Parata replaces Collins and Adams as National’s weakest link

Written By: - Date published: 9:20 am, March 20th, 2014 - 57 comments
Categories: Hekia parata, Judith Collins, national, same old national, you couldn't make this shit up - Tags:

Election years are funny things.  The most accomplished of politicians can make mistakes. And amongst National’s cabinet there have been a few recent examples.

Firstly Crusher Collins self combusts.  Her lack of judgment in engaging in activity while on an official trip to China to speak on corruption which supported a private company of which her husband David Wong Tung is a director of and from who National has received large donations is breathtaking.  It seems that her sense of entitlement shut off her logic chip.

Then news of Amy Adams having some involvement in decisions that will benefit Canterbury farmers including herself hit the public consciousness although in a low key way.

But in terms of stupidity and hubris these episodes have been drowned out by Hekia Parata’s efforts this week.

On Sunday she effectively announced a radical change to school funding policy that would mean that poor schools would almost inevitably have their support cut.  She then tried to back away from this and in Parliament denied saying what was reported.  But the transcript of the interview released after this denial would suggest that reporter Jonathan Milne is right and Parata is … well …

Yesterday things went completely pear shaped for Parata following her claiming that the Kohanga Reo National Trust had been exonerated of claims of inappropriate spending.

The original story was broken by Native Affairs into the running of the Kohanga Reo movement.  The programme was called Feathering the Nest.  Part 2 is here.  The Kohanga Reo National Trust was asked a series of questions in the preparation of the story and responded by seeking a High Court injunction in an attempt to preventing the story from being broadcast.  This tactic backfired as trustees were then obliged to make sworn statements about trust spending.  The Trust eventually backed down.

The investigation concerned spending on credit cards belonging to Te Pātaka Ōhanga Limited which is the trading entity associated with the trust.  Both entities have the same people at the top and the KRNT is the only shareholder of TPO.  The basic concern is that money was being spent for personal benefit rather than on education for kids.  A number of examples were given in the Native Affairs programmes suggesting that the TPO credit card was being used regularly for what appeared to be personal matters.

Parata then called for a review by Ernst and Young.  The terms of reference were to assess the effectiveness of the financial internal controls over public funding received by the Trust.  With the benefit of hindsight these were clearly deficient and the wrong question was asked.  The complaints were about the use of credit cards, not just the spend of the Government grant the Trust.  The report which was released this week did say about credit card use “[w]e reviewed the 2012 credit card returns in detail and noted many returns did not include relevant supporting documentation.”

The circumstances surrounding the release of the E&Y report are incredible.  Despite repeated requests it appears that Parata’s media advisory about the release of the report was not sent to any of the Native Affairs Team even though they were responsible for the original story.  There is more than a slight whiff of sour grapes about this.  And even more incredibly the press conference was called at short notice for 8 pm on a Tuesday night and reporters were given a copy of the report only 10 minutes before they were meant to ask questions.  Tracy Watkins has described the background as follows:

During a press conference on Tuesday night Parata blustered and bullied her way through questions about her assurance that none of the $92 million in public funding allocated to the Kohanga Reo National Trust, or paid to its subsidiary, Te Pataka Ohanga, had been misspent.

After giving reporters 10 minutes to read the report by accountants Ernst & Young, Parata announced: “I am satisfied that public moneys are being expended in the appropriate way.”

When it was eventually pointed out to her that none of the spending relating to wedding dresses or Trelise Cooper outfits had been addressed by the report, she triumphantly told reporters that these matters were never included in the terms of reference.

She insisted, meanwhile, that there were no instances of the subsidiary receiving public money.

It took a Kohanga Reo National Trust board member to eventually confirm that kohanga reo got money from the Ministry of Education and the subsidiary got its money from kohanga reo.

Yesterday’s turnaround where the matter was referred to the Serious Fraud Office for consideration is as complete a political reversal as I have ever witnessed.  Parata has claimed there are new allegations.  Time will tell if she is saying the truth.  The only benefit for the Government is that Parata can now refuse to answer questions on the basis the matter is being investigated but her credibility, or what is left of it, has been severely wounded.

So Hekia Parata has now become National’s weakest link.  And Key has a terrible decision to make.  Does he sack her now and lose face but stop the mishaps or does he continue with her and hope that she makes no further mistakes.  After what has happened this week I suspect that her days are numbered.

57 comments on “Parata replaces Collins and Adams as National’s weakest link ”

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  1. Lanthanide 1
    20 March 2014 at 9:28 am

    Hat-tip to Zorr yesterday in Open Mike, he posted this but it didn’t seem to get much notice since it was late in the day.

    John Key also has links to Oravida and there were photos of him on the Chinese website appearing to endorse their products.

    http://agrihq.co.nz/article/milk-runner-tangles-pm-in-product-endorsement?p=7

  2. Tracey 2
    20 March 2014 at 9:32 am

    you can just hear the upper echelons of the national party

    ” this is why we shouldnt have so many women in the party or cabinet.”

    but how does key escape given that simple fact checking catches his numerous lies… as with brownlee? brownlee was minister for pike river but its wilkinson who resigns.

    • mickysavage 2.1
      20 March 2014 at 9:34 am

      I suspect that “the left is being sexist” will be used to try and counter this but Parata’s behaviour in particular is just so mindboglingly bad that it has to be commented on. I agree that Brownlee also deserves attention and Kevin Hague yesterday in Parliament made comments about Tony Ryall which deserve to be checked out.

      • Tracey 2.1.1
        20 March 2014 at 12:28 pm

        agree they all nee calling to account, just interesting to note who gets publically flagellated for some time, by the media and others, and who dont

  3. karol 3
    20 March 2014 at 9:50 am

    Now Judith Collins seems to be trying to silence the media, while Key does a PR initiative in support of Oravida. Is it that Key and Collins are throwing Parata to the wolves partly to take some heat off themselves?

    Collins lays complaint with TVNZ. NewstalkZB.

    Judith Collins is fuming over what she’s labelled a “smear piece” from Television New Zealand.

    She’s filed a complaint after One News lead their 6pm bulletin tonight with a story following the allegations over Collins’ meeting with milk company Oravida.

    NZ Herald:

    Mr Key said that what Ms Collins had told him about the dinner was consistent with what she had said in Parliament yesterday. Asked about Ms Collins lodging a formal complaint against TVNZ for its coverage, Mr Key said he had not seen the report in question.

    “In the end I leave ministers to deal with their own situations.”

    • mickysavage 3.1
      20 March 2014 at 9:55 am

      Thanks karol.

      I kept wondering about the phrase “consistent with” which Key kept using. This leaves open the possibility that Key was not told everything by Collins. An incomplete description of something can be “consistent with” a more complete description.

      • One Anonymous Bloke 3.1.1
        20 March 2014 at 10:04 am

        I figure it means that they’ve colluded on exactly what to say so that they can make literally true statements and yet still mislead the house.

        I think the “incomplete description” is the one Collins is giving Parliament.

    • BM 3.2
      20 March 2014 at 10:52 am

      I get the feeling the Labour media division is a bit larger than just the Maori unit.

      Hopefully this formal complaint shakes a few more of the lefty media monkeys out of the TVNZ tree.

      Unbiased public TV/Radio is good for everyone.

  4. Enough is Enough 4
    20 March 2014 at 9:51 am

    There is another weak link.

    After the revealtions last night about Key’s corrupt dinners and golf with the Chinese, I think we should focus the blow torch on him.

    I think we have a crack. He must resign over this

    • mickysavage 4.1
      20 March 2014 at 11:07 am

      Here is the transcript of part of Key’s recent interview on the Nation:

      Well it’s a small world and a small country, I mean when I played gold for them, it was because I was bought in a charity event, and he bought that charity event and I’ve offered myself up on a number of occasions to do that, rather than dinners, because I’d, frankly rather have the exercise and enjoy playing golf.

      So there’s no great conspiracy there, and people see those photos and they see all that, and as long as there’s transparency as there was in terms of the donations, I mean interestingly enough, Labour Party attacking us for that.

      I have never though of National as being a charity …

      http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1403/S00103/patrick-gower-interview-with-prime-minister-john-key.htm

      • veutoviper 4.1.1
        20 March 2014 at 12:26 pm

        Much as I don’t have much time for Patrick Gower (who is currently in China), he is still on to the “charity” aspect and this morning has filed a blog post on this at http://t.co/WSDOqRsQ2a

        On his Twitter stream he has also put up some tweets about Key and Shi at the dinner last night in China. https://twitter.com/patrickgowernz

        A couple of the tweets in particular are worth “expand”ing for the comments and contributors (eg Cactus Kate and Bevan Cheung amongst others). These ones

        “Just met Oravida owner Stone Shi …”

        “Oravida owner Stone Shi paid money to a charity called the National Party ….

        • Tracey 4.1.1.1
          20 March 2014 at 12:56 pm

          cldnt find cactus kates, but its amazing to watch nat supporters spinning the nats out of this. some folks need a lesson in rationalisations.

        • David H 4.1.1.2
          20 March 2014 at 6:58 pm

          On TV3 tonight he did a walk through the Oravida offices just dropped in and what do you know there’s another golf game between Key and Shi. And pics of Collins and key every where. Dunno what they said to Gower to light a fire under him.

          • Clemgeopin 4.1.1.2.1
            20 March 2014 at 8:40 pm

            Gower walking into the Oravida office uninvited with his cameraman, showing us ALL the shady politicians’ photos on the walls, opening the office fridge to pick the milk bottle etc was a very good journalistic scoop! The poor workers at that office had no clue what was happening! They probably thought Gower was another slimy NZ cabinet minister and served him cups of tea while he was happily exposing their totally discredited outfit and our politicians! Very funny!

      • veutoviper 4.1.2
        20 March 2014 at 3:11 pm

        MS, I found this post on NRT to the point re the ‘charity’ issue. As I/S says, Key should be more careful ….

        http://www.norightturn.blogspot.co.nz/2014/03/political-parties-are-not-charities.html

        • mickysavage 4.1.2.1
          20 March 2014 at 6:11 pm

          And Paddy has established there was a second golf game …

          Wonder which charity payment for this game went???

          • Tracey 4.1.2.1.1
            20 March 2014 at 6:37 pm

            Funny how the pm can recall the second one was in papakura… when you consider how many more important things he claims to have forgotte.

            J collins electorate of course.

          • Anne 4.1.2.1.2
            20 March 2014 at 6:43 pm

            And here is the new photo

            According to Paddy Gower a donation of $56,000 was forthcoming soon after the game. In other words the charity was the Nat. Party.

            When the video becomes available will post. It’s hilarious! Gower gets the bit between his teeth and never lets go…

              • veutoviper …
                20 March 2014 at 9:04 pm

                I laughed and laughed.

                The worm has turned – or seems to have (the cynic in me is still alive and well).

                Just came back online so must go check out Paddy’s Twitter account and various others.

                • veutoviper …
                  20 March 2014 at 9:26 pm

                  Initial report back – Paddy is quiet; but Judith Collins is not a “happy chappy/lady”.

                  Collins and Grant Robertson have been having a “domestic”. with Madam Collins/Wong Tung accusing Robertson of spreading disgusting accusations about her private life! …….

                  https://twitter.com/JudithCollinsMP

                  Forget Reality TV; try reality Twitter.

    • Naki Man 4.2
      20 March 2014 at 1:36 pm

      Corrupt dinners.
      Are you really that ignorant or are you just pretending to be a total fuckwit.
      You have no understanding of how business is done.
      Typical lefty fuckwit

      • One Anonymous Bloke 4.2.1
        20 March 2014 at 1:44 pm

        You dumb motherfucker. What part of “politicians doing business” doesn’t ring alarm bells on your planet?

        What does “conflict of interest” mean if not this?

        We need better wingnuts.

        • framu 4.2.1.1
          20 March 2014 at 4:12 pm

          yeah – ol naki man is a pale shadow compared to your pete george or redbaiter (being the two ends of the wingnut commentor spectrum)

          shit – hes not even a king kong

      • Tracey 4.2.2
        20 March 2014 at 2:01 pm

        its good to finally see someone on the right that these dinners advanced business interests for collins and/or key.

        well done for seeing through the crap they keep feeding you.

        • Once was Pete 4.2.2.1
          20 March 2014 at 2:27 pm

          Helen Clark brought the Chinese Premier to a business I was involved in, and this raised our profile tremendously. Obviously we ‘lobbied’ furiously for the opportunity, and we were incredibly grateful for the visit.
          The organisation I was with made it a practice to ‘lunch and dinner’ with a wide variety of politicians, simply for the purpose of ‘staying connected’.
          No graft, no corruption, and no promises or obligations. This is just good sense. We always paid for the lunch or dinner. It is generally accepted that if you invite someone …then you pay. In all the years I have been involved in this practice I have not once witnessed a politician (left, right or centre) behave with any thing but decorum. Some times we entertained guests we had no particular liking for, but it was a ‘broadening’ experience.
          I can see no reason to get exercised by ‘Collins drink of milk’, or her accepting a dinner invite which is paid for, even if her husband is involved with the business enterprise, as long as no favours are granted that would not be extended to other businesses as part of accepted practice.
          Government is frequently in a position to ‘open a door’ or facilitate a contact, and as long as it is done ethically then most Kiwis would want this.
          Most people I talk to see this as a distraction, a non issue, and a deflection from things that really matter.

          • framu 4.2.2.1.1
            20 March 2014 at 4:04 pm

            did this organisation have an immediate family member as a director, have financial ties to the politicians or other members of same party you dinned with, make large donations to that party, receive immigration assistance from a minister, use the political connection to endorse products, make donations to a “charity” (being the party again), include dining with foreign border officials or use taxpayer funds for any of this?

            thats the whole point

            ” and as long as it is done ethically”

            again – thats the point – this is in a whole different continent to ethicsville

            ” as long as no favours are granted that would not be extended to other businesses as part of accepted practice.” 1) pretty sure thats not what happened re favours, 2) its not accepted practice – thats why the cabinet manual expressly frowns on this sort of thing – because its unacceptable

            im staggered that so many people are making excuses for this – its not about what private business does or lobbies for – its about what MPs are doing

            • One Anonymous Bloke 4.2.2.1.1.1
              20 March 2014 at 4:47 pm

              OWP, Framu is right: there is absolutely nothing wrong with businesses cultivating political relationships or connections.

              There is a problem with politicians who cultivate business connections, to whit: the politicians can clip the ticket a second time for doing their job, as has happened here: Collins has used her position to get her close family and friends a seat at the top table, at direct financial benefit to her family, not to mention her party.

              If audiences with government ministers are for sale, then pretty soon Kiwis will be priced out of the market.

            • North 4.2.2.1.1.2
              20 March 2014 at 11:06 pm

              And did your company “donate” $55,000 to each of the parties of the politcians whom you entertained ?

              Use your brain fuckhead. Who sent you here ?

              Smile & Wave & Invoice.

          • Tracey 4.2.2.1.2
            20 March 2014 at 5:36 pm

            Its exorcised.

            Did helen clarks husband get paid a directors fee by the organization you worked for?

      • freedom 4.2.3
        20 March 2014 at 2:05 pm

        So you are admitting the PM and Collins are colluding to protect a corrupt system?

        Can’t have it both ways Naki Man

      • Murray Olsen 4.2.4
        20 March 2014 at 11:20 pm

        I know most of the Randian business heroes you worship couldn’t make enough to buy half a box of used matches without their mates in Wellington arranging for the tickets they clip. That’s how “business” is done under NAct. Seems you’re a bit upset that people are noticing. Well, boohoo.

  5. risildowgtn 5
    20 March 2014 at 9:59 am

    There is also Nathan Guy as a weak link re $ and residency

    Not much focus has been on this idiot either

    http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/political/238749/guy-says-he-never-knew-about-party-donation

  7. freedom 7
    20 March 2014 at 10:28 am

    All of it seems to distract nicely from whatever this Festival of Education was created for, which on the surface appears to be hyping the introduction of learning labs run from overseas corporates.

    http://www.festivalofeducation.org.nz/
    How much public money has gone into this I wonder?

    There are few groups working as hard as Save our Schools to bring to the attention of the public the difficulties that NZ education is enduring. If only half of what is in this article is true, then surely some serious questions need to be asked of the Minister.

    http://saveourschoolsnz.wordpress.com/2014/03/20/festival-of-education-is-a-glittering-cover-for-something-very-ugly/
    ““There is much to celebrate about New Zealand education but there is nothing to celebrate in this charade of excess.

    “A charade brought you by two commercial companies and the ministry in venomous association.

    “And now the ultimate: education money has gone into this festival obscenity – money that could have gone into helping children with special needs, more teachers to help children with their reading, more money to compensate at school for children’s home backgrounds – yet this money has gone into a mammoth propaganda exercise intended to put public schools more under the heel of those driven by imported education ideologies.”

  8. Clemgeopin 8
    20 March 2014 at 10:41 am

    May be Key should simultaneously sack all three of these sad sacks of untruths/half-truths and BS, namely : Parata, Collins, and Adams and create a political accountability world record hat trick. Then resign himself gracefully. What a shameless set of discredited nincompoops!

    • Lanthanide 8.1
      20 March 2014 at 11:52 am

      But that’s the problem. Sacking three ministers simultaneously at any time, let alone during election year, is a really bad look. It makes you seem incompetent / corrupt. Key can’t afford that.

    • Tracey 8.2
      20 March 2014 at 12:38 pm

      guy, brownlee and ryall. if lying and misleading the house etc are the standard

    • Tracey 8.3
      20 March 2014 at 12:43 pm

      first key lie i recall was his claim to be honest and to answer questions he wasnt even asked. that was to paul henry in 2008. he was promising to hold his team to a higher standard than labour.

      he might throw collins under the bus to look strong and help joyce BUT he cant control slugslick… and slug likes collins.

  9. captain hook 9
    20 March 2014 at 12:40 pm

    they are all weak links, lowbrows and simpletons to boot.
    The problem is their egotism and vanity and their venality that makes them able to shrug off anything that dosen’t fit their own juvenile fantasies of omnipotence.
    not to worry.
    gone in September.
    Their meddling and muddling is becoming intolerable.

  10. blue leopard (Get Lost GCSB Bill) 10
    20 March 2014 at 2:27 pm

    Mr Key has no regard for the basic human qualities and principles that our system and society very much depends on to function effectively.

    The occurrences as listed the above article (and many others, such as privacy breaches, education issues, forest and mining disasters, the response to the Rena disaster, the RMA meddling) are not random, unconnected events – they are directly related to Key’s cavalier attitude to the qualities our system is based and depends on. Qualities, for example, such as honesty, conscientiousness, dependability, trust and trustworthiness.

    Little does he appear to have any clue about principles; the reasons behind democratic processes, laws, rules and regulations or even taxes. I am unclear whether he is even aware of, let alone, understands these principles

    The casual attitude Key has toward the very basis of our societal system can be seen in his typically casual mannered ‘throw away’ responses to the very real and many problems that have arisen on his watch.

    These problems arising with Adams, Collins and Parata are symptoms of the poor leadership of Mr Key.

    He is not a good person to be leading the National party – he is putting them to shame.

    He is not a good person to be running our country – he is running us into the ground, with regard to our morale, as well as fiscally.

    He needs to be voted out.

    • Tracey 10.1
      20 March 2014 at 5:41 pm

      They are not new… smith, worth, wong, heatley, double dipping bill, banks, … anyone else?

  11. captain hook 11
    20 March 2014 at 6:49 pm

    shifty key.
    going going going gone.

  12. tricledrown 12
    20 March 2014 at 9:01 pm

    Givem Enough rope and they will hang themselves.

  13. North 13
    20 March 2014 at 11:00 pm

    From Mickey’s post – “Parata is…..well…..” – a flibbertigibbet ?

    You know there’s something bloody weird and actually quite unsettling about that now quite old picture which accompanies this post.

    Ah……the pull of powerful men ! Heki Pirau Parata will do/say anything to grease up the same.

    Rubbish person ! And so so so undeservedly she’s a cabinet minister ???

  14. Populuxe1 14
    20 March 2014 at 11:05 pm

    So not that much different to Whanau Ora…

  15. BEATINGTHEBOKS 15
    21 March 2014 at 12:30 am

    Parata has to go. A complete muppet. Doesn’t get it. Education is the most significant issue to most New Zealanders. She is asleep at the wheel and always has been. Go, get lost, you are not helping anyone. Buy another pointless jacket which you should feel very comfortable in it, and then waste everyone’s time debating how it’s not vulgar. You have let down the most vulnerable in the country… Maori kids who can’t read. I hope you’re happy. No vote for you. Idiot.

  16. tricledrown 16
    21 March 2014 at 10:01 am

    National are looking sick right across the board at the moment Foss has to be the latest fwit of the week.
    His patheticly weak response to

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