The Blame Game

Written By: karol - Date published: 7:51 am, October 27th, 2013 - 107 comments
Categories: auckland supercity, democracy under attack, local body elections, spin, you couldn't make this shit up - Tags: Bevan Chuang, len brown, luigi wewege, smear campaign, stephen cook

And so it continues. Inside the Palino-Wewege-Cook-Slater camp, every one is pointing the finger at everyone else and putting the blame elsewhere for the clumsily executed smear campaign against Len Brown.

Over at Stuff, Chuang is claiming that Luigi Wewege used private naked photos of her to pressure her into revealing her relationship with Brown.

Bevan Chuang alleges nude photos of her were released by Luigi Wewege, who was part of the team campaigning for John Palino to become mayor of Auckland.

The journalist who broke the story of the affair, Stephen Cook, said an email arrived from Wewege, Chuang’s on-again, off-again boyfriend, a week before the story ran.

It contained three naked images of Chuang, with messages such as “love you” and “miss you” scrawled on her body in lipstick. Chuang had taken photos of herself on her phone and sent them to Wewege.

The images arrived at a point when Chuang and Wewege had fallen out because she was resisting his pleas to go public with the story.

The email did not contain a message, but Cook said Wewege was aware of his plans to set up an X-rated website.

“He’s the ultimate love rat, you’d have to say. He’s trying to humiliate her,” Cook said, adding he had no plans to use the images and considered them a gross breach of Chuang’s privacy.

Cook looks a little to eager to shift the blame onto Wewege, with his attempts to paint himself a some kind of innocent bystander caught u in Wewege’s dirty maneuverings.

Meanwhile, over at the Herald on Sunday, Wewege is doing a limited version of “I knew nuzzink”, and pointing to an ambitious and flirtatious Chuang as the instigator of the smear campaign. He is still claiming he had no intimate sexual relationship with Chuang. And yet, the naked photos and the Chuang’s facebook and email revelations would indicate otherwise.

And you would still have to wonder, if Wewege is so blameless, why he went immediately into hiding and then packed his bags and left the country. The HoS article reads like the script of a B movie, carried out in a darkened pub somewhere in Parnell. Wewege claims to have only known that Brown lasciviously hit on Chuang, and not that they’d had an affair. He claims he did not know the full details til Chuang’s affadivit was published.

Wewege, also playing the innocent caught up in a political drama bigger than him, says he just passed on some information that he thought was important.

Wewege says “it was so long ago” he cannot even remember what day he contacted Slater.

“At the time I didn’t think anything of it. I was very politically naive in that sense. When you’re short-staffed on a campaign and working 24/7, one tends not to go into details as to how this’ll play out.”

[…]

In the Palino camp various, vague scenarios were discussed but no concrete strategy formed around the Chuang allegations, he says. “I don’t think we really knew what was going on. There was talk of a byelection or something. There was all types of stuff swirling around. I even heard that John would become mayor.”

After the election results became clear:

In a startling claim, Wewege says Chuang blamed the mayor for her own loss in the Albert-Eden Local Board-Maungawhau Subdivision elections. “She felt that he [Brown] somehow orchestrated her not getting a seat. All I wanted to do was just essentially go home. I was certainly of the mind that we had tried to get information from her but in my mind it was game over, really.”

[…]

“Essentially, post-election, I had nothing to do with it at all. I was transitioning into the next phase of my life.”

But Chuang is sparked into action, after anonymous threatening text messages and her own electoral defeat.

Wewege denies sending the messages, saying it would have been pointless for him to do so, and he had for days accepted Palino would never be mayor. “To be honest, mate,” he says, “it didn’t come from my side. It couldn’t have, because, as I said when we didn’t get anything from her, I thought it was pretty much over. I made peace with the fact.”

He adds: “I was quite realistic that I didn’t think we were going to get across the line.”

Chuang meets Palino in a Mission Bay carpark on the Sunday night. They sit and talk in his car for 90 minutes. She says they agreed to suggest Brown stand down, blaming ill health. Palino denies this. The following day she meets freelance journalist Stephen Cook in Grey Lynn McDonald’s, and over two hours reveals the most tawdry details of her affair with the Mayor.

The revelations emerge on the Tuesday after the election, published on the Whale Oil blog. “I don’t think it was necessary to go into that much detail,” Wewege say

So the carpark meeting was all initiated by Chuang as part of her campaign to bring down Brown? This just doesn’t ring true in the face of the details Chuang and Cook have revealed. And, Wewege is overplaying his naive innocence. That coupled with the conflicting stories, his reluctance to come forward and explain his role until now, and his flight from the country, point to someone who is far from naive and innocent.

He also claims to have substantial contexts in other countries.

In the pub not far from his Parnell apartment, Wewege says he can thank his friends, including some very far away, for supporting him through the battle zone.

“Look, I’ve got friends as far as DC that even know about this,” Wewege says. “They are quite appalled as to the fact this has been deflected on to me. And not to the mayor.”

Wewege continues to look like someone who spins tales and half truths to make himself look good. He certainly hasn’t convinced the writer of the HoS editorial today.

So many accusations and counter-accusations among those who tried to bring down Brown with a ill-judged smear campaign, it’s hard to work out who is to blame. But I guess it’s got nothing to do with the stuff John Key keeps in his top drawer.

Got to wonder who is in the shadows frantically pulling various levers?

107 comments on “The Blame Game ”

Comments are now closed

andy (the other one) 1

27 October 2013 at 8:10 am

I loved this little bit of paranoia:

In another development, an IT worker on Palino’s campaign team has admitted that he claimed to have hacked Mayor Brown’s emails and threatened to reveal their content if Brown won.

The claim was made to a member of the National Party’s youth wing, the Young Nats.

When contacted by the Star-Times, the IT worker, who became emotional and asked not to be named, said he made up the story to see if there were “leaks” emanating from the Palino camp.

“I had a hunch there was a mole . . . it was only my first foray into politics . . . I wanted to know who I could trust,” he said.

Must have been a pretty odd campaign office with all these characters floating about.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/9331664/The-mayor-the-love-rat-and-nudity
- Lanthanide 1.1
  
  27 October 2013 at 8:40 am
  
  “Must have been a pretty odd campaign office with all these characters floating about.”
  
  Full of the deluded, clearly.
- bad12 1.2
  
  27 October 2013 at 9:25 am
  
  Lolz, the power and the paranoia…
  - Tracey 1.2.1
    
    27 October 2013 at 3:57 pm
    
    cant be, according to the right winger son this site only the left are paranoid and loonie.
ghostwhowalksnz 2

27 October 2013 at 8:14 am

The person not mentioned but who is at the top of the pyramid is John Banks.

mayoralty, national party, local body politics, Auckland, Slater ( a good friend of Banks) all point to one person who links all these things together.
Even Palino, a restaurateur, would be connected to Banks who was involved in the restaurant industry.
- Murray Olsen 2.1
  
  27 October 2013 at 6:55 pm
  
  I’d almost put money on it. Some less charitable than myself might think that Rodney Hide could also be involved. I suppose it’ll all come out in the wash, but the Supercity is a glittering prize that ACT considered their private property. They would never forgive Brown for violating their property rights.
mickysavage 3

27 October 2013 at 8:21 am

Good summary Karol. That scurrying noise everyone can hear is the sound of many rats leaving a sinking ship …
- Dumrse 3.1
  
  27 October 2013 at 8:32 am
  
  With only the big brown rat still to scurry away….
  - karol 3.1.1
    
    27 October 2013 at 8:48 am
    
    Actually, the ultimate rat behind Auckland’s current problems is Rodney Hide. The undemocratic supercity, with it’s unelected CCOs and deliberately weakly structured local boards have created a very poor system.
    
    Of course, Hide and the pack of Nats and Rats (once Cits & Rats) have been held back in their ambitions by voters (especially a lot in the south and west of the wider city) who didn’t want the Nat’s favoured Mayor.
    
    Things won’t be sorted by a change of mayor. Only a re-structured, democratic Auckland Council set-up will do that.
    - tinfoilhat 3.1.1.1
      
      27 October 2013 at 8:58 am
      
      Agree 100%.
      
      Auckland is now ruled by a cabal of senior manager answerable to the corporate masters and the public have very little say …… and when they do get a say it’s invariably ignored.
    - Dumrse 3.1.1.2
      
      27 October 2013 at 9:29 am
      
      Aucklands current problem is Len Brown’s affair compounded by Browns inability to recognise it was an unacceptable transgression by one holding such office. The “…inability to recognise…” also applies to a large number of bloggers. That said, I agree Auckland has a plethora of issues around governance and structure however, putting rates up 10% and calling it 2.4% inflation, shifting rubbish and recycling costs from rates to user pays are not Rodney Hide issues.
      - gobsmacked 3.1.1.2.1
        
        27 October 2013 at 10:52 am
        
        an unacceptable transgression by one holding such office.
        
        Please provide examples of mayors (or Ministers, or any similar “office”) who 1) had an affair, and 2) resigned that office as a consequence.
        
        Any examples? Preferably from New Zealand, not the fantasy land in your head.
        
        Over to you.
        
        Dumrse 3.1.1.2.1.1
        
        27 October 2013 at 11:34 am
        
        Is that as good as it gets? As for my moniker, it goes right over the top of some wankers doesn’t it.
        
        gobsmacked …
        
        27 October 2013 at 11:51 am
        
        So, you have nothing. Disappointed, not surprised.
      - lprent 3.1.1.2.2
        
        27 October 2013 at 11:04 am
        
        Rates rising and changes in governance? Are you simple?
        
        They were all predicted when the supershitty was put together by Rodney Hide. All the supershitty was guaranteed to do in the short term was to increase costs as the systems were consolidated over the following decade, and to cause the grief as the local council practices (like berm mowing) were standardized.
        
        You’d have to have been a dumbarse to expect anything else. But hey – you have problems even spelling that. So spelling this out again is probably a forlorn hope.
        
        ghostwhowalksnz 3.1.1.2.2.1
        
        27 October 2013 at 11:09 am
        
        Hide , himself had a affair while an Mp and dumped his wife and child for a much younger woman. Unacceptable transgressions ?
      - Tracey 3.1.1.2.3
        
        27 October 2013 at 3:58 pm
        
        and Len Brown only gets one vote on council dumarse.
    - Unicus 3.1.1.3
      
      27 October 2013 at 4:15 pm
      
      Absolutely nailed it Karol –
      
      The” super-city ” was a fraud from the begining . Its political structure is a sham to make things worse – apart from one or two its councillors are the political dross of Auckland – The council has no power . The CEO and his crony’s have power – CCOs have independent power – because the democratic structure is not strong enough to control them .
      
      Hide was the rat who spread this plague in Auckland – his appointee’s in the plumb jobs at council and in CCO’s are the infected . As long as any of them remain Auckland will continue its spiral toward humiliating perdition
      - Tracey 3.1.1.3.1
        
        27 October 2013 at 4:22 pm
        
        it was the beginning of the implementation of the right’ unfailing belief that a vtoe is wasted on people not like themselves… Democracy is really annoying cos it means you cant always do what you want… which is like being wrong… and they are never wrong.
  - tinfoilhat 3.1.2
    
    27 October 2013 at 9:01 am
    
    He’s going nowhere the man’s hubris and lust for power knows no bounds.
  - Martin 3.1.3
    
    27 October 2013 at 10:23 pm
    
    let ’em jump!
    the ship is sinking fast and the water is freezing
Sable 4

27 October 2013 at 8:24 am

All idiots, end of story.
Te Reo Putake 5

27 October 2013 at 8:52 am

I’m just wondering if blackmailing a person into signing an affidavit is a criminal offence. I certainly hope so. Perhaps Banks and Wewege can double bunk at Mt Eden?
- toad 5.1
  
  27 October 2013 at 3:15 pm
  
  +1
tinfoilhat 6

27 October 2013 at 8:55 am

And none of it would be a story if it wasn’t for one Mr Len Brown who has proven to be as inept a decision maker as he is a mayor.
- Te Reo Putake 6.1
  
  27 October 2013 at 9:14 am
  
  Ahem. Brown wasn’t caught having one off the wrist, tinfoilhat. The decisions of two adults contributed to this affair. More specifically, it’s the actions of the other person that have lead to the story becoming public and the actions of various rightwingers have exacerbated the issue.
  
  Of, course, the predictions on the Standard early on that this would end up biting the right on the arse have turned out to be spot on. If you choose Cameron Slater to do your PR, you will get royally screwed. Ask POAL.
  - tinfoilhat 6.1.1
    
    27 October 2013 at 9:20 am
    
    No apparently he wasn’t caught having one off the wrist as you say.
    
    Just having intercourse and masturbating on council premises during council time.
    
    I’m less interested in the behaviour of the righties who’s behaviour I expect than the elected mayor who has proven untrustworthy in addition to his many and numerous other faults. I’ve no idea why the Labour supporters (and some greenies) on this blog continue to offer him any support when there are far far better options for a left wing mayor waiting on the sidelines.
    - Te Reo Putake 6.1.1.1
      
      27 October 2013 at 9:40 am
      
      Ah, well. Maybe after Brown has tired of winning Ak mayoral elections (some time around 2025, I imagine), we can have a look at the other left wing candidates. For the time being, this story is no longer about Brown. It’s about the nasty party and the way they tried to game Ak politics with smears and blackmail. Sordid stuff.
      - tinfoilhat 6.1.1.1.1
        
        27 October 2013 at 10:12 am
        
        Is that you Mayor Brown .. or is it one of your staff that the auckland ratepayers are paying overtime rates for ?
        
        Te Reo Putake 6.1.1.1.1.1
        
        27 October 2013 at 10:15 am
        
        Damn, you got me. I am Mayor Brown and I owe you five pounds.
        
        tinfoilhat …
        
        27 October 2013 at 10:40 am
        
        I’ll send my bank account details to your email address at the town hall.
      - Dumrse 6.1.1.1.2
        
        27 October 2013 at 4:13 pm
        
        The story is about Brown and his fucking dick. Get over it.
        
        Tracey 6.1.1.1.2.1
        
        27 October 2013 at 4:24 pm
        
        I guess you have missed the last week of stories in the media…ssss tories hate not having the story they have manufactured andit being replaced, even worse, by the truth.
        
        One Anonymous Knucklehead 6.1.1.1.2.2
        
        28 October 2013 at 11:53 am
        
        Dumrse is getting pretty desperate. Imagine the rage and frustration and impotence of trying to control the story from your exalted position as a nobody. Marvel as Fairfax Media and Granny go ahead with stories about Luigi and Palino and ignore Dumrse’s instructions 😆
        
        QoT 6.1.1.1.2.3
        
        28 October 2013 at 12:51 pm
        
        The right’s fascination with Len Brown’s genitals certainly is a story, dumbass.
AsleepWhileWalking 7

27 October 2013 at 9:07 am

The exclusive in HoS sounds a bit like #wegewecv
Ben Adam 8

27 October 2013 at 9:15 am

In spite of all the damage control from all parties concerned, the MAIN culprit completely responsible for this mess is the stupid mayor, Len Brown, no one else! It wasn’t just a one off transgression, , but a 2 year affair! Brown misused his position as Mayor in more ways than one. He deserves absolutely no sympathy or excusse.
- Te Reo Putake 8.1
  
  27 October 2013 at 9:54 am
  
  And he’s not getting any, Ben. Well, maybe a bit of sympathy for the nasty way this matter has been exposed and the unnecessary pain that caused his family, but certainly no excuses.
  - Tat Loo (CV) 8.1.1
    
    27 October 2013 at 10:06 am
    
    “And he’s not getting any, Ben.”
    
    I’d guess that was very true, TRP 😈
    - Te Reo Putake 8.1.1.1
      
      27 October 2013 at 10:17 am
      
      Heh!
- BM 8.2
  
  27 October 2013 at 10:22 am
  
  And that’s what it basically boils down to.
  Browns a little man who used his power and influence to coerce young women into having affairs him.
  
  The whole left/right thing is just a smoke screen, John Palino isn’t National he’s just a business man who had a go at running for mayor because he thought he could do a much better job than 4/10 Len.
  
  [lprent: coerce? Either link to some authoritative proof of that allegation, retract it, or face me demonstrating coercion on you. Btw: serial liars are not authoritative.
  
  And if 32 is “young” then there are a lot of people out there in responsible positions who will be surprised at how they are totally in the wrong positions because they are too “young” ]
  - gobsmacked 8.2.1
    
    27 October 2013 at 10:56 am
    
    “coerce” = defamation.
    
    Just letting you know, so you can start saving for the legal fees.
    
    Substantiate, or withdraw.
    - BM 8.2.1.1
      
      27 October 2013 at 11:16 am
      
      Coerce might not have been the correct term because it does imply that Brown himself forced her into an affair.
      
      The context I was using coerce in was because he’s the mayor he has a lot of power and influence .
      
      As young woman trying to get started in the political arena she may think that her political career may not have a lot of longevity if she turns the Mayor down, bit like those film producer/directors from days gone by.
      From what I read she was quite surprised when the Mayor made advances on her.
      
      But then again, I could be completely wrong and she may have been as keen as mustard to have a fling with Brown, once he got the ball rolling.
      - Chris 8.2.1.1.1
        
        27 October 2013 at 12:24 pm
        
        BM, no matter how you rewritten that post you still imply coercion. Has it occurred to you that perhaps the woman in question used her… erm feminine wiles to enhance her chances of furthering her political ambitions.
        
        It takes 2 and frankly neither of them are squeaky clean.
        
        But that is the end of that chapter, the next chapter of who, how and why is far more disconcerting.
      - Tracey 8.2.1.1.2
        
        27 October 2013 at 4:13 pm
        
        she could have turned whistleblower for sexual harassment, or even claimed it since this all become public. Am not aware she claims to have felt pressured and therefore did not freely consent, which of course is rape. She seems to fall in love quite easily and may have done so with Mr Brown. She may be guilty of foolishness but that doesnt make it sexual harassment or rape on Len’s part. One thing that doesnt seem to be in doubt is that EVERY man in this episode used her for their own purposes.
      - QoT 8.2.1.1.3
        
        28 October 2013 at 12:53 pm
        
        It always fascinates me how, when convenient, the bigoted forces of the right suddenly start agreeing with radical feminist analyses of patriarchy.
  - Kaplan 8.2.2
    
    27 October 2013 at 11:08 am
    
    “he’s just a business man who had a go at running for mayor because he thought he could do a much better job than 4/10 Len.”
    Is there a prize for most naive comment. ever.
  - Tracey 8.2.3
    
    27 October 2013 at 4:10 pm
    
    Thanks for the chuckle…. you mean the man who said he couldnt be a liar because he is a “entrepreneur” and a “tv presenter”, as though somehow those two groups of people are pure as driven snow? This is one of your less thought out comments BM and makes you look more foolish than I am sure you are.
    
    Palino seems to be at least guilty of wilful blindness. 90 minutes in a car park at night with someone not part of his campaign team????
- Tracey 8.3
  
  27 October 2013 at 4:08 pm
  
  he hasnt been excused. He has had to front his wife and family, the public and will forever be tainted by this. Short of an execution not sure what some of you want.
  
  Don Brash had an affair with diane foreman but that was different, cos slater wasnt interested in it and the right hushed it up as much as they could rather than trumpetting it.
tricledrown 9

27 October 2013 at 9:51 am

Dumrse facts not facillys please
Under investment by right whingers leaving Aucklands infrasructure creaking under the strain.
Right wingers keeping rate rises down short sighted power grab by short term thinkers.
Pete 10

27 October 2013 at 10:25 am

Ok, this moves from sleazy behaviour into potentially serious criminal activity. Blackmail under New Zealand law is punishable by up to 14 years in prison. I think there’s enough there for the police to launch an investigation into Wewege, Cook and Slater.
- deWithiel 10.1
  
  27 October 2013 at 11:26 am
  
  Do you really think the New Zealand Police might launch an investigation into the electoral shenanigans of a right wing political group? You can be assured that the outcome would be that there was ‘insufficient’ evidence of criminal intent and that a decision had been made not to prosecute on the grounds that (a) it was highly unlikely to result in a conviction (b) the cost of bringing charges would outweigh the gravity of the charge (c) another excuse thought up on the spur of the moment by a police spokesperson.
  - Treetop 10.1.1
    
    27 October 2013 at 3:32 pm
    
    “(c) another excuse thought up on the spur of the moment by a police spokesperson.”
    
    That the police are not involved in this.
  - Matthew Hooton 10.1.2
    
    27 October 2013 at 4:43 pm
    
    No, I don’t think the NZ Police would properly investigate a right wing political group, and agree they would give the excuses you outline (plus “not in public interest). But, to be fair, they have a record of not to properly investigate any political figure or political group in NZ when complaints are made about them.
    - Pete 10.1.2.1
      
      27 October 2013 at 5:11 pm
      
      This isn’t Electoral Act or Summary Offences Act shenanigans with no identifiable victim, though. Don’t conflate this with the pledge card or Banks. I guess it would depend on whether Miss Chuang was prepared to make a complaint and give evidence about being blackmailed into making that affadavit.
  - Populuxe1 10.1.3
    
    27 October 2013 at 5:19 pm
    
    You mean like John Banks or Graham Caphill? Or are you just talking out your arse?
    - felix 10.1.3.1
      
      27 October 2013 at 8:57 pm
      
      err yeah, they weren’t all that keen on investigating Banks actually Pop.
      - Populuxe1 10.1.3.1.1
        
        28 October 2013 at 1:11 pm
        
        They did investigate him and in their opinion found insufficient evidence for prosecution. Private prosecution was brought and a judge decided there was sufficient evidence. This has happened in many different cases were the evidence was ambiguous or subjective in legal interpretation, which is why people can bring private prosecutions in the first place. Checks and balances.
        
        felix 10.1.3.1.1.1
        
        28 October 2013 at 2:03 pm
        
        Not true.
        
        They actually concluded that there had been a case to answer, but that it was too late to prosecute. Amazingly, it turns out that there’s plenty of time after all.
        
        Are you getting that, Pop? They acknowledged the law-breaking, but found a reason not to prosecute anyway.
        
        Populuxe1 …
        
        29 October 2013 at 1:36 pm
        
        *sigh*
        
        Silly me, just going by what the police report actually said:
        
        “Police investigating allegations that the Hon John Banks knowingly transmitted a false electoral return have decided there is insufficient evidence to consider a prosecution for an offence under section 134(1) of the Local Electoral Act 2001.”
        
        http://www.police.govt.nz/news/release/32259
        
        karol …
        
        29 October 2013 at 1:48 pm
        
        But, the crucial bit with respect to the statute of limitations relates to section 134 (2).
        
        David Shearer claimed that the police report found Banks had breached that section.
        
        David Shearer: Does he accept the police findings, paragraph 40, that John Banks breached section 134(2) of the Local Electoral Act?
- Chris 10.2
  
  27 October 2013 at 12:26 pm
  
  Pete, another private prosecution in the making perhaps?
  - amirite 10.2.1
    
    27 October 2013 at 4:09 pm
    
    We need thousands of Mc Creadys…or just a less corrupt police and justice system would suffice.
- toad 10.3
  
  27 October 2013 at 3:23 pm
  
  Yeah, I suspect Wewege’s sudden departure from the country may have something to do with him realising his role in this has potentially serious ramifications under criminal law.
  - Rodel 10.3.1
    
    27 October 2013 at 4:39 pm
    
    oh jeez- please don’t try to extradite him..better to whatever is the opposite of ‘extradite’ more of the sleaze pedlars
QoT 11

27 October 2013 at 11:14 am

He’s the ultimate love rat, you’d have to say.

Yes. Releasing explicit photos of an ex to someone who’s setting up a porn site (a revenge porn site, perhaps?) in order to pressure her into compliance is definitely “love rat” material. 🙄
- Psycho Milt 11.1
  
  27 October 2013 at 11:45 am
  
  Given Cook’s previous form, it feels entirely plausible that he’d imagine “love rat” is a synonym for “vindictive sleazebag.”
  - Tracey 11.1.1
    
    27 October 2013 at 4:16 pm
    
    or “player” …. as opposed to a self serving wanker who likes to use women as possessions to meet his ends (pun intended). “Love” does not enter into Luigi’s vernacular, by his own admission.
Athena 12

27 October 2013 at 1:44 pm

BM. you said ‘women’ not woman and ‘affairs’, do you have evidence that Len Brown has had other affair? Chris. How could an aspiring right wing political candidate hope to benefit their career by sleeping with a high flying left wing politician?
- Chris 12.1
  
  27 October 2013 at 2:57 pm
  
  “Chris. How could an aspiring right wing political candidate hope to benefit their career by sleeping with a high flying left wing politician?”
  
  Athena, I didn’t say she was particularly bright… having said that why would wedgie think having his pic taken with mumblefuck would be helpful.
  
  I’m beginning to wonder whether aspiring rightwing politicians ain’t too bright at the best of times 🙂
- Chooky 12.2
  
  27 October 2013 at 3:35 pm
  
  “How could an aspiring right wing political candidate hope to benefit their career by sleeping with a high flying left wing politician?”
  
  …….unless they were spying on them!….getting computer passwords etc , ‘pillow talk’ for their handlers…gathering evidence for future/ or others covert or overt blackmail
  
  I really don’t think Len Brown is too smart ( majorly lacking in discretion,decorum, judgment and loyalty….) ….certainly not smart enough to be captain of NZ’s largest commercial city……..it is not a good look for Auckland
  
  (….cant they bring back Bob Harvey?…he seemed pretty smart and knew about PR and image )
  
  Auckland needs an overhaul and fast makeover imo…otherwise it is Sleazeball City!
The Pink Postman 13

27 October 2013 at 2:50 pm

One off the first words from m Michelle Boarg on last weeks Q&A was “It has nothing to do with National.” ( wasn’t it Shakespeare who said something about protesting too much.?
Saarbo 14

27 October 2013 at 3:33 pm

Key’s dirt file on labour http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/john-key-admits-keeping-dirt-file-labour-mps-5655555 may suggest that he knows Labour may have some interesting info on National or Key also me thinks.
- Populuxe1 14.1
  
  27 October 2013 at 4:48 pm
  
  This is New Zealand, 2 degrees of seperation – the dirty secrets of pollies in all parties is pretty much common knowledge in the beltway and beyond if you happen to be on the periphery of such circles. That’s the nature of gossip.
Tracey 15

27 October 2013 at 3:59 pm

If the PM isnt going to do anything with the info, why write it down and keep it? Perhaps thats what counts for integrity in his mind, saving it to sell your memoirs.
- felix 15.1
  
  27 October 2013 at 9:00 pm
  
  I think you’ll find he’s doing what’s known as “lying”
Treetop 16

27 October 2013 at 4:41 pm

Blackmail is serious. Wewege sending Cook the nude pics in the week prior to the local board elections, this may have ruined Chuang had they become public. The pics were nothing to do with Chuang’s affair with Brown. Cooks states that he had no plans to use the images.

When did Chuang know that the nude pics of her were sent and who did Wewege send them to?

Cook, Palino, Slater, Wewege are all down playing what they knew about the Brown/Chuang affair. Details are not important as the words “Mayor and affair” is all that needed to be said.

Brown knew that it would have been fatal for him to have denied the affair. In the end Chuang was not needed to confirm the affair. WhaleOil is the spark for Brown being outed.

The affair being released prior to the local board election would have harmed Palino if the public voted knowing about the affair or it could have cost Brown re election as mayor.

Everyone is blaming one another and no one wants to look like the bad guy incase there is a by election.

Personally I would like to see a by election as now those who vote for the Auckland mayor will know a bit more about the candidates. There is a problem here as it needs to be determined whether or not Brown misused council resources and if Palino knew about Wewege blackmailing Chuang. 90 minutes in a carpark to talk just about about threatening texts does not wash with me.
- Populuxe1 16.1
  
  27 October 2013 at 4:49 pm
  
  And what kind of airhead allows or takes nude pictures of themselves anyway? The obviously weren’t intended to be artistic.
  - Treetop 16.1.1
    
    27 October 2013 at 5:03 pm
    
    It is not against the law to take nude pictures of yourself and to send them to a person who you have been intimately involved in.
    
    Neither is it against the law to walk around inside your home in the nude (warm weather pending).
    - Populuxe1 16.1.1.1
      
      27 October 2013 at 5:24 pm
      
      It is, however, a stupid thing to do in the internet age. And I doubt she was just wandering around nude. There have been enough well known cases of this happening that unless you are very stupid, you don’t do it because sensible people realise that relationships end (and it pretty much sounds like a musical beds situation anyway) and sometimes they end badly, especially if you insist on swimming with sharks of the high profile sleazebag variety.
      - Treetop 16.1.1.1.1
        
        27 October 2013 at 5:46 pm
        
        One has to be cautious when dealing with a sleazebag. The words you chose “air head” and “weren’t intended to be artistic” is what I did not like.
        
        Wewege sent them to Cook.
      - felix 16.1.1.1.2
        
        27 October 2013 at 9:03 pm
        
        “And I doubt she was just wandering around nude.”
        
        So what, Pop? Are you the photo police now?
      - Treetop 16.1.1.1.3
        
        28 October 2013 at 1:03 pm
        
        Just to be clear with what I wrote “Neither is it against the law to walk around inside your home in the nude (warm weather pending).
        
        This comment has nothing to do with Chuang Populuxe 1.
        
        Populuxe1 16.1.1.1.3.1
        
        28 October 2013 at 1:14 pm
        
        Then why bring it up. Sending naked pictures of yourself with “Miss U” written on you in lipstick to dodgy people shows at best a significant lapse in judgment
        
        felix …
        
        28 October 2013 at 2:04 pm
        
        Yeah, she was “asking for” them to be used against her. 🙄
        
        Populuxe1 …
        
        29 October 2013 at 5:31 pm
        
        Um, no and I know what you’re insinuating and you can fuck right off now. I am not condoning that they were used in this way, but electronically publishing an image of yourself in an unsecure medium in the internet age is a foolish thing to do – this is nothing to do with slut shaming and everything to do with information security and privacy management.
        
        felix …
        
        29 October 2013 at 6:26 pm
        
        So you’re definitely not saying it was her fault that she was blackmailed, you’re just making the common sense observation that if you want to avoid blackmail you should think about how you dress in your photos.
        
        Couldn’t be clearer.
        
        Pascal's bookie …
        
        29 October 2013 at 6:42 pm
        
        “And what kind of airhead allows or takes nude pictures of themselves anyway? The obviously weren’t intended to be artistic.”
        
        How could anyone even suspect that was slut shaming?
        
        felix …
        
        29 October 2013 at 6:51 pm
        
        Yeah he wrote that ages ago though. Pop uses the “3 comment” rule.
        
        Comment 1: something stupid, offensive, reactionary.
        
        Comment 2: an angry attack on the first responder.
        
        Comment three: “I never said comment 1”.
        
        And repeat.
        
        Treetop …
        
        28 October 2013 at 2:34 pm
        
        Sending nude pics really becomes a problem when a person uses them to blackmail you because you are a candidate in a local board election.
        
        Like I said yesterday @16 “When did Chuang know that the nude pics of her were sent and who did Wewege send them to?”
        
        Even the nicest of people can be unpredictable and they will find or create something to use against you when they are after something or they are concealing something.
    - Rhinocrates 16.1.1.2
      
      27 October 2013 at 6:22 pm
      
      I’m inclined to be sympathetic to Chaung and even Brown because while I’ve not made the same mistakes myself, I’ve made my own nonetheless. We all do stupid things for love or the hope of love. Palimo, Wewege and Whalecum on the other hand have done vile things for the sake of power and spite.
      
      I don’t know who’s read Dante, but I agree with his judgements in The Divine Comedy – the sins of indulgence deserve punishment, but the sins of malice deserve worse.
      - Treetop 16.1.1.2.1
        
        27 October 2013 at 6:38 pm
        
        Cook going into more detail than is required; this I do not like, (to say nude pics would suffice).
        
        Getting interesting as many are now on record as to what they said happened and could trip up or be tripped up.
        
        I cannot find out when Chuang found out about the copy of pics being sent to Cook, only that Cook recieved them a week before Brown was outed publicly.
      - Chooky 16.1.1.2.2
        
        27 October 2013 at 7:05 pm
        
        @ Rhino….Everyone makes mistakes and almost everyone has indulged one way or another, which makes one sympathetic ……certainly “.the sins of indulgence” are wonderful if you are young and have no responsibilities..and I dont think they necessarily require punishment
        
        But if you do have responsibilities like being Mayor of Auckland….this entails acting appropriately and having respect for your office and the job you have been elected to carry out fairly and without compromises …it is not a licence for licentiousness…or juvenile indulgence
        
        ..and as for Chaung…is it really just innocent joie de vivre “indulgence” when you give your lover a rating of 4/10….?….and your political sympathies are really with the other side?…..( or maybe another side still?)…and then while you are sleeping with someone else you try and set you former lover up?
        
        ….not innocent indulgence imo ( as for Slater, Palmir , Wedge et al…..well they are as one would expect…no surprises there)
        
        Rhinocrates 16.1.1.2.2.1
        
        27 October 2013 at 7:40 pm
        
        Hi Chooky… well, as you can guess, I’m not excusing Chaung and Brown, but I would forgive them for any human frailty. Sex, I think, makes everyone young, or act as if they were young. There’s no fool like an old fool, as is so often said.
        
        I know that when you’re in love, think you are or want to be, you can screw up colossally. Common sense, judgment, the bigger picture and foresight simply do not apply.
        
        As for the 4/10 rating and whatnot – well, one can always be bitter about a failed and immoral affair, and I don’t think that it’s appropriate to equate the personal with the political. Is Brown the best mayoral candidate for Auckland? I don’t know – but then it’s not for me to decide, it’s for the voters of Auckland to decide and certainly not Whalecum. Len Brown has been constitutionally decreed to be the mayor, supposedly based on public perception of his policies and competence. I wouldn’t vote for him to be a member of my family, but that was not what the election was about.
        
        What Brown did cannot be excused, but it can be forgiven – though I’d wear gloves when shaking hands with him. Bevan Chaung to me seems no more or less than human, and the way she’s been treated since has been truly abominable.
        
        Wewege, Cook, Palino and the Slaters on the other hand have acted with cold, premeditated malice and even the editors at The Herald are disgusted by them – and considering that organ’s bias, that says something. I don’t think that we can say “no surprises”, instead we should point out just how awful they have been in trying to steal a legitimate election.
        
        Best wishes.
        
        Chooky …
        
        27 October 2013 at 7:55 pm
        
        @ Rhino …well i am not shocked by Wedgie, Cockie, Palmo or Slaters at all!….shows how cynical I am about the depths certain people on the right will go….it is a bottomless medieval Dante hellish pit …
        
        …and while initially sympathetic to the “innocent” revellers on the “shocking” ( I would have thought to them ) public outing of their brief affaire …and defending their right not to be judged!……the more that comes out the less innocent, careful and responsible it seems to be…I certainly would have expected more of Brown…and if I had voted for him I would be regretful
        
        ….this is not to say I wish the right wing would take over Auckland
        
        Rhinocrates …
        
        27 October 2013 at 8:46 pm
        
        ….this is not to say I wish the right wing would take over Auckland
        
        Never thought that for a moment!
        
        Living in Wellington and the People’s Republic of Aro Valley (which is fast turning into South Ponsonby – you can’t move for manicurists and SUVs now), it all seems as distant as “beltway” politics seems to Aucklanders anyway.
        
        greywarbler 16.1.1.2.2.2
        
        27 October 2013 at 10:22 pm
        
        Chooky
        You sound young. The older a person gets the more one thinks – this may be the best, last time. But the mind can still be knocked out by attraction and passion.
        
        Chooky …
        
        28 October 2013 at 8:30 am
        
        @ greywarbler…not very young and not very old….but responsible
        
        greywarbler …
        
        28 October 2013 at 1:32 pm
        
        Chooky When it comes to attraction, sexuality, desire etc. responsible doesn’t always come into it. But I admire your principles.
rod 17

27 October 2013 at 5:04 pm

Luigi, Palino, Camerino, sounds like it could be the Mafioso wing of the National Party.
North 18

27 October 2013 at 5:26 pm

‘Bout time YOU got over it Dumb Arse.

Much as it grieves you what might have sheeted home semi-disastrously for Brown has been turned into a relative nothing by a bunch of arrogant intriguers who fell over into their own shit.

Congratulations on being a bitter old moral paragon Dumbarse. Continue making a bloody wailing fool of yourself. I love it !
Dumrse 19

28 October 2013 at 7:57 am

North, you strike me as a teacher?
Tracey 20

28 October 2013 at 11:43 am

Dumarse you strike me as being 140.
JLLJames 21

28 October 2013 at 1:40 pm

Why keep up with the sideshow? It all comes down to Browns integrity which apparently is absent.

It doesn’t really matter who said what or did whatever once the facts became public. Those people are not accountable to their electorates.

By staying in office, Len Brown has given all politicians, both Labour and National, a free ticket to have affairs and stay in their positions. Any argument to the contrary quite simply makes you a hypocrite, and an ignorant one at that.

Stick to the facts.
- One Anonymous Knucklehead 21.1
  
  28 October 2013 at 1:46 pm
  
  Stick to the facts? Name one NZ politician who has resigned over an affair.
  
  Don Brash? Nope.
  David Lange? Nope.
  Rodney Hide? Nope.
  
  JLLJames? Clueless and ignorant.
- gobsmacked 21.2
  
  28 October 2013 at 2:43 pm
  
  Many of us have tried “sticking to the facts”, JLLJames, but you don’t seem interested in discussing them.
  
  Facts: 1) Len Brown was unfaithful to his wife.
  
  2) Many others have been unfaithful to their partners.
  
  3) They did not resign.
  
  If you want to argue that marital infidelity = resignation, that’s fine … if it’s a consistent principle, applied to all, at all times. Is it? Should it be? Do you want resignations from the government, today?
  
  If not, then that quite simply makes you a hypocrite, and an ignorant one at that.