Steven Joyce threatens to sue Matthew Hooton and the NBR

Written By: - Date published: 5:22 pm, March 5th, 2018 - 76 comments
Categories: Media, national, same old national, Steven Joyce, the praiseworthy and the pitiful, you couldn't make this shit up - Tags:

There have been some interesting developments at the NBR over the past few days. First Matthew Hooton posted last Friday a very critical piece on Steven Joyce. The post is subject to copyright but the essential claim by Hooton is that Steven Joyce only received four votes in National’s recent leadership campaign. Hooton also suggested Joyce’s time was up and he should be sacked.

Then suddenly Hooton’s continuing association with NBR was terminated.

And in the past few hours the reason has been disclosed. From Newshub:

National’s finance spokesperson Steven Joyce is threatening the National Business Review (NBR) and Matthew Hooton with legal action, Newshub understands.

On Friday, NBR published a column in which Mr Hooton was highly critical of Mr Joyce.

A source told Newshub that NBR received an “aggressive” letter about the column, which said it has until 5pm on Monday to retract or apologise.

The NBR’s publisher Todd Scott says Mr Joyce won’t be getting either a retraction or an apology.

He told Newshub if Mr Joyce is successful in launching legal action, NBR will subpoena a number of senior National MPs including Simon Bridges and Amy Adams.

Mr Hooton did not have comment on Monday morning, and Mr Joyce did not respond before deadline.

I support Hooton in this. MPs have to be thick skinned and realise that they will be subject to comment and scrutiny. And I have no sympathy for Joyce nor for his ability to count. His misrepresentation of Labour’s figures during the last election campaign mean that the most intense scrutiny of his claim is appropriate.

Interesting times …

76 comments on “Steven Joyce threatens to sue Matthew Hooton and the NBR ”

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  1. Ad 1
    5 March 2018 at 5:58 pm

    OK knock me down with a feather, one of Labour’s most loyal activists in form of MickeySavage said the immortal words “I support Matthew Hooten …” (in this). Mickey that deserves to be a phrase only uttered six pints down in Parnell’s Windsor Castle bar deep, deep on a Friday night.

    Matthew Hooten beats Penny Bright as New Zealand chief selfrighteous cannibal, a shrill dumptruck with a siren and incandescent warning lights and brimming with all the compacted malicious garbage of the hard right, covering its naked chassis in a single blue silk ribbon of virtue.

    He’s the original expanding can of Swedish fermented rollmop fish bursting into print and voice every week on NBR and RNZ.

    He’s the blackbelt of the darkest arts we’ve ever had, taking down any opponent with the honed skill of a Judo combatant inserting a thumb into a joint.

    Support him against Joyce?

    What those two need to go is go in to business together and stop this gentle courtship.

    Or failing that, dispense with this tricky romance, marry each other in a civil ceremony, and wake up realising they had exchanged faces.

    May the case not settle.

    • greywarshark 1.1
      5 March 2018 at 6:32 pm

      Hootin’ and Joys – you wouldn’t read about it. Pollies should have a special Court that they take out personal vendettas and disagreements in, costs covered by personal insurance. They are exposed at the top and can be easy targets and can be sensitive to publicity, but there is a moral hazard in the taxpayer being called in to pluck the ruffled feathers to make a soft bed for such downy birds.

      Court something like the ISDS that is hardly likely to find in their favour – what a neat trick that would be.

    • Penny Bright 1.2
      6 March 2018 at 9:14 am

      Unlike Matthew Hooton – I’m not a paid PR hack, with secret vested interest clients.

      I challenge you to provide evidence of anything I’ve ever said which is FACTUALLY INACCURATE.

      Kind regards

      Penny Bright

      (Unprotected) Anti- Corruption citizen whistle-blower.

      • tracey 1.2.1
        6 March 2018 at 10:36 am

        Penny

        I know Ms Haden has posted many untrue things and you have supported her in the past. Even when a Court determined Ms Haden had no factual/evidential basis for claims, you continued to support her railing against an innocent person, so…

    • Puckish Rogue 1.3
      6 March 2018 at 9:17 am

      Not only was that a decent turn of phrase but you also got a reply from Ms Bright so well done on both counts 😉

    • joe90 1.4
      6 March 2018 at 10:29 am

      fermented rollmop fish bursting into print and voice

      Tea/nose/keyboard, thanks, mate!

    • tracey 1.5
      6 March 2018 at 10:35 am

      Ad, when I read he was attacking Joyce, something inside me said “oh Hoots has been cultivating Bridges to make him (Hooten) the new nat party strategist”

      • tracey 1.5.1
        6 March 2018 at 10:38 am

        It must be great to be wealthy enough to be able to shut down anything you do not like through your lawyers. The rest of us have to take the lies, eventually lose our jobs as it is all swept under the carpet…

        I wonder if he uses Russell Mcveagh, or if Bennett does… or do they go straight to 800 ph barristers?

    • Imran Here 1.6
      6 March 2018 at 9:57 pm

      Love your insults. Pure class 10/10

    • Steve Withers 1.7
      30 March 2018 at 7:31 pm

      Best. Comment. Ever.

  2. Sanctuary 2
    5 March 2018 at 6:09 pm

    Hooton being dumped by the NBR for abusing Joyce?

    The unbalanced writing in the unreadable about the unelectable? Why should I care?

    • mickysavage 2.1
      5 March 2018 at 6:14 pm

      At law school I was taught that tough factual scenarios make bad law.

      The principle involved is that MPs should be sufficiently thick skinned so that they do not run off to the courts if a legitimate matter of public interest has been covered in the article.

      Principle applies here, no matter what people think of the protagonists. If Hooton fails then we all, including this site, are at threat.

      • ropata 2.1.1
        5 March 2018 at 6:26 pm

        cf. Obvious game logic: when your opponent is destroying himself, don’t interfere

        • McFlock 2.1.1.1
          5 March 2018 at 7:48 pm

          Fine if they’re strangling each other.
          Not if one is trying to nuke the other, and you’ll get hit too.

      • Ad 2.1.2
        5 March 2018 at 6:28 pm

        Very true <ickey.

        Although, I'm hoping you're not implying that we should fundraise in support of Matthew Hooten.

      • Sacha 2.1.3
        5 March 2018 at 7:28 pm

        Truth or honest opinion are still defamation defences, right?
        I do not like Joyce’s chances in a New Zealand court, especially as a politician.

        • mickysavage 2.1.3.1
          5 March 2018 at 8:49 pm

          And also if you are an MP then people should be allowed to speculate about you.

          Funny really. Someone who I had the greatest of respect for (David Lange) fell foul of this principle and lost in Court but I think that Matthew Hooton should be protected by it.

        • tracey 2.1.3.2
          6 March 2018 at 10:41 am

          The law is irrelevant. If the threat silences Hooten, mission accomplished, no Court hearing required. The monied classes have this option. The rest of us have to grow thick skins

        • William 2.1.3.3
          6 March 2018 at 11:00 am

          If it gets to court I imagine Hooten’s defence will be that what he wrote was “pretty legal” 🙂

    • Bearded Git 2.2
      6 March 2018 at 8:19 am

      Nice Sanctuary.

  3. Stuart Munro 3
    5 March 2018 at 6:32 pm

    So… if this triggers Joyce’s ouster will the headline read “Fiscal Black Hole Swallows Joyce” or “Turbulent Finance Minister’s Flaccid Finale”.

  4. Kat 4
    5 March 2018 at 6:44 pm

    If Joyce only got four votes I wonder how many more/less Collins got.

    Who cares?

    • tracey 4.1
      6 March 2018 at 10:43 am

      Bridges prolly only got 29, even in the second vote… so still a few votes to allocate out.

  5. cleangreen 5
    5 March 2018 at 7:11 pm

    Steven Joyce must be sacked as he is so very evil and responsible for the MBIE fuckup with expensive junket trips for MBIE staff and the massive cost of installing a large TV screen inside MBIE to advertise the MBIE activities,

    Also for his part in the ‘ Novapay’ scandal that broke in 2014/15.

    Novopay botch-ups cost $45m to fix, so he should pay that to.

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/education/66349800/novopay-botchups-cost-45m-to-fix

    he is a liability to the National Party now also.

    He single handedly almost destroyed the rail system in NZ when he was the Minister of Transport.

    He must truly go as he is a disgrace to NZ now.

    • OncewasTim 5.1
      6 March 2018 at 1:06 am

      You could just about judge Labour’s future commitment to reform on what they do about MoBIE alone! Forget MPI or MSD…… here was a really cunning Joyce vanity project (and Coleman) from the start.
      I’m surprised it didn’t have an ‘official information agency’ under it disseminating the official line.
      From what I can see so far, Labour appear to be putting their hopes in its new/interim/whatever CEO. Unfortunately that’ll simply amount to sprinkling glitter and polishing a turd.

      • David Mac 5.1.1
        6 March 2018 at 9:45 am

        MBIE – Ministry for Business, Innovation and Everything

        • tracey 5.1.1.1
          6 March 2018 at 10:46 am

          Let us not forget he is responsible for the appalling state of tertiary today and that includes Universities. I note labour is focussing on polytechs, but we also have too many Universities

    • tracey 5.2
      6 March 2018 at 10:44 am

      Further delaying Mediaworks loan repayment… who owns NBR?

  6. red-blooded 6
    5 March 2018 at 7:28 pm

    A plague on both their houses!

  7. Steve Alfreds 7
    5 March 2018 at 7:34 pm

    Joyce is being spineless and if the main thrust of the article is as outlined here he wouldn’t have grounds for a defamation case against Hooton and/or the NBR. Brent Edwards’ piece is of more interest. I agree with the concerns about people from PR companies, etc. acting as talking heads in the punditry without declaring their interests. But it’s funny that no one raised similar concerns about Michelle Boag, Jenna Raeburn, Ben Thomas, etc. from the right over the last 9 years.

    • red-blooded 7.1
      5 March 2018 at 7:51 pm

      Not to mention the Nat’s pollster and spin doctor David Farrar. And Hooten tends to be referred to as an NBR columnist, when he’s also very matey-matey with Judith Collins and others on the right of the Nats, and has done plenty of PR work for them. He says he’s never mixed his commentary work with his commercial activities, but that’s bullshit.

      • tracey 7.1.1
        6 March 2018 at 10:48 am

        Yes, Bryce is pretending to be even handed but stayed away from this topic until this new Government.

        His commentary is his work

    • Bearded Git 7.2
      6 March 2018 at 1:18 pm

      jordan williams….david farrar….i agree Edwards piece was very one sided…he seems to be doing what he is told to keep his cushy writing job.

  8. Cinny 8
    5 March 2018 at 7:47 pm

    Hey there mr dildo, don’t let the your ego get in the way of the facts, regardless of who is telling the story.

    On a personal rather childish note…. I’m finding this freakin funny as fu@k

    • patricia bremner 8.1
      5 March 2018 at 8:44 pm

      So am I Cinny. It is a laugh a minute. And this is the “tight” team! LOL LOL.

    • OncewasTim 8.2
      6 March 2018 at 1:12 am

      Ditto.
      But then Joyce is too arrogant and vane (spelling?) To go grovelling to Rod Dury for a new gig outside of politics.
      Rod…..do us all a favour will ya – give him Head of Sales and Bullshit in the PRC

  9. Keepcalmcarryon 9
    5 March 2018 at 7:49 pm

    Hooton is a Bridges/Collins acolyte isn’t he? He’s just doing his job thinning out the competition/ necking future challengers.
    Remember the daily blog musing on Hootons motives last month:

    “His candidate/mate/Manchurian candidate is Simon Bridges. Bridges is being lined up as the Deputy to Judith Collins Leadership.

    Collins/Bridges have the numbers, all that is being debated is how to kill off Bennett and Joyce whom are hated.”

    https://thedailyblog.co.nz/2018/02/02/when-hooton-is-going-public-that-means-the-national-party-leadership-coup-is-in-full-effect/

  10. cleangreen 10
    5 March 2018 at 8:00 pm

    Mathew Hooten did tell the truth about Steven Joyce who was involved with a almost [Lets be careful here. But leaving the Paepae link in – MS]

    http://www.thepaepae.com/matthew-hootons-assertions-re-the-prime-ministers-office/35076/

    Listen when Hooten spills the [Risky – MS] over Steven Joyce involvement over the shoddy deal with a roading contract, listen at the 27.50 seconds mark of the audio.

    Joyce is a seriously [Risky – MS] man and must go pronto.

  11. Whispering Kate 11
    5 March 2018 at 8:48 pm

    What I don’t understand is why the NBR have got rid of Hooten but are not giving Joyce a retraction or apology. Maybe its the lateness of the evening and I am not quite getting this, but anyway Joyce going would be a mighty fine thing. What a numpty he was.

  12. paul andersen 12
    5 March 2018 at 8:53 pm

    seriously corrupt, yes. must go, no. would rather he stays in the nat moshpit causing as much disruption and infection as possible. so many ego’s and backstabbers in one room will cause much angst and no unity. whoever is this weeks leader will have to wear a stab proof vest.

  13. Incognito 13
    5 March 2018 at 9:24 pm

    What do bob Jones and Matthew Hooton have in common?

  14. Tricledrown 14
    5 March 2018 at 9:39 pm

    Joyce lost the North land by election and the General election.
    National don’t like loosers especially 2 time loosers
    Joyce a 3 time looser has got to go .
    Hooten is Nationals conscience.
    In Muldoons day 1 time looser’s were disgarded instantly.
    National lowering their Standards.

  15. AB 15
    5 March 2018 at 10:22 pm

    The law is such a cumbersome beast, and slow! Why not hark back to a nobler time and settle it with dildos at dawn? Hand to hand combat – quickest to the draw, percussive blows with plastic appendages, rapid thrusts and parried insertions!

  16. cleangreen 16
    6 March 2018 at 7:29 am

    Joyce will wreck the national Party, eventually if not expelled.

    • mary_a 16.1
      6 March 2018 at 1:32 pm

      Hi cleangreen (16) …

      A rejected or threatened Joyce will play hell with Natz. His reaction to Hooten’s comments in the NBR prove he’s already under pressure.

      Joyce has too much damning, dirty information under his belt. Whether he stays or goes, once Joyce spits the venom, Natz will be truly damaged goods, down on its knees pleading for mercy. And also so will Key and English as well.

      Let the games commence 🙂

  17. tracey 17
    6 March 2018 at 10:52 am

    From wikipedia

    “During the term of the 5th Labour government, NBR produced a feature called Crony Watch, which it intended to report on cronyism in government. The feature was discontinued in late 2008, as the new National government took office, but resumed in 2018 after Nationals term ended, and the 6th Labour government took office.”

    Todd Scott

    “During the early 1990s, Scott was a part-time announcer with More FM.[1] Todd Scott was the 2003 sales person of the year of the NZ Radio Awards.[2] In 2004, then promotions advisor for RadioWorks ”

    Perhaps Hoots needs to sue NBR.

    NOTE: Bryce Edwards writes for the NBR. However in his recent (Herald) “lobbyist” focus he ommitted NBR from his musings.

  18. veutoviper 18
    6 March 2018 at 11:47 am

    It has occurred to me that Joyce’s threats did not stop Hooton from appearing with Stephen Mills on the Political section on Nine to Noon yesterday morning – and speaking at length about the Caucus vote on the National Party Leadership last week, including what he knows/thinks about the number of votes received by the various candidates.

    Most of the half hour was in fact devoted to this. For those who did not hear it, here is a link to the recording
    http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/ninetonoon/audio/2018634708/political-commentators-matthew-hooton-and-stephen-mills

    Quite by coincidence Gavin Ellis is currently talking with Kathyrn Ryan on Nine to Noon on – Matthew Hooton, NBR and Joyce’s threats.

    Wil post recording link here when over and link is up.

  19. David Mac 19
    6 March 2018 at 1:06 pm

    Joyce strikes me as a man that considers himself very important. An air of arrogance that may very well of been instrumental in bumping his colleagues into opposition. If so, it’s not hard to see why he may not be very popular amongst his own team. Those big Beemers are ace waka.

  20. Michelle 20
    8 March 2018 at 10:24 am

    I’m not a fan of hoot -ons but the truth must hurt . Also finally someone calling it how it is joyce needs to receive his come up ins

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