Some thoughts on ACT

Written By: - Date published: 12:00 pm, September 18th, 2010 - 81 comments
Categories: act, labour, maori party, nz first, Politics - Tags: , , , , , ,

Now Garrett has resigned from the party things are really going to get interesting. As far as I can see there are a few ways this can play out.

1) Garrett stays as an independent and Hide stays leader of ACT – I’m picking this is unlikely

2) Garrett stays as an independent and Boscawen rolls Hide (This seems to be the way John Armstrong thinks it may go, I’m not so sure.)

3) Garrett resigns from parliament and Hide stays on (highly unlikely).

4) Garrett resigns from parliament, Hillary Calvert comes in and Hide is rolled (this would be my pick and it would effectively make Douglas the power behind the throne)

I note that DPF has tried to claim Calvert would support Hide but I find that highly unlikely. I recall having a conversation with her in the 1990’s and being struck by just how much of a Douglas disciple she was. More recently, she’s also spoken well of Roy and just yesterday told the Herald:

I think it is important, particularly in a small party like Act, that the leader has everyone’s total support.

A comment that has been interpreted by the Herald as support for Hide but is notable for the total absence of the words “I support Rodney Hide”. She is a lawyer after all.

Then there’s Epsom. A few months ago I saw a little bit of polling that had been conducted there that showed Hide’s support was collapsing and I doubt that recent events have done much to help that. If Hide is rolled as leader, however, that will be beside the point as he would be unlikely to gain candidacy for the seat and it is even more unlikely that John Key would ease the way for a Douglas-backed ACT candidate.

If Hide struggles on as leader I doubt very much he’d win Epsom regardless of the signals sent by Key and his party.

Which leaves ACT with one opportunity for survival – the 5% threshold. It’s an open secret that a substantial number of ACT supporters believe that there’s 5% of voters who would tick the ACT box if they saw the party returning to its strictly neoliberal roots (i.e. ditch Hide for Roy). And, although I’d like to think that the voodoo economics of the 80’s and 90’s was as dead as Stalinism, there is a chance that they’re right. In fact right now it’s looking like that’s the only shot they’ve got.

Of course there’s also the bigger picture to think about as well. An ACT-less parliament would have significant ramifications for National’s plans for pushing further right in a second term (the privatisation agenda, for example, would have to be shelved) and that would piss off a lot of their backers (but possibly not as much as “centrist” John Key cuddling up to a Douglas-run ACT would piss off a lot of voters)

And if National is looking like it would be hamstrung in government Labour may find it harder to instil a sense of urgency in its activist base (who right now are most motivated by the fear of the irreparable harm a second term of National/ACT would cause).

The Maori Party would gain more power in a National-led government if ACT disappeared but would also have to take more responsibility for policies their base didn’t like.

And then there’s the 800lb gorilla in the room nobody wants to talk about – Winston Peters.

As I said, this is going to be very interesting.

On a more personal note I’ve taken an interest in Garrett ever since I announced his candidacy for him in 2008. Like an old comrade of mine says about the political game: “I’ve seen ’em come and I’ve seen ’em go”.

81 comments on “Some thoughts on ACT ”

  1. john 1

    Sooner Parliament is sterilised of Garrett’s Presence the better.

    • comedy 1.1

      “Sooner Parliament is sterilised the better.”

      There fixed it for you

      “Winston Peters an 800lb Gorilla”, don’t you mean a 180lb chimp ?

      • bbfloyd 1.1.1

        comedy… where does an 800lb gorilla sit at the dinner table?………… anywhere he f****n wants to! you get the analagy? chimps are what you see in the mirror…
        (sorry, can’t do smiley face)

        • Comedy 1.1.1.1

          Didn’t know they had mirrors in your enclosure.

          Anyhoo to see a truly simian lineup I just got my Supercity forms in the post …………. since when have Banks and Brown been independents ?

          .. and as for the rest FFS WHAT A JOKE.

          • kbr 1.1.1.1.1

            This is an insult to he noble hominidae, Pan troglodytes, to whom I assume you refer – as opposed to Pan paniscus, or bonobo, which uses love-making as a form of conflict resolution.

            Chimps are adept at coalition building to achieve objectives such as territory, foraging, or hunting – and could teach us a thing or two.

            I sometimes see them observing Phoenix training sessions over the back fence of Wgtn zoo. They don’t seem to think it has much point ..

          • bbfloyd 1.1.1.1.2

            C..so you didn’t get it…. why am i disappointed , but not surprised? the explanation would confuse you..

    • Rharn 1.2

      Ditto for ACT too.

    • paula 1.3

      [deleted]

      [lprent: As much as I personally dislike the SST. Your repeated comments are defamatory. You’ve been warned before. You are now permanently banned. ]

  2. Rharn 2

    Anyone thinking like me that Winstone ‘will’ return?

    Most pundits are still writing him off on the basis of his alledged skullduggery. Remember no charges were ever laid and it was Hide and that wannabe Monaco diplomat that did most of the damage. Key put the knife in by stating that he would not have Winstone as a coalition partner. Now Key has changed his mind and could w.ork with him. What has changed? Key has fewer options.

    Second question. Anyone think Winstone ‘will’ work with Key? Not a chance.

    I’m almost tempted to vote for Peters not only as a thank you for my gold card but also to allow him to settle some scores. He will not sign up with any one for that reason.

    • blacksand 2.1

      Second question. Anyone think Winstone ‘will’ work with Key? Not a chance.

      Every chance. Who thought he’d work with Bolger, Birch and Shipley after ’96? Actually, quite a few people, just not the 2/3 of his supporters who expected him to back Labour just because he’d absolutely ruled out anything to do with those three.

      • Rharn 2.1.1

        Lot of water’s gone under the bridge between ’96 and now. But knowing Winstone you may well be right. The big if or several big ifs will he get the chance? The other thing is that Clark held on to Winstone for as long as possible. He’ll go with Labour should the chance arise. No he’ll turn down Key ’cause he can.

      • Rex Widerstrom 2.1.2

        work with Bolger, Birch and Shipley after ’96

        And didn’t that emd well?! And that was when he had one or two reasonably capable, energetic and personable MPs behind him. Not so now.

    • Im picking that Peters will promise to improve the Gold Card and all the
      well-of blue rinses will flock to vote for him. What will happen if he stands for Epsom.? I have no doubt he will come back ,but who would he support.? Thats the trouble ,and remember he’s an exNat.

  3. Red Rosa 3

    Nice one, here

    http://gonzofreakpower.blogspot.com/

    AS word – plot – how do they do this?

  4. the sprout 4

    Winston most certainly WILL be back.

    Anyone find it a bit odd that Calvert can’t rmember if she has any convictions?

    From the Herald article linked to above…

    “I’m not going to say I don’t. I can’t remember a speeding ticket,” [Calvert] said. “I will have to have a proper think about it.”

    I’m not sure how you could possible come up with a less convincing answer than that.

    • Rich 4.1

      I had to list mine for citizenship, and I couldn’t remember my motoring offences (from being a young and stoopid driver in the 80s). I tried DVLA and police in the UK, and they delete them after 7 or so years. so I just put that I had several from before 1995, and that seemed to suffice.

    • Red Rosa 4.2

      Calvert is a lawyer, so she knows a few speeding tickets aren’t going to bother anyone. Should this set a few alarm bells ringing? Or maybe the skeletons in the closet have been rattling loudly enough!

      • joe bloggs 4.2.1

        I see that Phil Goff has made no announcements whatsoever about past convictions. This surely sets a few alarm bells ringing…

        • rod 4.2.1.1

          Ditto, Auckland mayoral cadidates, now is the time to speak up guys.

          • Mrhappy 4.2.1.1.1

            So in 1984, Garrett as a “prank” decided he had a need to obtain a new identity, and even possibly “prankishly” leave the country under said identity, for presumably “prankish” purposes.

            Now a normal person wouldn’t put that much effort into a simple “prank”, unless they thought they might have to utilise it for comedic effect.

            Or if they’d done something REALLY dodgy that meant it might be better to quietly leave the country.

            Now, let me think, 1984 and major unsolved crimes … hmmmmmmmmmmmm.

            So, ummm, did they ever catch [too close to defamation]

        • bbfloyd 4.2.1.2

          get a life joe.

  5. Rich 5

    Also, as a summary of facts:
    – If Garrett stays an MP, even he never comes to parliament, then Hide will continue to have the numbers to stay ACT leader, unless Boscawen dumps him.
    – If Garrett resigns, then apparently next-in-line Hilary Calvert is no fan of Hide and would probably vote to roll him.
    – Key has said that he won’t accept Roger Douglas a a cabinet minister, so that would point to Roy becoming leader.
    – Unless, that is, Douglas becomes leader but not a minister, and Roy gets her Chief Toy Soldier job back.
    – Also, Roy/Douglas may not want Boscawen as a minister, but that would leave them with no acceptable candidate for their second ministerial slot.
    – And if Garrett stays, then Heather may need to release the next little bombshell.
    – Or Hide could persuade an existing National or UF MP to join the ACT caucus to shore up his majority, possibly with the connivance of Key.

  6. freedom 6

    the unfunny thing is all this bs of Garrett and co has succeeded in taking focus away from the only truely important topic of the week, the removal of democracy from New Zealand’s Parliament

    The MSM is blathering about responsibilty of truth in Parliament whilst they refuse to exercise any expression of honesty in their own media.

    Despite the belated and disingenuous statements from the shadows of what was once the left, our elected representatives have unanimously collaboratively, willingly, fucked us, and we didnt even get a nice dinner first

  7. gobsmacked 7

    ACT’s problems are only going to get worse. The enemy within is very, very smart.

    The leaker(s) clearly know how to play the game. If they’d put these stories out there in the previous ten days or so, they wouldn’t have had half as much impact. The quake eliminated all other news. There was no appetite for “politics”.

    So they waited until the media were ready. Then they got the lesser story out first (Tonga assault), and got some momentum. Plus they got Garrett on the record, saying he had no more “strikes” against his name. And Hide on the record, telling everyone how wonderful Garrett really is. Oops.

    Then they delivered the knockout punch – Jackal. Job done.

    They’ve leaked separate ‘Exclusives’ to both TV One and TV3, they’ve played them perfectly, an object lesson in how to use the media. Funnily enough, this doesn’t involve just issuing a bland press release and hoping somebody notices.

    Any chance they could lend their instruction manual to the Labour Party?

  8. and it is even more unlikely that John Key would ease the way for a Douglas-backed ACT candidate.

    I think this is true to a certain extent, but only a certain extent. Didn’t Richard Worth have Brash’s ‘full suppport’ for Epson? I think National and ACT supporters have embraced strategic voting in a way that the left haven’t – I even recall Helen Clark pointedly saying that doing deals on seats was not how Labour was going to operate. As a Green voter, I’m a bit sad that the Green voters of Ohariu-Belmont didn’t see that voting for Hugh Chavel could have got rid of Peter Dunne, but maybe that was just a surprise all around.

    I don’t think it will make much difference whether Key makes any public comment on any particular seat; I’d expect that there are a number of National safe seats with a clever & right wing enough electorate for ACT to find a winning candidate. I really don’t believe that any of the scandals that have befallen ACT would make much difference to their support – whatever disagreements there are within the party, they are still pretty consistent as to what their main goals in parliament are. The ACT voters of Epson were clever enough to know which side to butter their bread. It is only this last scandal that actually goes beyond the pale – I doubt Rodney could hold Epson now.

    The irony of the whole ‘bbq at Phil’s place’ meme is that the right have a much more corporate loyalty to the CEO ethos than the left – witness poor old Brian Connell’s fate in National’s caucus for daring to question Don Brashes suitability to lead. I’m guessing that the ‘PC Eradicator’ and all of the other strategic loud mouths in the caucus of the time knew when to keep quiet. They also know when and how to ‘move forward’ when they’re in the shit – John Key’s first reshuffle and Brash’s quiet exit. Don ‘family values’ Brash even managed to be painted as a victim of dirty tricks in the whole affair…

    back to the topic at hand;

    ACT served (and will continue to serve) very little use with National polling low. It wasn’t until Brash became leader of the National Party and ACT’s support hemorrhaged in behind him that the right had any show of gaining Government; this gave him the momentum which Orewa capitalised on. It will always be in the interests of the right for National to appear relatively centerist, and the largest party in parliament, with sufficient support for ACT for them to remain as a stalking horse – be it 5-6%, or a safe seat. Ideally the latter particularly when it’s close between National and Labour.

    The reason that it is in ACT’s interests for National to remain the largest party, is that in the eyes of some (enough), this gives them more legitimacy to form a government. There are well educated, intelligent people across the political spectrum, and there are poorly educated (and frequently stupid) people across the political spectrum. I personally believe that the right (globally…) are better at harnessing the power of stupid. There were points before the last two elections where it looked as though National would gain the largest share of the votes, but still be unable to form a government. This (wrongly) was painted by some as unfair. Following ’05 National managed to consolidate and keep the momentum of this sense of unfairness by painting the election as ‘stolen’, bizarrely enough because Labour did things that National had also done. The left on the other hand, deal with diversity of opinion in quite a different way – we place more value in strong arguments than in strong leaders. Nice principle, we just need the soundbites.

    • Red Rosa 8.1

      Rebrand this government as ‘The Key/Hide One-Term Government’ and Labour are onto a winner.

      • Tanz 8.1.1

        Red Rosa, you wish. Oh the glee of all these posters, kick the man while he is down, why don’t you. Key will survive this, easily, the media and the polls are smitten with him.

  9. Tanz 9

    Oh the glee of all these posters. The glee, the rubbing of hands, the chortles.Are you all squeaky clean? Are you happy now that there is finally some mud to fling? Of course they are all politicians, not demi-gods. Blame that on the media.

    • Armchair Critic 9.1

      It’s the media’s fault that Garrett assaulted someone? It’s the media’s fault that David Garrett stole the identity of a dead child? The media made him lie to a sentencing judge? Fuck right off out of here. David Garrett is responsible for his own sordid actions, it’s not anything to do with the media.
      Am I pleased about the fact that he’s on his way? Damn straight! David Garrett personifies everything I despise about ACT and to see his hypocrisy exposed and (hopefully) on his way out of parliament, so he can implement less of his warped and weird agenda, brings me true joy.
      Am I squeaky clean? I’ve been out in the mud digging in fence posts all day, so no. The worst I have to hide is one speeding ticket, in over 20 years of driving. I guess the pope won’t be making me a saint any time soon.

      • joe bloggs 9.1.1

        After 9 years of having this sort of shit rain upon the electors, you Left Wing Nut Jobs should know better by now. I defer to RedBaiter on another site – an incisive observation that cuts to the core of what’s so out of balance with the Leftists:

        Good god, you really cannot see the difference between Garret’s passport offence 26 years ago that hurt nobody and the wave of rape and violence and theft that is sweeping NZ today and that Garret was fighting against?

        What a nation of clueless easily manipulated morons. The left media just have to press your buttons and you’re off jerking away like a population of mindless left wing robots.

        • RedLogix 9.1.1.1

          In a sense yes. Garrett’s offense is certainly not the ‘crime of the century’. The problem is this:

          1. Garrett is openly Parliament’s spokesperson for the Sensible Sentencing Trust who has repeatedly called for zero tolerance of crime.

          2. Garrett voted against the clean slate legislation that would have allowed relatively minor, non-violent crimes in the past, just like the one he committed, to be parked off the public record.

          3. And Garrett above all, is responsible for the the odious three strikes legislation that more than anything else, removes discretion from the hands of Judges… a discretion he personally has benefitted from.

          If he had made his position clear before the election, had authentically built the case that this offence comitted in a hubris of youthful stupidity had been an important point of learning and insight … then he could have made it work.

          But he didn’t. Garrett and Hide both lied and covered it up. Both have failed the hypocrisy test comprehensively. That is the issue at stake here.

        • Puddleglum 9.1.1.2

          “Garret’s passport offence 26 years ago that hurt nobody”

          Hurt nobody? Ask the family of the child – they sounded pretty hurt on radio. Even Garrett claimed to be overwhelmed by sadness for the harm he had done to the family (though that grief hadn’t caused him to come clean about it.)

          Or are you unconcerned about the victims of crime all of a sudden when the crime is done by one of your – and Redbaiter’s – heroes?

        • bbfloyd 9.1.1.3

          kinda scary ain’t it joe? to think that there are still people like that around. the ones that still havn’t figured out which planet their on yet. get a life joe…

      • Vicky32 9.1.2

        I for one am squeakier than that! (The advantage of being a lifelong non-driver!) 😀
        So, Ms Calvert, it can be done…
        Deb

    • bonobo 9.2

      Tanz, so you find Garret’s behaviour trivial, especially as ACT spokesperson for Law and Order, and his notion of sterilising the poor ?

      Where do YOU draw the line for acceptable behaviour in politics ?

    • Draco T Bastard 9.3

      It’s the media’s fault that John Key lied? That Richard Worth is a sexist scoundrel? That Bill English claims that he lives in Dipton while living in Wellington and costing us~ $40K/year?

      I’d say “Get real” to you but you’re just another delusional RWNJ trying hard to deny reality.

    • Max Factor 9.4

      Hmmmmm, I thought that parties such as ACT, National, Republicans, Conservatives, etc, all promote personal responsibility?

      Can you explain to us what that entails, Tanz?

  10. What I am astounded at is Rodney Hide’s brazen lies. He has stated that when Garrett told him about this he didn’t ask any questions / get any details. WHAT? So, let me see, Garrett says “Rodney, I’ve had a conviction for passport fraud”. What DID Rodney say next if he didn’t say something like “Tell me about it..” …”What happened..”

    Sheer and utter lies that defy belief.

  11. gobsmacked 11

    So the next on the ACT list, Hilary Calvert, revealed today that she’s the owner of a brothel.

    Personally I don’t think that should disqualify anyone from being an MP.

    But what would Rodney Hide have said, if that was a Labour MP, any time between 1999 and 2008?

  12. aj 12

    What will be interesting will be the distance Key will want to keep from Hide between now and the next election. Rodney will be trying to get into every photo op with the PM he can, and Jonkey will be trying to keep him out of every one….

  13. Max Factor 13

    Hide’s claims that he didn’t know the full story and that he’d heard only that a “cemetary head stone was involved” simply defies belief. Rodney Hide was lying and I think most folk realised it instantly when those words came out of his dishonest mouth.

    In some ways, Rodney Hide’s behaviour in all this has been even worse than Garrett’s. Hide should NEVER have allowed Garrett to be put on the Party List, in the first place. It was irresponsible and it was downright stupid.

    What on Earth was he thinking?

    It occurs to me that Hide thought he and his cronies could get away with keeping this quiet. In a way, this event speaks volumes about how ACT and Hide view the public – that we are easily-duped fools.

    • mcflock 13.1

      ACT seems to define “Good character” as “you did it, but you didn’t get caught; you got caught, but you didn’t get prosecuted; you got prosecuted, but you weren’t found guilty; and you were found guilty, but you got name suppression”. Failure to meet up to those exalted standards and you’re not fit to be in parliament.

      Unless you’re in Labour or worse: in that case the merest allegation is enough to show you as a despicable human being.

    • Lazy Susan 13.2

      This event speaks volumes how ACT and Hide view the Public – that we are easily duped fools.

      Why restrict this to Act and Hide? I believe many politicians think that way and if you look at the big wad of centerist swing voters they’d be right. The current National government got elected by duping these voters.

      They campaigned on a “Labour-lite” policy platform with the concept that Labour was “Nanny State” and that government should get out of peoples lives.

      Since being elected they have rolled back democracy in ECAN, the Super City and the Brownlee Enabling Act and their social and economic policies can in now way be described as Labour-lite.

      Of course, if National campaigned on their real agenda they would be unelectable.

  14. jcuknz 14

    This thread like others here speak volumes about the mentality of those in the political field with notable exceptions …they do not gain much credence from me … though I’m not currently up with the play I prefer argument to mud. The events of the last government in its final days suggest the comment “People in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones”

    • RedLogix 14.1

      The events of the last government in its final days suggest the comment “People in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones”

      Are you comparing Winston’s non-crimes to this debacle?

      And are you forgetting that it is the now discredited, proven liar, Rodney Hide who was among the chief players in that affair?

      • Rex Widerstrom 14.1.1

        Oh come on RL, you know Winston was hanged for being economical with the truth about topics on which democracy requires absolute honesty if it is to function properly. So was Garrett.

        And you also know that the media went after them both with such gusto because of their hypocrisy in having spent a long period telling everyone else what scumbags they were, only to turn out to have size 14 feet of clay.

        History is littered with the careers of those brought down by hubris. Both Winston’s and Garrett’s can be found in the same shallow grave.

        • RedLogix 14.1.1.1

          you know Winston was hanged for being economical with the truth about topics on which democracy requires absolute honesty if it is to function properly.

          Winston made a dreadful blunder when he held up that infamous ‘No’ sign. All he had to do was to say ‘None of your business’ and stick to the line that ‘I’ll open up my Party funding to public scruntiny when National opens the books on it’s massive trusts’. Trusts worth millions of dollars that to this day the real donors remain secret.

          If NZ1 was to be hounded from Parliament for being ‘economical with the truth’ about some of it’s funding… then so should have National.

          • Rex Widerstrom 14.1.1.1.1

            But National does run the “none of your business” line… just like a really smart crook when fingered by the cops. Winston is more like the mouthy amateur who thinks he can outsmart the system by running off at the mouth with constantly changing permutations of his alibi.

            I just had a lengthy conversation with a client this afternoon, someone I’d call a “career criminal”, and had to explain to her that while it’s not a good idea to lie, there’s no onus on you to run off at the mouth trying to be a smartarse and thus give the opposition enough evidence with which to hang you. She thought she could expect the court to parse the information exactly the way she demanded they do. It was precisely her status as a “real” crim that made her arrogant enough to think she could get away with it.

            Thankfully, she shut up. I doubt that, even I had been round to advise him, Winston would have done the same. He’s just too arrogant, pugilistic and mouthy. And too in love with the spotlight, even when he’s writhing in its gaze. So he got what was coming.

            OTOH the rules need to be changed so that National, retrospectively, loses the right to remain silent so as not to incriminate itself. Then if it lies, then yes, out with it too.

            • RedLogix 14.1.1.1.1.1

              Agree totally that Winston’s ego was the abundant rope with which his enemies hung him. An element of hypocrisy yes, but it was mostly driven by a media and opponents maliciously delighting in the opportunity to stick it to a man who’d outplayed them once too often.

              Still not in Garrett’s league though.

  15. RedLogix 15

    Anecodote I know, but I’m hearing unhappy rumblings in Nat heartland. More than a few of them saying that ‘they’re not going to vote next election’.

    Which I read as ‘I’m very dissapointed in Key’s govt, but there’s still no way in hell I’d ever vote Labour’.

  16. Adrian 16

    RedLogix… that’s what the the Nats rural vote said and did in 1999.

  17. Anne 17

    Not surprised RedLogix.

    Your 10:30am comment has prompted me to dig out my copy of “The Hollow Men” which you will recall came into being in the first place because of dissatisfaction and concern by some National Party members. There was a lot of stuff in that book that the media ignored at the time. Maybe it’s the right time to resurrect some of it, because there is a correlation between those pre-2005 political scandals (some of which was being practiced by Act before Brash came on the political scene) and the latest scandals.

  18. Zaphod Beeblebrox 18

    You forgot to mention option 5)

    -Garrett leaves, Hide stays propped up by Key. Then ACT disntegrates and takes National and Key down with them in a big fiery mess. If Key makes a hash of the Epsom situation and is seen as propping up Hide for political expediency National’s female vote share will plummet. Then he will be relying on the Maori Party and possibly Winston to stay in power. And I doubt he will get any takers for a coalition with ACT after this fiasco.

    The question is- wouild Key be stupid enough to let Hide take him down? or better still- who in National does Hide have some dirt on? Given the strong ACT sympathetic rump in National you’d have to think it would be possible.

    • IrishBill 18.1

      Key won’t even back his own ministers when they do something that upsets the focus groups. There’s no way he’ll back Hide if it looks like any of the stink will rub off on him.

  19. Gotham 19

    So, what are the chances that the Nats will help Don Brash set up the new ultra-right party to replace ACT and give him support to take the Epsom seat??

    National NEED a far-right party to pass legistlation that is too unpalatable for their new ‘centrist’ followers. It would be unacceptable for their supporters to have to rely solely on the Maori Party after the next election, as (I hope, I desperately hope) the Greens would never go into a formal coalition with them. Dunne is likely gone after the next election – Chauvel will have a very, very good chance of taking his seat in Ohariu.

    And MMP being what it is, it is far more important for National to have a small lapdog party win a seat (and possibly bring in several MPs, like ACT managed to do) than just pick up one extra MP by winning it themselves.

    So, Brash for Epsom??

    • The Voice of Reason 19.1

      Brash for Epsom? What could be more agreeable? The sooner the better I say and I hope that Hide emulates the pompous windbag Roark from Ayn Rand’s novel The Fountainhead and blows the whole Act party to smithereens by resigning from Parliament and forcing a by-election.

      C’mon Rodders, you know you want to go down in a blaze of glory! Call Sir Roger’s bluff and hit the self destruct button one more time.

  20. ianmac 20

    John on Campbell Live did an excellent job of pinning down Hide re Garrett Friday night at about 2:40 into the program. (That woman Cone however is really weird!)
    http://ondemand.tv3.co.nz/Friday-September-17-2010/tabid/59/articleID/1137/MCat/73/Default.aspx

  21. gobsmacked 21

    Most of the media are still focusing on Garrett. That’s like blaming a burglar for Watergate.

    The real story is much bigger …

    Speaking to TV ONE’s Q and A show Hide revealed that the whole ACT caucus and some of the senior party management knew about the passport, but not about the affidavit.

    Putting aside the affidavit, basically Hide is saying that everyone that matters in ACT is morally bankrupt. Sure, we knew that, but it’s good to have it confirmed by their leader.

    Apart from the ethical emptiness demonstrated by ACT here, there’s a whole bunch of political questions too.

    Like, why the hell did Hide think it was so important to dump Roy and start a civil war, when he knew what they had on him? Did he think they loved him too much to use the weapons they had?

    And when will Key start backing away from these suicide bombers? Tomorrow morning, probably.

    • Puddleglum 21.1

      “Speaking to TV ONE’s Q and A show Hide revealed that the whole ACT caucus and some of the senior party management knew about the passport, but not about the affidavit.

      Sounds like Rodney telling his caucus and party bosses they’re coming down with him.

  22. felix 22

    “…when he knew what they had on him…”

    The truly awful possibility is that sociopaths like Hide and the rest of ACT really just don’t see the problem with it.

    After all, Garrett was probably just acting in his own rational self-interest.

  23. Drakula 24

    I think most of you said it all for me, Toad said give it heaps of thumbs up and if ACT falls and brings the NATS with it I would say as I did in the last post; Bottoms up!!!

    Get the Chateau Plonk bottle in the cooler ready and a few glasses, no sorry you will need thousands even millions of glasses.
    CHEERS!!!!!!

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  • Govt wishes Special Olympics team well
    Sport and Recreation Minister Grant Robertson and Disability Issues Minister Priyanca Radhakrishnan have wished the 39-strong New Zealand Special Olympics squad heading to Berlin the best of luck. The New Zealand athletes departed for Germany today and will begin competing from next week. “The athletes heading to the Special Olympics ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 hours ago
  • Proposed temporary change to allow mixed waste burning on East Coast rural land
    A proposed temporary law change would enable rural Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti landowners dealing with masses of cyclone and flood debris to burn mixed waste so they can replant and return their land to productivity, Environment Minister David Parker said today. The proposed short-term law change would ensure that any ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 hours ago
  • Emergency Management Bill introduced
    Legislation introduced in Parliament today will ensure New Zealand’s emergency management system learns the lessons of recent and previous responses to natural disasters, including severe weather events and other emergencies. The Emergency Management Bill replaces the two decades old Civil Defence Emergency Management Act 2002. “The strength of our emergency ...
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    5 hours ago
  • New Zealand Fiji reaffirm close relationship
    Prime Minister Chris Hipkins and Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka met in Wellington this morning, reaffirming the strength and spirit of New Zealand and Fiji’s relationship, as outlined in the Duavata Relationship Statement of Partnership. “New Zealand and Fiji are connected by a kinship forged in Pacific culture, identity and interests, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 hours ago
  • Primary teachers' top base salary step to rise to $100,000
    Primary teachers have agreed to the Government’s pay offer which will see the top base salary step rise to $100,000 by December next year. The settlement will also see a number of improvements to primary teachers’ conditions, including more than double the classroom release time they currently have to ...
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    6 hours ago
  • SH25A Bridge construction to get underway in next fortnight
    Associate Transport Minister Kiri Allan has announced the construction plan for the bridge on State Highway 25A that will reconnect the Coromandel peninsula, bringing more certainty to the region’s recovery efforts. “The Government is committed to reconnecting Coromandel communities quickly, and this plan to repair the damage along the highway ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 hours ago
  • Speech to the Seafood Sustainability Awards 2023
    Tena koutou katoa and welcome to Parliament. It is a great pleasure for me to host you here today, for the second New Zealand Seafood Sustainability Awards. The awards started in 2020 and officially, are to be held every two years. But as with so many things, COVID got in the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    21 hours ago
  • Equal gender representation on public sector boards for third year in a row
    Representation for women on public sector boards and committees is the highest it’s ever been with wāhine now making up 53.1 percent of public board and committee members,” Minister for Women Jan Tinetti said. Manatū Wāhine Ministry for Women’s 2022 stocktake of public sector boards and committees shows for the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    24 hours ago
  • New law passes on child support to sole parents
    A new law enabling sole parents on a benefit to receive child support payments for their tamariki was passed in Parliament today. “This change is estimated to lift as many as 14,000 children out of poverty and give families a median of $20 extra a week,” said Social Development and ...
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    1 day ago
  • New moves to curb youth vaping
    Crack down on disposable vapes   No new vape shops near schools or marae Restricted descriptions for product flavours The Government is taking action to reduce the number of young people taking up vaping, Health Minister Dr Ayesha Verrall has announced. “Too many young people are vaping, which is why we’re ...
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    1 day ago
  • Fiji Prime Minister Rabuka to visit New Zealand
    Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka will visit New Zealand this week, Prime Minister Chris Hipkins announced today. “Prime Minister Rabuka officially visited New Zealand in 1998, over 25 years ago, and we look forward to welcoming him here once again,” Chris Hipkins said.  “New Zealand and Fiji have a long ...
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    1 day ago
  • Sports stars and administrators honoured
    The King’s Birthday and Coronation Honours List 2023 includes sporting stars and administrators who reflect the best of New Zealand’s sporting community. Sir Wayne Smith has been knighted for services to rugby. Sir Wayne was Assistant Coach of the All Blacks at the 2011 and 2015 Rugby World Cups and ...
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    2 days ago
  • Kapa Haka rangatira amongst those honoured on King’s Birthday
    Ehara taku toa i te toa takitahi, engari he toa taki tini ‘My success is not mine alone, but that of the people” The King’s Birthday and Coronation Honours list 2023 celebrates Māori from all walks of life, reflecting the achievements of those who have made a significant contribution to ...
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    2 days ago
  • King’s Birthday Honours recognise strength of service to NZ
    The strength and diversity of service in New Zealand is a standout feature of today’s King’s Birthday and Coronation Honours list, Prime Minister Chris Hipkins said. “Each of today’s 182 recipients has contributed individually to our country. Viewed collectively, their efforts reflect an overwhelming commitment to service.” Chris Hipkins said. ...
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    2 days ago
  • Closer defence cooperation between New Zealand and Japan
    The Defence Ministers of New Zealand and Japan have signed a statement of intent for closer defence cooperation between the two Pacific regional partners. Andrew Little and H. E. Yasukazu Hamada met to sign the ‘Statement of Intent on Defence Cooperation in Maritime Security, Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • SPEECH: To the IISS Shangri-La Dialogue 2023 by the Honourable Andrew Little MP, New Zealand Ministe...
    New Zealand’s most recent defence assessment identified climate change and geostrategic competition as the two greatest security challenges to our place in the South Pacific. To the first issue, partners engaging and re-engaging with Pacific Island Countries are finding that climate change is a security and existential threat in our ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Govt supporting more rangatahi into training and employment opportunities
    The government is continuing to support rangatahi in providing more funding into Maori Trades training and new He Poutama Rangatahi programmes across Aotearoa. “We’re backing 30 new by Māori for Māori Kaupapa employment and training programmes, which will help iwi into sustainable employment or progress within their chosen careers” says ...
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    5 days ago
  • Energy self-sufficient marae reopens with support of Government investment
    Murihiku Marae was officially reopened today, setting a gold standard in sustainable building practices as well as social outcomes for the people of Waihōpai Invercargill, Regional Development Minister Kiri Allan says. “The marae has been a central hub for this community since the 1980’s. With the support of $9.65 million ...
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    5 days ago
  • First major Whangārei public housing project in a generation complete
    The first major public housing development in Whangārei for decades has reached completion, with 37 new homes opened in the suburb of Maunu today. The project on Tapatahi Crescent and Puriri Park Road, consists of 15 one-bedroom, 4 two-bedroom, 7 three-bedroom, 8 four-bedroom and 3 five-bedroom homes, as well as ...
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    5 days ago
  • Trade Minister to represent New Zealand trade interests abroad
    Trade and Export Growth Minister Damen O’Connor will depart tomorrow for London to represent New Zealand at the Commonwealth Trade Ministers’ Meeting and then to Paris to vice-chair the OECD Ministerial Council Meeting. “My travel to the United Kingdom is well-timed, with the United Kingdom Free Trade Agreement (UK FTA) ...
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    5 days ago
  • Bill to boost national fuel resiliency introduced
    The Fuel Industry (Improving Fuel Resilience) Amendment Bill would: boost New Zealand’s fuel supply resilience and economic security enable the minimum stockholding obligation regulations to be adapted as the energy and transport environment evolves. “Last November, I announced a six-point plan to improve the resiliency of our fuel supply from ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Faster ACC payment top-ups and fairer system
    The Government is making sure those on low incomes will no longer have to wait five weeks to get the minimum weekly rate of ACC, and improving the data collected to make the system fairer, Minister for ACC Peeni Henare said today.  The Accident Compensation (Access Reporting and Other Matters) ...
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    6 days ago
  • Compulsory code of conduct for school boards introduced
    A compulsory code of conduct will ensure school board members are crystal clear on their responsibilities and expected standard of behaviour, Minister of Education Jan Tinetti said. It’s the first time a compulsory code of conduct has been published for state and state-integrated school boards and comes into effect on ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Speech to the New Zealand Federation of Commercial Fishermen annual conference.
    Tena koutou katoa and thank you, Mayor Nadine Taylor, for your welcome to Marlborough. Thanks also Doug Saunders-Loder and all of you for inviting me to your annual conference. As you might know, I’m quite new to this job – and I’m particularly pleased that the first organisation I’m giving a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Govt to support councils with buyout and better protection of cyclone and flood affected properties
    The Government will enter into a funding arrangement with councils in cyclone and flood affected regions to support them to offer a voluntary buyout for owners of Category 3 designated residential properties. It will also co-fund work needed to protect Category 2 designated properties. “From the beginning of this process ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Government delivers changes to reduce pokies harm
    The Government has announced changes to strengthen requirements in venues with pokie (gambling) machines will come into effect from 15 June. “Pokies are one of the most harmful forms of gambling. They can have a detrimental impact on individuals, their friends, whānau and communities,” Internal Affairs Minister Barbara Edmonds said. ...
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    6 days ago
  • Government delivers 1800 additional frontline Police
    The total Police workforce is now the largest it has ever been. Police constabulary stands at 10,700 officers – an increase of 21% since 2017 Māori officers have increased 40%, Pasifika 83%, Asian 157%, Women 61% Every district has got more Police under this Government The Government has delivered on ...
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    6 days ago
  • Minister Mahuta talks Pacific ambitions at the first Korea-Pacific Leaders’ summit
    Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon Nanaia Mahuta met with Korea President Yoon, as well as Pacific Islands Forum Secretary General Henry Puna, during her recent visit to Korea.  “It was an honour to represent Aotearoa New Zealand at the first Korea – Pacific Leaders’ Summit. We discussed Pacific ambitions under the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Government drives $2 billion of business research and development
    The Government’s Research and Development Tax Incentive has supported more than $2 billion of New Zealand business innovation – an increase of around $1 billion in less than nine months. "Research and innovation are essential in helping us meet the biggest challenges and seize opportunities facing New Zealand. It’s fantastic ...
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    1 week ago
  • Achieving lift off: National Space Policy launched
    The next ‘giant leap’ in New Zealand’s space journey has been taken today with the launch of the National Space Policy, Economic Development Minister Barbara Edmonds announced. “Our space sector is growing rapidly. Each year New Zealand is becoming a more and more attractive place for launches, manufacturing space-related technology ...
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    1 week ago
  • New science and creative technologies wharekura announced
    A new Year 7-13 designated character wharekura will be built in Pāpāmoa, Associate Minister of Education Kelvin Davis has announced. The wharekura will focus on science, mathematics and creative technologies while connecting ākonga to the whakapapa of the area. The decision follows an application by the Ngā Pōtiki ā Tamapahore ...
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    1 week ago
  • Freedom Camping changes a win for the environment
    Protecting the environment by establishing a stronger, more consistent system for freedom camping Supporting councils to better manage freedom camping in their region and reduce the financial and social impacts on communities Ensuring that self-contained vehicle owners have time to prepare for the new system   The Self-Contained Motor Vehicle ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Speeding up the family court, reducing stress on families
    A new law passed last night could see up to 25 percent of Family Court judges’ workload freed up in order to reduce delays, Minister of Justice Kiri Allan said. The Family Court (Family Court Associates) Legislation Bill will establish a new role known as the Family Court Associate. The ...
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    1 week ago
  • UK FTA delivers benefits from today
    New Zealand businesses will begin reaping the rewards of our gold-standard free trade agreement with the United Kingdom (UK FTA) from today.  “The New Zealand UK FTA enters into force from today, and is one of the seven new or upgraded Free Trade Agreements negotiated by Labour to date,” Prime ...
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    1 week ago
  • Next steps to reform outdated surrogacy law
    The Government will reform outdated surrogacy laws to improve the experiences of children, surrogates, and the growing number of families formed through surrogacy, by adopting Labour MP Tāmati Coffey’s Member’s Bill as a Government Bill, Minister Kiri Allan has announced. “Surrogacy has become an established method of forming a family ...
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    1 week ago
  • Defence Minister to attend Shangri-La Dialogue
    Defence Minister Andrew Little departs for Singapore tomorrow to attend the 20th annual Shangri-La Dialogue for Defence Ministers from the Indo-Pacific region. “Shangri-La brings together many countries to speak frankly and express views about defence issues that could affect us all,” Andrew Little said. “New Zealand is a long-standing participant ...
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    1 week ago
  • New Zealand–China science relationship affirmed
    Research, Science and Innovation Minister Dr Ayesha Verrall and the Chinese Minister of Science and Technology Wang Zhigang met in Wellington today and affirmed the two countries’ long-standing science relationship. Minister Wang was in New Zealand for the 6th New Zealand-China Joint Commission Meeting on Science and Technology Cooperation. Following ...
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    1 week ago
  • Supporting a strong future for screen sector
    5 percent uplift clearer and simpler to navigate  Domestic productions can access more funding sources 20 percent rebate confirmed for post-production, digital and visual effects Qualifying expenditure for post-production, digital and visual effects rebate dropped to $250,000 to encourage more smaller productions The Government is making it easier for the ...
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    1 week ago
  • Minister Sepuloni to attend 61st Anniversary of Samoa’s Independence
    Deputy Prime Minister and Associate Minister of Foreign Affairs (Pacific Region) Carmel Sepuloni will represent New Zealand at Samoa’s 61st Anniversary of Independence commemorations in Apia. “Aotearoa New Zealand is pleased to share in this significant occasion, alongside other invited Pacific leaders, and congratulates Samoa on the milestone of 61 ...
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    1 week ago
  • Govt backs retailers with expansion of fog cannon programme
    The Government is continuing to support retailers with additional funding for the highly popular Fog Cannon Subsidy Scheme, Police and Small Business Minister Ginny Andersen announced today.  “The Government is committed to improving retailers’ safety,” Ginny Andersen said.  “I’ve seen first-hand the difference fog cannons are making. Not only do ...
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    1 week ago

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