Paula Bennett’s problems not over

Written By: - Date published: 6:38 am, August 3rd, 2017 - 28 comments
Categories: paula bennett - Tags: , ,

Update May 3 2018: I see that Dirty Politics operative Matthew Hooton is using this post as some kind of false equivalence with the filthy lies about Clarke Gayford. As you will see it contains nothing that was not being publicly commented on in the media at the time. So if this is Matthew’s best shot it’s – not exactly helping his case is it. Original post below:

Not seeing very much of Paula Bennett about at the moment are we. Remember from earlier in the month – Retired judge warns public after Paula Bennett threatens lawsuit over online post

A retired judge with considerable experience in laws surrounding online issues says those who share posts which break the law could be legally liable themselves.

The comments by retired Judge Dr David Harvey, who is Director of the New Zealand Centre for ICT Law, come after Deputy Prime Minister Paula Bennett threatened legal action over an online post accusing her, without evidence, of several historical criminal acts.

According to a cease-and-desist letter sent to a North Island man by lawyers acting for Ms Bennett, a post and video were published on June 30 containing “material highly defamatory of the Deputy Prime Minister”.

The post has been widely circulated and the letter states it has already had more than 5400 shares.

It seems that the source of the allegations is not giving up, if this guy (who seems well informed) is to be believed:

https://twitter.com/dfrancishirst/status/892577938918342656

There are also petitions calling for WINZ to Investigate Paula Bennett here and here.

Perhaps Bennett should get it all out in the open and clear her name. Nothing to hide, nothing to fear – isn’t that the rule that the Nats apply to the rest of us?

28 comments on “Paula Bennett’s problems not over ”

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  1. tc 1
    3 August 2017 at 7:07 am

    Karma is a wonderful thing.

    Zipping it sweetie and having ones personal details exposed to the public is a situation pullya has experience in.

    Her behaviour has made her a target for thousands of people suffering under her boot. Could be anyone really, probably a few just in case Nats get to the initial poster.

    • popexplosion 1.1
      3 August 2017 at 10:21 am

      Given she was the minister, and fear or favor would pervade any investigation over her alledged transgressions, it would necessitate a independent eye. But given this is just fake news we’d better wait for an ex or some witness etc to actually come forward or whatever.

  2. Cinny 2
    3 August 2017 at 7:14 am

    Crikey, a retired judge advising the public not to share some information after allegations about Paulas past have cropped up again. Appears like engineered timing.

    Why is she so determined to silence this? Maybe because there is some truth to it.

    People talk crap about others on social media all the time, why is paula paying this particular incident so much attention? Lawyers involved.. how many is she employing to try and bury it?

    Thanks for the update and link to article on TVNZ

  3. Carolyn_nth 3
    3 August 2017 at 7:19 am

    puala Bennett seems to be MIA from the Nats’ election campaign.

    Isn’t she meant to be the Nat’s match-up to Ardern.

    The MOU 1-2… in effect, though not coordinated deliberately.

    First #IamMetiria, Bennett sidelined, then the Labour leadership change.

    The unexpected can work for the left.

  4. AsleepWhileWalking 4
    3 August 2017 at 7:26 am

    “The folks” plural.

  5. Incognito 5
    3 August 2017 at 7:41 am

    Can somebody with legal knowledge explain why the cease-and-desist letter refers to Paula Bennnett as “the Deputy Prime Minister” and not to her actual name Paula Bennett? Since when are people defined by their temporary role/job? The allegations rumours are about alleged actions at a time Paula Bennett wasn’t even in politics!?

    • Carolyn_nth 5.1
      3 August 2017 at 7:46 am

      I don’t have legal knowledge, but aren’t cases of defamation strengthened by evidence that the claimant has a strong positive reputation that is being undermined?

      • Westiechick 5.1.1
        3 August 2017 at 8:16 am

        If it is the truth it is not defamation.

        • the pigman 5.1.1.1
          3 August 2017 at 7:08 pm

          Well, most who’ve gone to the trouble of finding the allegations published online will have a hard time believing them.

          The actual substance of the allegations is not too outrageous, but the person making them lacks any kind of credibility. Once you go down the rabbit hole into his videos and other claims you’ll start feeling a little bit crazy yourself. Not a labyrinth of delusion worth getting lost in.

          Of course, I recommend you check them out yourself and form your own view, but I won’t be linking to them or telling you how to find them here for legal reasons.

    • Johanne 5.2
      4 August 2017 at 12:40 pm

      Very good question.

  6. Keepcalmcarryon 6
    3 August 2017 at 7:43 am

    #Iampaula, just had a little retch there.

  7. NZJester 7
    3 August 2017 at 8:00 am

    Are they trying the regular tactic of try to bury or delay till after the election and then if it does hit the fan have another costly by-election?
    We have seen that tactic from them before with allegations against Mike Sabin hidden till after they hit the fan big time.

  8. ianmac 8
    3 August 2017 at 9:37 am

    Hey! What Paula may have done is OK. Others do it too so Paula is in the clear.
    So goes National logic.

    • You_Fool 8.1
      3 August 2017 at 9:53 am

      National logic is worse than that; they will deride and call out the other person calling them a criminal and a liar and dishonest, but their own is ok because the otherside did it too

    • norm 8.2
      3 August 2017 at 7:30 pm

      lets see thats sabin bennet ,the drunk from ch ch,and the spy from double dipper land,arent they naughty

  9. savenz 9
    3 August 2017 at 9:49 am

    Is Paula all that National has to offer as a deputy and double dipper Bill as PM?

    Seriously can we get rid of these clowns before Bill’s family gets all the government contracts, Judith’s family gets all the water contracts, Natz MP’s farms get government paid irrigation and Paula not only criminalises welfare while muzzling serious accusations against herself? Not to mention her climate change credentials…. It’s like April fools day every day in this country.

    • You_Fool 9.1
      3 August 2017 at 9:54 am

      I am voting Jin An since Paula is #NotmyMP. I don’t even know what she has done for Upper Harbour….

      • savenz 9.1.1
        3 August 2017 at 11:04 am

        Paula’s probably done nothing for Upper Harbour, she’s only there because Paula only managed to scrape through by a few votes in West Auckland after a recount, so National had to change her to somewhere else to avoid the embarrassment.

        Like the #NotmyMP!

      • Gabby 9.1.2
        3 August 2017 at 11:48 am

        Has Jin An had anything to say about Pullya’s sterling work in rejecting most recommendations by the law and order select committee?

  10. popexplosion 10
    3 August 2017 at 10:15 am

    In OZ MPs born overseas but do not have a declaration of refuting said foreign entanglement have not taken all reasonable care. The Greens once again take the lead in doing the ethical choice. Expect a pile of declarations on the speakers desk.

  11. JC 11
    3 August 2017 at 12:02 pm

    Good opinion piece from Graham Adams, from the Listener as to why Bennett wont be on a poster with Bill anytime soon.

    “When she makes the news, it’s often for distractions such as recommending tipping, or joking about her $950 shoes at the National Party conference, much like a modern-day Marie Antoinette. ….”

    http://www.noted.co.nz/currently/politics/why-paula-bennett-is-trouble-for-the-national-party/

    • ianmac 11.1
      3 August 2017 at 2:21 pm

      Crikey JC. Graham has really laid it on. Paula will be calling up her dark forces to try and destroy Graham Adams. It is not just us her doubt Bennett’s integrity.

    • Sarah Nicholas 11.2
      29 August 2017 at 4:31 pm

      Or an Imelda Marcos

  12. Michelle 12
    4 August 2017 at 1:08 am

    If you use Metiria Turei’s logic anything is justifiable because they can claim they were doing it tough and no one should be penalised even if they knowingly defrauded the tax payer.

    Right?

    Actually the issue here is anyone can make up anything on the internet, even about you and I. It’s not justice if a crowd comes baying for blood based on that, you need evidence and enough of that to prove the allegations made are fact and worthy of investigation. Plus it is not against the law to admit to using drugs or to be accused of using drugs or a wide range of other things, charges are made on provable causes of action. I can say that even if I don’t like Paula Bennett at all. As a private person this would cause a worrying change, where investigation and trial by opinion can occur when true justice tries would act on facts and assumes innocence until proven guilty.

    Anyone with an axe to grind could cause a lot of trouble for an individual even if they are telling complete falsehoods and that is not fair or just. You need to back it up and be able to stand by your claims before anything can go forward.

    • simonm 12.1
      4 August 2017 at 11:27 pm

      Paula could end all speculation immediately by stating categorically that the allegations that have been made against her are untrue. That she has chosen not to do so makes many people, myself included, suspicious that there may be some validity to the claims.

    • PB 12.2
      5 August 2017 at 3:41 pm

      I’m cool with her taking the Metiria defence – breaking an unjust regulation to feed her family is fine, But she better get on with it if she is going to.

  13. Johanne 13
    4 August 2017 at 12:43 pm

    Where is Paddy when we need him, too busy trying to destroy thee Green Party co leader to give this mess a mention.

  14. Peter 14
    9 August 2017 at 2:06 pm

    Its not Paula I want to be inquired upon some small benefit fraud, but would be good for everyone to know (but expensive to do). I want an inquiry into WINZ itself not following proper procedures and trying to use that to push anyone off the benefit they can, no matter how sick they were. It actually went on for 2 years atleast as I found out later. this was somewhere around 2006-2008 as rough guess

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