Well let’s not whitewash breastfeeding advocated completely – they can be quite nasty some of them

    [lprent: How does this relate to this post. Your comment is hooked to the post, not responding to comment. If you wanted to raise a topic yourself, then do so in OpenMike.

    Sounds like diversion trolling. Banned 6 weeks for stupidity. ]

    • Lanthanide 31.1
      14 August 2014 at 12:50 pm

      Yip: http://thestandard.org.nz/dirty-politics-the-brestapo/#comment-866034

      [lprent: The funny thing about that is I don’t see many actual instances. What I see is a lot of people claiming that there are such stories. Few links to anything verifiable or documented. I’m afraid that I have come to view it as just another stupid urban myth.

      In any case raise it in OpenMike. I can’t see anything in the post that particularly leads to that as a topic, and you aren’t responding the person who managed to make it relate to the post. ]

      • Lanthanide 31.1.1
        14 August 2014 at 1:42 pm

        Here you go Lynn, hopefully this is “proof” enough for you:
        http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff-nation/assignments/got-a-stuff-nation-assignment-idea/10244774/Four-months-of-breastfeeding-madness

        Every midwife visit, every Plunket visit, and every doctor visit you must explain why you are bottle feeding, explain why you use a shield, explain why you are using formula, explain why you are in this situation.

        Every single time you will feel like a failure as they look at you and ask the exact same questions you have now been asked a hundred times over. “Have you seen a lactation consultant?” “Can I have a look?” “Are you pumping to feed her expressed milk?””Have you tried x, y, z?”

        You can read the comments for many other similar stories from others.

        Another one where the breastfeeding zealots caused unnecessary stress to a mother:
        http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff-nation/assignments/kiwi-mums-was-breast-best-for-you/10344982/When-breast-isn-t-always-best

        I asked about formula but was told that I should continue breastfeeding because that was the best thing and he’d eat when he was hungry. I was exhausted, I was sick and suddenly my son no longer wanted anything to do with my breasts – what was I doing wrong?!

        I was constantly in tears, felt totally stressed and was completely depressed. Everybody forgot that I was actually really sick and the focus was on breastfeeding. How was I meant to recover?”

        ….

        I was eventually released and went home with my son and husband, but the experience in hospital had left me so stressed and drained that I ended up in tears and shaking every time I tried to breastfeed and so I chose to continue with formula feeding.

  32. Puckish Rogue 32
    14 August 2014 at 12:30 pm

    http://www.whaleoil.co.nz/2014/08/two-biggest-lies-hagers-book/

    -Is anyone interested in the other side of the story? Thought not…

    • thatguynz 32.1
      14 August 2014 at 12:43 pm

      Erm, why would anyone want to read the discredited spin merchant’s site?

      • Puckish Rogue 32.1.1
        14 August 2014 at 1:01 pm

        Oh I don’t know, maybe because theres three sides to every story and at the moment you lot only have one…

        • thatguynz 32.1.1.1
          14 August 2014 at 2:52 pm

          Woosh…..

          • Puckish Rogue 32.1.1.1.1
            14 August 2014 at 3:07 pm

            Of course how silly of me, if Hager says it then it must be true. I mean its not like this isn’t motivated by politics or money

            • Pascals bookie 32.1.1.1.1.1
              14 August 2014 at 3:24 pm

              Yeah, but the National party’s defence is that WO is lying in the emails. So his word isn’t worth anything.

              • weka …
                14 August 2014 at 3:31 pm

                It’s not just emails from Slater though, is it? Plus there are the other sources that Hager has.

                • Puckish Rogue …
                  14 August 2014 at 3:47 pm

                  Do we know anyone thats good with computers, hates John Key (and Cameron Slater), has bucketloads of money, past criminal convictions and maybe might know a hacker or two that could steal Slaters emails?

                  Naah I can’t think of anyone

                  • Pascals bookie …
                    14 August 2014 at 3:55 pm

                    lame puck. Slater is hopeless, and a liar.

                    Lots of people hate him. he fucked off the West Coast after refusing to apologise when he got something wrong. Then he dragged out his “I’m a big tough blogger don’t fuck with me blah blah” routine, and got got.

                    • Puckish Rogue …
                      14 August 2014 at 4:00 pm

                      Its as accurate and as close to the truth as Hagers smears are, in fact probably closer

                    • Pascals bookie …
                      14 August 2014 at 4:28 pm

                      Whale should release all the emails then, to show just how selective Hager was.

                      But nope, he won’t, and Nope, he is a proven liar. Lies in private, in public, to his mates, his readers, everyone.

                  • adam …
                    14 August 2014 at 3:56 pm

                    Again with the Assumptions PR – you’d be in a spitting fit of rage, if we suggested or even hinted at assuming anything bad about your faction on our side of the fence.

                    You are looking more and more like a troll with out a clue.

            • Draco T Bastard 32.1.1.1.1.2
              14 August 2014 at 5:39 pm

              I mean its not like this isn’t motivated by politics or money

              Ah, the old RWNJ fallback position and diversion – it’s only about money.

              Why did Pansy Wong resign? – money.
              Why did Bill English put his house in a trust and then have us pay for it? – money
              Why did John Key help screw over the entire global economy? – money
              Why did that National MP promoted his own company in India do it? – money
              Why did Collins apparently engage with Chinese authorities as a minister on her husbands business? – money

              Guess what dweeb – The entire National Party only does things for money.

    • felix 32.2
      14 August 2014 at 12:49 pm

      How many times are you planning to pimp the same link today. chris?

  33. yeshe 33
    14 August 2014 at 12:31 pm

    some good news for Kim Dotcom … he gets his data back.

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/10383205/Kim-Dotcom-faces-small-win

  34. Delia 34
    14 August 2014 at 1:01 pm

    He is just a revolting guy, but remember there are women in NZ myself included who could not breastfeed and we do find the push to breastfeeding overwhelming and many young mums say they are made to feel guilty…in saying this Slater will denigrate any group viciously he does not agree with.

    [lprent: Off topic. Moved to OpenMike. ]

  35. tricledrown 35
    14 August 2014 at 1:16 pm

    Mobies investigation of farm employment practices ,for the second time now it shows farmers widespread wage theft by not keeping employment records their needs to be tougher stance by movie to stop this behaviour!
    The wet bus ticket approach isn’t working Stephen Joyce and Simon Bridges need a wake up call!

  36. Graeme 36
    14 August 2014 at 1:19 pm

    So all you losers think that Hagar is right? Surpirsed any of you can read!!

    He or his cronies hacked Whale Oil (admitted by hagar). No one hacked the Labour site because they didn’t need to. Some plonker left a ‘gate” open.

    Fortunately for NZ I know at least two people who were undecided who are now going to vote National because of the stink this book has caused and is seen as aleft push.

    You dipsticks deserve everything you get including “I’m sorry” Cunliffe, “pooftah’ Robertson, the greens, the big fat german fraud “it” Harre & the bigoted northland maori!! .

    • Te Reo Putake 36.1
      14 August 2014 at 1:44 pm

      “Fortunately for NZ I know at least two people who were undecided who are now going to vote National because of the stink this book has caused and is seen as aleft push.”

      How are John and Cam? Holding up OK?

      • Graeme 36.1.1
        14 August 2014 at 2:14 pm

        Yep you got it!! Idiot!!

        • thatguynz 36.1.1.1
          14 August 2014 at 2:55 pm

          Hahaha classic. I have no doubt you can’t see the irony in your initial comment with “bigoted” and your subsequent “Idiot” call.

          Thanks for giving me my second best chuckle of the day.

    • TheContrarian 36.2
      14 August 2014 at 1:51 pm

      “pooftah Robertson”?

      I wasn’t aware The Standard was a playground in 1980’s Great Britian.

    • Puckish Rogue 36.3
      14 August 2014 at 2:00 pm

      Theres no need for comments about Robertsons sexuality I reckon (or in fact anyones sexuality for that matter), thats just stooping down to Mallard and Gosgroves level

      Far better to focus on Robertsons being useless and disloyal instead

      • Rodel 36.3.1
        14 August 2014 at 8:21 pm

        PR You say:
        ‘Theres no need for comments about Robertsons sexuality I reckon (or in fact anyones sexuality for that matter), thats just stooping down to Mallard and Gosgroves level’ (sic)

        That is such a good attempt at amateur spin. (2 out of 10 for at least trying- bout sorry zero for achievement)

    • TeWhareWhero 36.4
      14 August 2014 at 2:38 pm

      This comment is intended for Graeme. It is not meant to enrage you further but I feel it must be said. Feelings of persistent rage are very, very bad for you and the outcomes are always a tad embarrassing or distressing for others.

      When the urge to do the written equivalent of splenetic ranting comes on you, stop, take several deep breaths and walk briskly around the room for 10 minutes or so to allow your neuro-endocrine system to recalibrate. When the adrenaline rush has subsided and you’ve restored balance in your cortisol levels, your prefrontal cortex has a better chance of functioning – it literally cannot function normally when your body is flooded with stress hormones.

      That is why your comments are so illogical and stupid – you were in the grip of an adrenaline rush. If you can control it, you stand a very good chance of being able to engage the more evolved regions of your brain and thus be able to put forward a more cogent argument.

      I do hope you will take this comment in the spirit in which it is intended.

  37. TheContrarian 37
    14 August 2014 at 1:50 pm

    Went to a couple of book stores during lunch and Hager’s book is sold out everywhere.

    Pity there is no e-book. Guess I will have to wait

    • ianmac 37.1
      14 August 2014 at 2:56 pm

      I bought mine at Whitcoulls this morning in Blenheim. 2nd to last copy. (The senior staff assistant seemed lemon mouthed and reluctant to sell it to me???)
      I guess from what I have read so far, Key and Co have no choice but to belittle and deny.

  38. Enough is Enough 38
    14 August 2014 at 3:07 pm

    Fucking MSM pricks.

    This story has fallen off the front pages everywhere already.

    The media is corrupt as Key and Whaleoil. They are party of the story. We must bring them down as well

    • Puckish Rogue 38.1
      14 August 2014 at 3:09 pm

      Ever occur to you that maybe the majority of NZ don’t think this is the big deal the left think it is and that Hager hasn’t provided any proof of anything?

      • One Anonymous Bloke 38.1.1
        14 August 2014 at 3:21 pm

        Has it ever occurred to you that you predicted John Banks would be found ‘not guilty’? 😆

        • Puckish Rogue 38.1.1.1
          14 August 2014 at 3:38 pm

          Golly gee I made a prediction and it was wrong, I also predicted that John Key would win the previous two elections, Shearer would defeat Cunliffe for leadership of Labour and that Cunliffe would then beat everyone else for leadership of Labour so by my count thats four I got right vs one I got wrong

          So I’m not doing too badly especially when I’m guessing of the lefties on here thought John Key was going lose the last two elections 🙂

          I predict John Key will still be the leader after this next election

          • felix 38.1.1.1.1
            14 August 2014 at 4:48 pm

            ” I also predicted that John Key would win the previous two elections, Shearer would defeat Cunliffe for leadership of Labour and that Cunliffe would then beat everyone else for leadership of Labour so by my count thats four I got right vs one I got wrong”

            Care to link to those predictions? Cos I haven’t been able to find anything from “Puckish Rogue” older than about 10 months.

            Which of your pseudonyms should I be searching under?

            • McFlock 38.1.1.1.1.1
              14 August 2014 at 5:25 pm

              there you go again, fact-checking like a left-wing conspiracist…

              • One Anonymous Bloke …
                14 August 2014 at 5:44 pm

                I confess to conspiring to use Hager’s findings to ridicule, call into contempt, prosecute, maim and thwart the National Party’s vicious agenda, in the hope that the guilty may do some time like Banksy only with bars.

                Colour me an authoritarian if I respect the law ‘n’ all. I just can’t help myself.

      • Te Reo Putake 38.1.2
        14 August 2014 at 3:25 pm

        Not worried about the majority, PR. In fact, a few thousand people changing their vote is all we need. I’m interested to know what percentage you reckon will take the ‘no smoke without fire’ line and abandon Team Key. 1%? 2? 5?

        • Puckish Rogue 38.1.2.1
          14 August 2014 at 3:43 pm

          It depends on how well National can spin this, the lack of hard evidence might be enough for John Key to scrape through this.

          • Te Reo Putake 38.1.2.1.1
            14 August 2014 at 3:52 pm

            Scrape through! Lordy, is that what its come to? Last week National were going to govern all by themselves. They even told Colon Craig to do one because they were so confident of their awesomeness. Apparently, a week is a long time in dirty politics.

            • Puckish Rogue 38.1.2.1.1.1
              14 August 2014 at 3:54 pm

              A wins a win no matter the margin

              • One Anonymous Bloke …
                14 August 2014 at 5:39 pm

                You think you’re winning after this? Governments lose elections. The media aren’t going to like having the National Party’s sleaze-finder sicced onto them.

                Watch and learn, Junior.

          • One Anonymous Bloke 38.1.2.1.2
            14 August 2014 at 3:53 pm

            Ah yes, scraping through, the new ethical benchmark. Clutch at that straw, clutch at it. I’ll get the lifebelt.

      • weka 38.1.3
        14 August 2014 at 3:37 pm

        “Ever occur to you that maybe the majority of NZ don’t think this is the big deal the left think it is and that Hager hasn’t provided any proof of anything?”

        Bingo! “Haven’t bothered to read it”

      • Draco T Bastard 38.1.4
        14 August 2014 at 5:54 pm

        Has it occurred to you that you’re talking out your arse?

        The book wouldn’t be running out so fast if people didn’t care and they trusted the MSM.

  39. adam 39
    14 August 2014 at 3:31 pm

    Just an observation – The right are now openly playing dirty with us folks on the standard. Name calling, repeating the message(party line) over and over, diversions and distraction.

    Best part of Mr Hager’s book, the trolls now look to the casual observer – like the bunch hate mungers they are.

    • Puckish Rogue 39.1
      14 August 2014 at 3:52 pm

      Best part of Mr Hager’s book is that hes made himself out to be a hypocrite:

      Stealing emails is bad m’kay unless I can use it for my book in which case its good

      • Te Reo Putake 39.1.1
        14 August 2014 at 3:54 pm

        False equivalence alert! If this is the best defence the tories can put up, Key may as well bugger off back to Hawaii on the first jet out.

        • Puckish Rogue 39.1.1.1
          14 August 2014 at 3:56 pm

          I know its a false equivalence because Hager (by his own admission) recieved stolen emails whereas Cameron Slater hasn’t stolen any emails

          So Hagers even worse but its “ok” because its for the greater good (well for his bank balance but thats another story)

          • One Anonymous Bloke 39.1.1.1.1
            14 August 2014 at 4:29 pm

            The politics of envy, that’s what I would have said about your envy of Hager’s bank balance before I got my mind right, PR (love your initials, PR – I’m looking for a job there now I’m better) but now I realise you’re treading on thin ice Buster, no-one wants to know what you think of some screaming Lefty, unless you’re the Prime Minister. Are you the Prime Minister? Didn’t think so, so shut up and let the real people eat their lasagne.

      • One Anonymous Bloke 39.1.2
        14 August 2014 at 3:55 pm

        Nope, in which case it’s bad and Hager can still use it in his work when there’s an overriding public interest.

        Please note: this is my opinion, not his. I have no more idea of his than you do.

        • felix 39.1.2.1
          14 August 2014 at 4:09 pm

          But but but isn’t
          a) a record of names, addresses, phone numbers and bank details of ordinary citizens exactly the same thing as
          b) a record of communications between the government and its agents detailing blackmail, media manipulation, and misuse of security intelligence?

          Isn’t the public interest in each case identical?

          Isn’t everything exactly the same?

          Isn’t it? ISN’T IT???

          • One Anonymous Bloke 39.1.2.1.1
            14 August 2014 at 4:15 pm

            Of course not. Reality is what we say it is from moment to moment. Things that are equivalent one moment are worlds apart the next. You will only achieve true harmony when you can accept the words of authority without even noticing inherent contradictions.

      • adam 39.1.3
        14 August 2014 at 4:00 pm

        Again PR, assumptions – do you understand how journalism works? Ethics and standards?

        • Puckish Rogue 39.1.3.1
          14 August 2014 at 4:03 pm

          and yet you take Hagers word as gospel

          • felix 39.1.3.1.1
            14 August 2014 at 4:10 pm

            Nope, take his documented evidence as documented evidence.

          • adam 39.1.3.1.2
            14 August 2014 at 4:16 pm

            Again, assumptions. His behaviour is perfectly acceptable in Journalist terms, when the other side will block this material from being published. Hence “the public good” argument you have been hearing all day.

            So by your logic PR, the paperwork which has convicted many members of the Khmer rouge, should be thrown out, because they we stolen from them.

            That books publish by Emma Goldman and Alexander Berkman, attacking the Soviet Union in the late 1920’s should have been banned – because they used papers stolen from Soviet official’s?

            • One Anonymous Bloke 39.1.3.1.2.1
              14 August 2014 at 4:24 pm

              Kim.com’s internal emails can be used against him whether they were illegally removed from a court-sealed evidence room or not

              No such evidence is admissible in this case, because Cameron is one of us.

              You need to get your mind right Adam. The evidence is what Dear Leader says it is. I doubted but since I got my mind right it’s all become clear. Akshully, we shouldn’t be talking about this.

              Don’t you have anything positive to say?

  40. weka 40
    14 August 2014 at 3:54 pm

    If you want to read what WO is saying without clicking through to his site, http://www.donotlink.com/framed?5326

    h/t https://twitter.com/DirtyPoliticsNZ

  42. Herodotus 42
    14 August 2014 at 4:19 pm

    SHA’s the answer to housing issues.? NOT
    http://easterncourier.realviewdigital.com/#folio=1
    SHA’s are failing. Nationals answer to the housing crisis within Auckland is fast losing support with those who are providing land and housing to the market. Why because they did not listen to concerns as to its unworkable nature. Just read John Mapleston’s comments. Unfortunately the link is hard coded so I am unable to copy the section, this is almost 1,400 sections from the touted SHA’s. And our major displays …. nothing , and he was the best person on election night for the position 🙁
    Noew all we need to do is for Labour to review it’s Kiwibuild policy that is also IMO unworkable, as there is no available land to build the 5,000 p.a. properties which will require upto 200 h.a. p.a. within Auckland. And if there was then to build these at an affordable price unless we sidestep NZ manufactures and start to import CHEAP building materials & exclude them from council levies

  43. adam 43
    14 August 2014 at 4:21 pm

    One of the best comment I’ve read all day.

    And Russlle Brown too,

    Russell Brown @publicaddress · 4h

    Any journalist who can’t detect significance in #DirtyPolitics should perhaps find another trade.

  44. Hami Shearlie 44
    14 August 2014 at 5:00 pm

    Ive been thinking the very end of the “Planet Key” song was very very perceptive wasn’t it? Those two “good old boys” dressed in their All-Black outfits all chummy like, and Slater gets too near to Key and voila, KEY FALLS!! Those songwriters must be psychic! LOL

  45. felix 45
    14 August 2014 at 5:16 pm

    Not looking good for Slater. John Key has all but disowned him and I see he is already backing down from his accusations toward k.com

    • Ffloyd 45.1
      14 August 2014 at 5:55 pm

      Key said somewhere that he has only been in contact with whaleoil four times in the last year. I thought he had said that he was in weekly contact with him??

      • felix 45.1.1
        14 August 2014 at 6:27 pm

        Yes Ffloyd, the confusion you’re experiencing might be related to the fact that our PM is a serial fucking liar.

        • halfcrown 45.1.1.1
          14 August 2014 at 6:46 pm

          “our PM is a serial fucking liar.”

          I like that. In fact I will go further, I love it. It has certain ring about it.

      • Hami Shearlie 45.1.2
        14 August 2014 at 7:27 pm

        When you lie, make very sure that the new lie fits with the old lie you told earlier! From the “Perfect Liars” handbook I would suggest!

  46. Ffloyd 46
    14 August 2014 at 5:48 pm

    Well done Phil Goff!! He shut Mary Contrary Wilson down TWICE

  47. Ffloyd 47
    14 August 2014 at 6:17 pm

    Well done Phil Goff!! He shut Mary Contrary Wilson down TWICE

  48. Paul 48
    14 August 2014 at 6:26 pm

    Can you believe that RNZ used Pete George as an impartial judge on blogs?!
    That’s a new low for Checkpoint.

  49. Tamati 49
    14 August 2014 at 6:37 pm

    Anyone else notice the huge upwards inflection when Key was asked does he still stand by Jason Ede?

    I’m not body language expert, but he sounded extremely insincere when he answered. He looked pretty shaky throughout the whole interview.

    http://www.3news.co.nz/Nicky-Hager-book-causes-political-muck-to-fly/tabid/1607/articleID/356878/Default.aspx

    About 40s in.

    • felix 49.1
      14 August 2014 at 6:46 pm

      Oh dear, that was quite a squeal.

      Key is donkey-deep in this and everyone can see it.

    • karol 49.2
      14 August 2014 at 6:51 pm

      The video now seems to have been pulled. There’s only a photo there. But I recorded the news off tv.

    • Te Reo Putake 49.3
      14 August 2014 at 7:01 pm

      And Ede again at 8.40 and shortly afterwards. Key’s tone at 8.49 is astonishing! Have a look at the suit behind him and to the left. His lips tighten every time Ede is mentioned.

      btw nice to hear Key reads the Standard. Hi, John! You’re going
      d
      o
      w
      n

      • karol 49.3.1
        14 August 2014 at 7:59 pm

        What are you looking at? The video that Tamati linked to is just over 3 minutes long.

        • Te Reo Putake 49.3.1.1
          14 August 2014 at 8:21 pm

          3News had the full corridor interview up for a while, but have replaced it with the shortened piece. I’ll have a hunt on their website and see if it’s tucked away somewhere. It was twenty minutes of Key looking like a possum in the headlights, complete with a series of high pitched squeaks, mumbled words of (sort of) support for Jason Edes and repeated shrill accusations that Hager is lying. Possibly the worst presser Key has ever done.

          Edit: here ’tis. 8.59 is amaaaazing!

          http://www.3news.co.nz/Video-John-Key-talks-Nicky-Hagers-Dirty-Politics/tabid/1607/articleID/356848/Default.aspx

          • vto 49.3.1.1.1
            14 August 2014 at 8:27 pm

            worthy of a post of its own

          • Anne 49.3.1.1.2
            14 August 2014 at 9:14 pm

            Here’s a full summation of what he said in 12 sentences.

            Nicky Hager is part of the Left conspiracy theorists. The Left play dirty tricks and lie and smear because they have no policy so that’s the only way they can attack the government. The Left got Hager to write the book because they’ve got nothing better to do but lie and smear. They can’t talk about the things that matter because they’ve got no policy. It’s a smear campaign by the Left. Nicky Hager is a conspiracy theorist. He’s working for the Left. The Left are bereft of policy. I stand by Jason Ede and Judith Collins. No. I haven’t spoken to them. No I haven’t read the book but I know whats in it. Look its a conspiracy theory from the Left etcetera…

  50. Blue 50
    14 August 2014 at 6:48 pm

    John Key is disgusting. I can’t believe that he is able to retain the office of Prime Minister after this:

    Under persistent questioning, Mr Key said he would not read the book until after the election, it was unlikely he would ask Justice Minister Judith Collins whether she had shifted a prisoner on Mr Slater’s behalf and whether Ms Collins had leaked information to Mr Slater.

    This is just like when he refused to read the police report on Banks, only worse. Clearly there is nothing he thinks can’t be solved by simply refusing to look at any evidence of wrongdoing by his Ministers.

    This is the ‘higher standard’ he promised for Ministers in his Government back in 2008. What a prick. The contempt he has for all New Zealanders is obvious.

  51. Paul 51
    14 August 2014 at 6:49 pm

    Wow.
    If you want to see how biased lamestream media has become watch these two videos.
    Rawden Christie’s bias is so overt it is tangible
    How on earth does someone like him to be a state broadcaster?

    Compare his approach to Laile Harre…
    http://tvnz.co.nz/breakfast-news/laila-harre-attacks-pm-effigy-video-slur-6053155

    To the fawning approach to Key.
    Chummy chat about Key’s wife, no questioning of Slater as a reliable source
    http://tvnz.co.nz/politics-news/john-key-hits-dotcom-over-burning-effigy-video-6051713

    Christie….just another Slater pawn.
    TVNZ needs a massive overhaul.

  52. cardassian 52
    14 August 2014 at 7:19 pm

    Mike Hosking must be the most biased pos passing themself off as a jonolist in this country.

  53. Hami Shearlie 53
    14 August 2014 at 7:30 pm

    A POS wouldn’t dream of going near Hosking, it might ruin it’s reputation! LOL

  54. JanMeyer 54
    14 August 2014 at 7:47 pm

    Good to see some balance restored to the debate by Hosking on Seven Sharp. Middle New Zealand (ie where elections are won) incline to his world view more than Hager’s. That’s why he gets the big bucks!

    • Paul 54.1
      14 August 2014 at 7:59 pm

      No he gets the big bucks, because the people with the big bucks want him to sell the elite’s spin to ordinary NZers.
      And Hoskins is sufficiently ego centric to sell any principles he may once have had to become their puppet.

    • Paul 54.2
      14 August 2014 at 7:59 pm

      No he gets the big bucks, because the people with the big bucks want him to sell the elite’s spin to ordinary NZers.
      And Hoskins is sufficiently ego centric to sell any principles he may once have had to become their puppet.

    • halfcrown 54.3
      14 August 2014 at 8:13 pm

      “Good to see some balance restored to the debate by Hosking”

      Is this a wind up?

  55. vto 55
    14 August 2014 at 8:15 pm

    It is amusing how all this is being labelled “conspiracy” stuff

    because that is EXACTLY what slater, Collins, ede, farrar et al were doing…. conspiring …..

    for fucks sake, it seems the definition of conspiracy is not even understood by teamkey.

    what a bunch of losers

  56. Paul 56
    14 August 2014 at 8:16 pm

    Don’t read Armstrong’s article if you don’t feel like it.
    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=11308460

    Just read the comments below and sort them by most liked.
    Seems like a lot of people who read the Herald are getting sick of Key.

  58. vto 58
    14 August 2014 at 8:17 pm

    I smell very unhappy National Party people all across the whole country tonight

    karma can be brutal or beautiful – it is all up to you

  59. Rodel 59
    14 August 2014 at 8:26 pm

    Lest we forget Colon.
    Sorry to repeat myself but I still chuckle at the tweet”
    ‘ ‘ Colin Craig reportedly furiously phoning lawyers after being excluded from Hagar’s book’

  60. joe90 60
    14 August 2014 at 8:32 pm

    Nice.

    Felix Geiringer ‏@BarristerNZ

    @WhaleOil quoting @JohnKeyPM on Jo Hall: “same feral fucking bitch that screams at him when he goes to pike river meetings” #DirtyPolitics

    https://twitter.com/BarristerNZ/status/499460124235141120

    via – http://www.reddit.com/r/newzealand/comments/2df693/how_john_top_bloke_key_talks_behind_closed_doors/

    • Paul 60.1
      14 August 2014 at 8:34 pm

      Key said that?
      Unbelievable…

      • weka 60.1.1
        14 August 2014 at 9:02 pm

        The actual text in the book says that it’s unlikely that Key used that language, but the point was that when the country was aghast at what Slater had said, Key was phoning Slater to offer him support.

        I think we need to be careful here. The point has been made, why would anyone believe anything Slater has said. So where quotes in the book are from Slater’s emails or FB posts etc, then those always need to be put in context, not taken at face value.

        • vto 60.1.1.1
          14 August 2014 at 9:18 pm

          of course weka

          but what particular words do you think Key would have used when saying that? genuinely curious.

          has anyone ever heard Key swear?

          • weka 60.1.1.1.1
            14 August 2014 at 9:21 pm

            I don’t listen to Key very often, so can’t help there sorry.

            • vto 60.1.1.1.1.1
              14 August 2014 at 9:25 pm

              ha ha. I heard him live once and he sounded like he does on the tele, all sneery and smart arse.

              But even if he (in his typical sneery smart arse way) used words like “Don’t worry Cam, that woman is the one who yells at me whenever I go to Pike River meetings”….

              ….. is pretty much just as bad, in the context

    • vto 60.2
      14 August 2014 at 8:46 pm

      For those who don’t know who Jo Hall is – she is the mother of the young West Coast man whose death Slater danced for joy over.

      But I don’t quite get it joe90 – is that Slater quoting John Key? So John Key said those words … “”same feral fucking bitch that screams at him when he goes to pike river meetings””

      If so it is unbelievable

      off the planet for 90% of new Zealanders

      if that is so then key is gone tomorrow

  62. joe90 62
    14 August 2014 at 9:55 pm

    Abroad huh….

    Whaleoil shared a link.
    about an hour ago
    Been a big day – time for some silliness: The post Been a big day – time for some silliness appeared first on Whale Oil Beef Hooked | Whaleoil Media.

  63. North 63
    14 August 2014 at 10:11 pm

    Are TheGodKey and Disciples shitting or what ?

    I think they’re shitting. Dunno what it is. Maybe the TheGodKey’s “Mr Slater” 15 times in one minute ? Maybe Stevo Joyce engaging a never seen persona on RNZ this morning ? Like really really anxious. Maybe ‘Tiger’ ‘Spinner gettin’ into ‘im like we’ve never heard ?

    Even TV3’s saying “The Prime Minister is distancing himself……..” Which sorta confirms a closeness to start with. Oh Fucking No !!! Is this Wall Street ’29 ? It be very good were,,,,,!

    Calling FizzyAnus……SSLands……GooseStepMan. Whadaya reckon boys ?

    Meanwhile SlaterPorn’s doin’ the hsopitals of Tel Aviv. Lookin’ to commune with a needy victim of a 7 year old Gazan terrorist. Fuk he’s a good lad that boy !

  64. ianmac 64
    14 August 2014 at 10:34 pm

    I went to Internet-Mana meeting tonight in Blenheim. Small crowd. Kim Dotcom unable to come but a recording of one of his speeches was played. Pretty electric presentation. Wide range of folk there. Cross ages and cross race. Laila very clued up/good speaker and quick with responses at her finger tips. Glad I went but poor local advertising gave poor attendance.

    Labour are expected in town sometime but no date given.

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  • Cost of living support for low-income homeowners
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  • Government backing mussel spat project
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  • Clean energy key driver to reducing emissions
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  • Earthquake-prone buildings review brought forward
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  • Thailand and NZ to agree to Strategic Partnership
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  • Inflation coming down, but more work to do
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  • School attendance restored as a priority in health advice
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  • Unnecessary bureaucracy cut in oceans sector
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  • Opinion: It’s time for an arts and creative sector strategy
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