Sharp as a tack
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1:07 pm, October 22nd, 2008 - 20 comments
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I’ve just listened to the reporter’s tape of Lockwood Smith’s racial gaffe and it is hilarious.
Not for his appalling comment but for the marvelous follow-up question the reporter (I presume it’s Marlborough Express reporter, Cherie Howie) makes about whether Smith is more guarded in his statements after the secret agenda fiasco.
Smith’s response? “it doesn’t trouble me much as I don’t say anything that would trouble me.”
It was comedy gold and a textbook example of recognising the importance of a statement and following it up without missing a beat. It warms my heart to know there are still some very smart journos out there.
Update: Audio of Key trying to inoculate the situation. He uses his “range of factors” line. One day maybe someone will ask him what these mysterious factors he keeps talking about are.
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- Release: Nicola Willis’ smaller ferries will cost more
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- Bill to sanction unlawful occupation of Palestine
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- Release: Labour fully supports greyhound racing ban
The Government has done the right thing in moving to ban greyhound racing. ...2 weeks ago
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After years of advocacy, the Green Party is very happy to hear the Government has listened to our collective voices and announced the closure of the greyhound racing industry, by 1 August 2026. ...2 weeks ago
- Rangatahi voices must be centred in Government’s Relationship and Sexuality Education refresh
In response to a new report from ERO, the Government has acknowledged the urgent need for consistency across the curriculum for Relationship and Sexuality Education (RSE) in schools. ...2 weeks ago
- Govt introduces archaic anti-worker legislation
The Green Party is appalled at the Government introducing legislation that will make it easier to penalise workers fighting for better pay and conditions. ...2 weeks ago
- Winston Peters – Kinleith Mill Speech
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- Internationally-trained doctors jump at chance to boost health workforce
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Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has appointed Sarah Ottrey to the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC). “At my first APEC Summit in Lima, I experienced firsthand the role that ABAC plays in guaranteeing political leaders hear the voice of business,” Mr Luxon says. “New Zealand’s ABAC representatives are very well respected and ...3 days ago
- New intelligence oversight appointments
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- New housing developments able to progress more quickly
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- Actions to speed up air travel delivering results
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- Ending contracted emergency housing in Rotorua
The Government today announced the intended closure of the Apollo Hotel as Contracted Emergency Housing (CEH) in Rotorua, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says. This follows a 30 per cent reduction in the number of households in CEH in Rotorua since National came into Government. “Our focus is on ending CEH in the Whakarewarewa area starting ...3 days ago
- Vocational education and training decisions support return to regions
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- Reducing the environmental impact of synthetic refrigerants
The Government is taking action to better manage synthetic refrigerants and reduce emissions caused by greenhouse gases found in heating and cooling products, Environment Minister Penny Simmonds says. “Regulations will be drafted to support a product stewardship scheme for synthetic refrigerants, Ms. Simmonds says. “Synthetic refrigerants are found in a ...3 days ago
- Ngāruawāhia section of Waikato Expressway back to 4 lanes for Christmas
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- Appointments to the ENZ board
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- Government to celebrate Waitangi Day around NZ
The Government will have senior representatives at Waitangi Day events around the country, including at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, but next year Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has chosen to take part in celebrations elsewhere. “It has always been my intention to celebrate Waitangi Day around the country with different ...4 days ago
- More gangs added to Gangs Act list
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- Judicial appointment announced
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- Strengthening Free Speech in Universities
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- Minister reopens Mangamuka Gorge
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- Funding confirmed for second Ashburton Bridge
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- Fire and Emergency New Zealand final levy rates confirmed
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- Government seeks partnerships to plant trees on Crown-owned-land
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- Wide ranging legislation to make justice system more efficient
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- Torture redress for survivors of the Lake Alice Unit
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- A busy year in the House
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- Consultation opens on working with engineered stone
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- Greater reporting on Treaty settlement commitments
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- New appointments to the Charities Registration Board
Mr Roger Holmes Miller and Ms Tarita Hutchinson have been appointed to the Charities Registration Board, Community and Voluntary Sector Minister Louise Upston says. “I would like to welcome the new members joining the Charities Registration Board. “The appointment of Ms Hutchinson and Mr Miller will strengthen the Board’s capacity ...5 days ago
- Building consent processing times improve
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- New Zealand to assist Vanuatu on earthquake response
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- Offshore Renewable Energy Bill passes first reading
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Oh dear, not the most self-aware follow-up I’ve ever heard.
I also love that whoever has cut the clips has chosen to put that on even though it’s not part of the quotes in question.. clearly having a bit of a laugh
the more I listen to Lockwood the more he reminds me of Alan Partridge .
“there are still some very smart journos out there”
Yep, now how can we get them to work for the herald, tvnz and tv3?
bobo, an excellent observation.
Also the recording of Key trying to play it down reveals him, yet again, as the David Brent of NZ politics.
Factors indeed.
hahahahahahahahaahhahahahahahahaahha!
You have to be kiddin’ me! “i don’t say anything that would trouble me” how naive is the fool?
… like a neo-liberal in the rubble of the financial markets naively wondering wtf just happened …
The thing I enjoy most about this situation is that its not really the accuracy of Lockwood’s comments that are being critiqued but simply the fact that he made them. Indeed his comments are perfectly measurable. Ah politics… it’s a beautiful game.
Heh heh, David Brent… actually, though, wouldn’t Lockwood be David Brent, making the appalling gaffe, and Key be Gareth (or, even closer still, Dwight from the US version), fiercely defending his boss’s right to be incalculably stupid? (though in this case Key is the boss…). Okay that’s getting convoluted… but you know what I mean.
There’s all sorts of defences being run for Lockwood at present, but let’s test this gaffe, made as a senior and experienced politician, against his having said it in a past career…
Lockwood: Alright children, a starter for ten. Pacific Islanders make bad workers because they don’t know how to use the toilet. True or false?
Contestants: *stunned silence*
“The thing I enjoy most about this situation is that its not really the accuracy of Lockwood’s comments that are being critiqued but simply the fact that he made them. Indeed his comments are perfectly measurable. Ah politics it’s a beautiful game.”
Of course the accuracy of them isn’t being challenged. The media well know that claims of racism will gain more attention than an analysis of the pros/cons of the LSE.
Ben R: The pros and cons of the RSE aren’t at issue. Even Lockwood Smith didn’t raise them.
L
Why do we need fictional satire like “the pretender” just film lockwood for a few weeks on he hustings 🙂
How incredibly sad. Imagine holding those views (look I know it’s hard, but just imagine). Now imagine a senior MP holding those views (possibly not as hard). Now imagine a possibly senior Cabinet Minister holding those views (terrifyingly evident), and we wonder about the future direction of this country under a possible national government?
BTW I raised this over at the ‘land of hate’. What actually is to become of Kiwiblog if (god forbid racists run the country in a few weeks time)? I mean they’ve chased the politicians out, do they come for us because we hold differing views to them. Will it die away to a trickle of “aren’t we great'” mutual admiration society smack on the backs?
DPF must be shitting himself with regard to the potential loss of income from those adds.
Sharp as a tack title on a gormless standard blog? Holly Hell Robin things are deteriorating on blogosphere. Must start another scandal – like that girls and Paul? I think you meant land of fate as Miss Clark ate the cake!
Heh. Five non-controversial propositions, and an argument which follows from them:
Proposition 1: Asians have smaller hands than others.
Proposition 2: Females have smaller hands than males.
Proposition 3: Children have smaller hands than adults.
Proposition 4: Female infanticide exists in some Asian cultures since male children are considered more valuable.
Proposition 5: Earning minimum wage picking fruit is better than being the subject of infanticide.
Argument: National plans to import all the Asian girl-children who would otherwise be subject to infanticide in order to ensure the ongoing viability of NZ’s fruit and wine industry.
L
Paul what do you think is worse a dimwit making stupid comments while an opposition MP without considering whether they’ll offend people or a dimwit making similar comments while he’s the Minister of Foreign Affairs for political gain that he knows are offensive.
Why import a labour force when you got prisoners sitting in Hotel Hilton’s scattered all over the countryside lew? Prune the deadwood, so the vine can produce socialist champagne that you enjoy so much.
D4J: I believe it was Dostoevsky who said a society’s civilization should be measured by how it treated its prisoners. Not on the quality of the wine its prisoners produced.
L
Must go and comment on the fashion thread. That’s so important for the state of the country. Liberal suckers.
[lprent: I guess that you’re referring to the Act party. Possibly Liberterianz… Or maybe Liberal as in aussie. I think you could offend people all over the spectrum.
Ummm you have to be as sharp as a tack around here…]
Anyway I would think strong hands would be more useful in a vineyard than small hands, unless the small hands were also strong hands- of course.
No Ian – nimbleness of fingers and dexterity is the paramount skill – you don’t want to bruise the fruit.