Polity: Taxpayers Union on wine

• notices and features
• 10 years ago
• Categories: making shit up
• Tags: jordan williams

Polity had this post up this morning. The only problem with it was that Rob Salmond missed out on the correct title. For complete accuracy it should have been “Jordan Williams on whine”

Jordan Williams, apparently speaking for all us taxpayers, is outraged that Sir Lockwood Smith would spent his time in London talking about New Zealand wine: [lprent: see note at the end of the post. ]

Sir Lockwood, 65, has settled quickly into the London diplomatic scene. On Friday he was guest speaker at a function for The Worshipful Company of Vintners, a trade group.

He used the occasion to argue that too many “great New Zealand wines” are unavailable in London, trade publication Drinks Business reported…

Mr [Jordan] Williams suggested Sir Lockwood was in danger of emulating Jonathan Hunt, high commissioner to the UK from 2005 to 2008, who was dubbed the “Minister for Wine and Cheese”, in part because of his regular appearances at openings and cocktail functions while an MP.

“Surely [Sir Lockwood] has more pertinent things to be talking about than not being able to get hold of his favourite wine.”

Um, OK. Here are some quick notes for Jordan:

1. You may not have noticed, but Lockwood was talking to a group of vintners. The clue is in their name, The Worshipful Company of Vintners.
2. “Vintner” means “wine person.” They are usually quite interested in wine.
3. Our diplomats’ jobs include talking up our wine when talking with wine people. That way, they might buy more wine from New Zealand.
4. When overseas people buy stuff from us, that is an “export.” Exports are good.
5. You are an idiot.

Updated: Jordan Williams advises that the NZ Herald has removed a incorrect quote and attribution, and will be publishing a retraction in the morning. I have crossed out the portion that was deleted at the NZ Herald.