The Meka leak

Written By: - Date published: 9:38 am, September 27th, 2018 - 229 comments
Categories: Gerry Brownlee, labour, leadership, national, same old national, trevor mallard - Tags:

It looks like National’s dirty politics team are at it again.

It seems pretty obvious that they were leaked a draft copy of the report into Meka Whaitiri, spent Tuesday claiming that she had caused bruising to the complainant and then overnight leaked to Audrey Young at the Herald a copy of the report.  That way they will keep the story in the news cycle for another day.

It may be that the two events are not linked.  But that does not seem very likely.

The practice is cynical but just what you expect.  Elements of Labour have used similar techniques in the past.  Business as usual for Wellington.

Jacinda Ardern’s request that we have robust democracy where people can also be kind is not going to happen.

It must be acknowledged that Whaitiri continues to maintain that she had not touched the complainant.  The allegation is that there was an over vigorous grabbing of her arm that left bruises that were visible and have been photographed.

Presuming the leak is accurate David Patten, the Wellington lawyer conducting the inquiry, has decided that on the balance of probabilities the staff member’s version was the more likely explanation.

He has decided that Whaitiri did not pull or drag the press secretary outside from the foyer of the building where the meeting was taking place.

But he found it more probable than not that Whaitiri approached the staffer from behind and grabbed her by the arm and that Whaitiri spoke in a raised voice to the staffer.

Calls for Whaitiri’s prosecution are fanciful.  This is at worst a low level assault over a short period of time and the allegation is disputed.  And there are no eye witnesses.  More likely than not is not proof beyond reasonable doubt.

And Whaitiri has already paid a significant price.

Similarly calls for Whaitiri being thrown out of Parliament are also fanciful.  There are plenty of cases where MPs have done worse in terms of assaults on others.  Gerry Brownlee is one example, Trevor Mallard is another.

There will be a major question about who leaked the report.  It looks like there will be the circus of another inquiry into how the report became public.  I hope that the inquiry is a low key below the radar one.  The last thing we need is the circus of a Simon Bridges type inquiry.

Claims that Whaitiri should not be a Cabinet Minister in the future are frankly strange.  Mallard and Brownlee both went on to hold senior positions for incidents that were worse than what has been alleged.

Unless there is a different rule for male politicians and female politicians.

229 comments on “The Meka leak ”

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  1. Dukeofurl 1
    27 September 2018 at 9:44 am

    Even worse situation was when Barclay stayed in nationals caucus when it became apparent to the leadership he had committed a crime.

    • mickysavage 1.1
      27 September 2018 at 9:48 am

      Yep I focused on MPs who had committed assaults. If I had listed MPs who had committed other sorts of offences the list would have been a lot longer …

    • Gosman 1.2
      27 September 2018 at 11:49 am

      He committed a crime did he? I presume he has now been convicted of said crime.

      • te reo putake 1.2.1
        27 September 2018 at 12:50 pm

        The Police have discretion over whether someone who has committed a crime gets charged, particularly so at the lower level of offending. But then, you know this already and you’re just trolling.

      • Dukeofurl 1.2.2
        27 September 2018 at 1:03 pm

        not convicted, however on the first hand statement of the deputy pm he said ‘do you want to listen to tape’.
        Thats what is meant by knowing he committed a offence listed in the crimes act. English would know full well about offences regarding secret recordings as he had been recorded early in 2010 saying things that were contrary to election promises. But that was not an offence as the person recording was a a party to the conversation. Same brougha over secret recording over ‘tea tapes’ when Key got the police onto it. Popular MPs in national caucus get away with everything

    • georgecom 1.3
      27 September 2018 at 9:45 pm

      I was reflecting this week that Labour had moved fairly smartly to deal with both the Whaitiri and Curran episodes. Looking at the previous National Governments first period in office I seem to remember Key didn;t move nearly so quickly to discipline Ministers. For all of his ‘Higher Standards’ rhetoric prior to the 2008 election I seem to recall he seemed to drag his feet with the likes of Worth and others.

  2. marty mars 2
    27 September 2018 at 9:52 am

    Yep 101 dirty politics – the gnats are very scared and like cornered animals they will lash out and try to inflict malicious damage as they descend to obivilion.

    • JohnSelway 2.1
      27 September 2018 at 9:58 am

      They’ll never slide into oblivion. As always with NZ politics – their time will come again. It’s inevitable

      • marty mars 2.1.1
        27 September 2018 at 10:14 am

        John, nothing lasts forever and thank the gods for that.

        I’ve seen quite a few parties go over my lifetime – be good to see the gnats go imo

        • Draco T Bastard 2.1.1.1
          27 September 2018 at 11:28 am

          I’m with John on this one. National will only go when there’s no more rich fuckers around to fund them.

          • marty mars 2.1.1.1.1
            27 September 2018 at 1:33 pm

            Probably correct but one can hope.

            • riffer 2.1.1.1.1.1
              27 September 2018 at 2:56 pm

              Be careful what you wish for. National will likely go when the rich fuckers find another party that suits their wants better.

          • ianmac 2.1.1.1.2
            27 September 2018 at 3:29 pm

            The Nats have a huge bank account which would be why they must be able to spend heaps in their hunt to eventually find something/anything to hang the Government for.

            • Chuck 2.1.1.1.2.1
              27 September 2018 at 7:52 pm

              “to eventually find something/anything to hang the Government for.”

              I needed a good laugh thanks ianmac!

    • Chris 2.2
      27 September 2018 at 9:55 pm

      Where’s the evidence it’s likely the leak came from National? I’d have thought there were plenty of Labour people keen on dishing out whatever filth they wanted to dish out. Where are the links to the possibility a National person could’ve even had access to the report?

      • marty mars 2.2.1
        27 September 2018 at 10:08 pm

        Yeah nah Chris your theory is fancy.

        • Chris 2.2.1.1
          27 September 2018 at 10:14 pm

          Thanks ‘marto. You’ve certainly put that one to bed.

          • marty mars 2.2.1.1.1
            27 September 2018 at 10:34 pm

            You think someone in labour was gunning to embarrass the government by dishing filth on them? Lol you can’t be serious – that’s as idiotic as thinking labour or the speaker leaked spendy Simons stuff instead of one of his close and loyal caucus buddies. Get real lol

            • Chris 2.2.1.1.1.1
              27 September 2018 at 11:00 pm

              The author suggests someone from National leaked the report. If it’s possible someone from National had access to the report then great. But there’s no evidence anyone from National had access to the report. The author even makes reference to people from Labour being capable of shifty shit. I’d go so far as to say that fractures within Labour suggest it’s possible the leak was from someone within Labour.

              • Chris …
                27 September 2018 at 11:24 pm

                I should also add that the motive wouldn’t necessarily be about embarrassing the government, rather than exacting something – whatever it might be – towards Meka personally. That’s why someone within Labour may have leaked the report. Assess that against the possibility of someone from National having access to the report.

                • marty mars …
                  27 September 2018 at 11:37 pm

                  So your main point is that it is unlikely that the gnats had a copy of the report to leak. Or access to it. That will likely come out and then I suppose we’ll revisit this conversation. I really think it almost impossible that your scenario is true but I sure as hell get it as wrong as right so im looking forward to this leaker being found.

  3. Muttonbird 3
    27 September 2018 at 9:57 am

    Looks like there’s a few unhappy Nat supporters in the public service.

    I thought one of the key requirements of working in the public service was that you had to be impartial professionally.

    I guess some right wing people who work for the government struggle with that simple concept. I do hope this leaker has another job to go to.

    • Chris 3.1
      27 September 2018 at 10:18 pm

      How would someone in the public service ordinarily have access to the report?

      • Muttonbird 3.1.1
        28 September 2018 at 8:37 am

        I imagine someone in the public service was involved in the writing of the report.

        Also in the article yesterday announcing an enquiry into the leak it mentioned that the draft report was available to relevant minister’s offices and to the PM’s office and to the two parties, being Meka Whaitiri and the complainant.

        The leak to National (to Amy Adams presumably since it was she who referenced bruising under parliamentary privilege) came from one of these people mentioned above.

        Wayne suggested yesterday it might have been the complaint who leaked to National. But why would it occur to the complainant to leak to National unsolicited? I suppose you could say the complainant was unhappy with the review of the case as it stood but then the draft report does accept the complainants version of events.

        My question then was, ‘what pressure did National place on the complainant in order to get a copy of that draft report?’

        • Chris 3.1.1.1
          28 September 2018 at 9:49 am

          “But why would it occur to the complainant to leak to National unsolicited?”

          To try to divert attention away from whoever did leak the report?

          • Muttonbird 3.1.1.1.1
            28 September 2018 at 9:57 am

            There are multiple leakers?

            Perhaps you know more than I because you seem quite sure the leak to National came from an opponent of Meka Whaitiri. Perhaps this is so and who is Meka Whaitiri’s greatest recent opponent?

            Marama Fox.

            And Fox is bitter, make no mistake about that.

  4. adam 4
    27 September 2018 at 9:58 am

    mickeysavage your posts of late read like the coalition is the opposition, rather than the government. And that your trying to score points over the national party, like when the coalition were in opposition. This one is a good example of that.

    And yeah it’s fun to poke fun at simon, it’s not really dealing with some core issues that people have to deal with. Homelessness is still a huge issue, Work and income are still treating people like dogs, and the on going nightmare for this government trying to implement change, the hostile civil service.

    Many of which are still acting in appalling ways when engaging with average citizens against the wishes of ministers. Which by the way is what I think happened in the leaking of this report, it came from a civil servant.

    • mickysavage 4.1
      27 September 2018 at 10:14 am

      I accept I have been poking a lot of fun at Simon. He provides so much ammunition …

      Time constraints mean that I have not been able to do more reasoned posts and they tend to be reactive to current events.

      I agree that the core issues are still huge blights on our society. There is no overnight solution to them.

    • Tiger Mountain 4.2
      27 September 2018 at 12:43 pm

      “the enemy within”… the top echelons of the NZ Public Service are basically a rats nest of unreconstructed neo libs that are plainly undermining the new govt as a full time task, time the coalition caught up with this fact and started swinging the machete…

      how on earth is arrogant HNZ CEO Andrew McKenzie still with us? good to see him eating plus size humble pie in public at least, after his years of blanking RNZ

  5. Reality 5
    27 September 2018 at 10:01 am

    It seems Bridges & Co are so irate and jealous at the great publicity our PM has been receiving in NY they are going to any lengths to detract from her very favourable impression she has had on such a large world stage. It should be us they wail.

    Likewise Mike Hosking’s lemon sucking put down in the Herald. He is so predictable it is almost funny.

  6. Ovid 6
    27 September 2018 at 10:03 am

    I don’t really care about the politics of this. I just can’t stand bullies. I know the Prime Minister’s hands are tied – she can’t expel Whaitiri from Parliament – but that can’t stop me from holding a poor opinion of Whaitiri and hoping she won’t be selected to stand in 2020.

    • Michelle 6.1
      27 September 2018 at 11:02 am

      who cares what you think ovid your not one of her constituents she needs to get her act together and she should do what others have done, spray and walk away don’t touch. She represents many of her Maori people that rely on her and who need her and she needs to think of this when she gets pissed of with some of those people she has to work with. She needs to think of the bigger picture and the people who she represents who are relying on her as her area and her constituents were largely neglected under the last government for their entire 9 yrs.

      • Jimmy 6.1.1
        27 September 2018 at 11:18 am

        I agree with Ovid. I think she needs to go as this tarnishes Labour as a whole if in any way they are perceived to be protecting her. With the high staff turnover she has had it does not look like she is a great manager of people. Work place bullying should not be tolerated and Labour are the “workers” party and should look after the ’employee’ not Meka.

        • Patricia Bremner 6.1.1.1
          28 September 2018 at 2:44 pm

          No No. Training is the answer… for both parties.

          After all, anything else is too close to “3 strikes you are out” mentality.

          People should be given a chance to overcome an error of judgement, and modify problem behaviours/ failures to perform.

      • Ovid 6.1.2
        27 September 2018 at 11:18 am

        who cares what you think ovid

        Public opinion is everything in politics.

        She represents many of her Maori people that rely on her and who need her

        I think any constituency is entitled to expect better of their representatives. No politician is indespensible.

        she needs to think of this when she gets pissed of with some of those people she has to work with

        She needs to keep her temper under control.

        She needs to think of the bigger picture and the people who she represents who are relying on her as her area and her constituents were largely neglected under the last government for their entire 9 yrs.

        She should be in politics to represent and serve her constituency, not for her own personal glory or photo opportunities.

      • Gabby 6.1.3
        27 September 2018 at 12:59 pm

        She needs to fucking well keep her hands to herself doesn’t she michy.

    • Ffloyd 6.2
      27 September 2018 at 1:16 pm

      So you won’t think much of brownlee then. He had a long history of bullying. As well as physical assault. Hauling someone up by his belt from behind can’t be the most pleasant thing to happen to a man.

      • Sacha 6.2.1
        27 September 2018 at 1:20 pm

        How did he get away with throwing that old guy down the stairs?

      • Ovid 6.2.2
        27 September 2018 at 2:40 pm

        Of course I don’t think much of Brownlee.

        For the record I’m a long-time Labour supporter as any trawl through the comment archives here will establish. I want Labour to continue demonstrating strong ethics in government. The National Party’s standards are far too low for my taste.

      • the other pat 6.2.3
        28 September 2018 at 9:26 am

        he only gets away with it cos no one can do the same to him without getting a hernia

  7. ianmac 7
    27 September 2018 at 10:05 am

    Bruises on the arm? Lots of way that could happen and not necessarily by this person at this time. My sister bruises very easily.

    • Clive Macann 7.1
      27 September 2018 at 10:15 am

      Except the report said it was consistent with being grabbed from behind by a right-hander. So finger impressions must have been visible. Logic is working here.

      • ianmac 7.1.1
        27 September 2018 at 3:33 pm

        Yes but whose fingers? Son ? husband? Passerby saving a person from danger? Without a witness it would be hard to prove.
        Anyway. It is hardly a savage mugging.

      • Michelle 7.1.2
        28 September 2018 at 3:02 pm

        did they take finger prints ? bruises don’t show up straight away a grab with her hands would not show up the same day more likely the next day

    • BM 7.2
      27 September 2018 at 10:17 am

      Old people bruise if you just look at them.

      http://seniorsmatter.com/elderly-skin-shows-massive-bruises-may-going/

      I somehow doubt the victim is an elderly retired woman.

      • marty mars 7.2.1
        27 September 2018 at 10:26 am

        I bruise easily because of meds after my heart attack. And man they look horrific especially the squash ball and racket ones. Often I find bruises on me that I just don’t remember getting.

        • BM 7.2.1.1
          27 September 2018 at 10:45 am

          My father has heart issues, the blood thinners he’s on makes him look like he’s had a dozen people taking turning stomping on him.

          His skin is also like parchment paper.

          • marty mars 7.2.1.1.1
            27 September 2018 at 10:48 am

            Yep, florid is a good description, freaky fits too.

            • veutoviper 7.2.1.1.1.1
              27 September 2018 at 11:09 am

              There are any numbers of meds that cause easy bruising and bleeding etc. Regular low dose aspirin is one of them, as is Allopurinol for gout and other medical conditions resulting from the body over producing uric acid (eg uric acid kidney stones).

              A couple of years ago, my doctor did the “is someone beating you up” routine to me when I was covered in bruises from a combination of the above meds. No, they were caused by the cat walking on me when I was in bed! No longer take the aspirin as the Allopurinol (for kidney stones) does the same job – and no longer look like I have been beaten up.

              But we divert from the main topic.

              • Macro …
                27 September 2018 at 12:28 pm

                No, they were caused by the cat walking on me when I was in bed!

                LOL
                My cat does that to me too – around 6.00am, or earlier if she’s feeling hungry. Beats me up something terrible!

                • Anne …
                  27 September 2018 at 2:22 pm

                  I think I’d rather that than the ear-splitting howls from the feline owner of the property around the crack of dawn.

              • Patricia Bremner …
                27 September 2018 at 2:04 pm

                Yes, Norm gets dreadful bruises from bumps as he is on warfarin.
                Never dawned on me that I might be blamed LOL LOL.

    • Jimmy 7.3
      27 September 2018 at 10:36 am

      Do you support work place bullying?

      • Rapunzel 7.3.1
        27 September 2018 at 11:36 am

        I’ve yet to met anyone who would support “work-place bullying” certainly none are going to admit to it. However while it’s fairly certain that the type of abuse outlined here is pretty rare and unlikely to happen often it is true that today in workplaces across NZ there will be 100s if not 1000s of instances of more subtle acts of bullying and there will be cases of outright controntation that are not “physical”.

        This might be done by one person, and sometimes collectively by more than one person. In recent weeks I have seen it actually aimed up to a manager or it could be some one similar in an effort to undermine.

        Personally, while not condoning bullying in any form I myself would, I think, be more likely to be able to manage the more honest and open encounter of someone’s over enthusiasm or quick and more temporary lack of judgement.

        Long term subtle bullying is not less, and is sometimes more, damaging to the well-being of the subject at the centre of it.

        In fact the recent actions of Gerry Brownlee are typical of this with his verbal assault down a phone line that also left an employee upset but the circumstances of not being in the immediate proximity means there is no penalty or censure for that.

        • Sacha 7.3.1.1
          27 September 2018 at 12:39 pm

          Brownlee was not the law staffer’s boss.

          • Rapunzel 7.3.1.1.1
            27 September 2018 at 2:08 pm

            I was comparing in “my” opinion what else of bullying nature impacts workers in lots of workplaces AND in “my” opinion the grinding nature of undermining rather of than a single outburst would I think be equally/more damaging, I also said in “my” opinion that it can work both ways.
            OK?

            • Sacha 7.3.1.1.1.1
              27 September 2018 at 2:40 pm

              I agree bullying can be long-term and nasty and there is no place for it in a decent society. However, bullying of an employee by their own employer is taken more seriously in law (and by other decisionmakers like the PM). Brownlee is an arsehole but not that comparable.

      • Ffloyd 7.3.2
        27 September 2018 at 1:22 pm

        Do you think going to someone’s place of work on many occasions to pull their hair is bullying? It’s premeditated assault carried out by a gutless excuse for a human being. As for the protection squad! Ass kissers!

        • Jimmy 7.3.2.1
          27 September 2018 at 1:45 pm

          see my comment below at 8.1.1.1
          Bullying should not be tolerated in any form including emotional bullying. But there seems to be a few people on here defending Meka

          • Michelle 7.3.2.1.1
            28 September 2018 at 3:06 pm

            we just tolerated 9 years of a government that are bullies why do you think so many state sector employees are now striking and want more pay and better working conditions they were too scared before( of losing their jobs )

      • Patricia Bremner 7.3.3
        27 September 2018 at 2:08 pm

        Jimmy, 7.3 No of course not!!
        Being upset and controlled and learning to be patient don’t come easily to some. As Jacinda said, “to manage staff relations better” I believe Meka has agreed to work at that to win her boss’s confidence again.

        • Jimmy 7.3.3.1
          27 September 2018 at 4:21 pm

          I was asking the question of Ianmac actually as he seems to be hesitant to believe the victims side even though the report said the victims view of events was more believable.
          Then almost condoning a bit of biffo at work with “its hardly a savage mugging”. Some bullying at work doesn’t leave physical bruises as a few others have pointed out.

  8. Anne 8
    27 September 2018 at 10:10 am

    It would be good if someone could outline who was likely to have access to that draft document.

    It seems to me that Meka Whaitiri is not aware of her own strength. She looks a physically strong person. When most of us take someone’s arm firmly (and we’ve all been in that situation) we don’t leave a bruise.

    And what about that other leak? The one the Nats accused Labour of leaking. Why isn’t Labour demanding to be told the outcome from that inquiry? If its good for the goose its good for the gander.

    • BM 8.1
      27 September 2018 at 10:18 am

      Stop trying to justify her behaviour.

      Manhandling staff is never acceptable under any circumstances.

      • arkie 8.1.1
        27 September 2018 at 10:23 am

        Pulling their ponytails is just horseplay though.

        • Jimmy 8.1.1.1
          27 September 2018 at 1:04 pm

          It doesn’t leave bruises normally, but having said that, any unwanted attention should not be condoned

      • ankerawshark 8.1.2
        27 September 2018 at 10:44 am

        for once I agree with you BM.

      • AB 8.1.3
        27 September 2018 at 11:05 am

        “Manhandling staff is never acceptable under any circumstances”

        Totally agree BM. Nor is shouting, abuse, put-downs (especially in front of others), deliberate overwork, finding fault where none exists and a host of other things that go on. Serious democratisation of our workplaces is long overdue.
        I’m hoping that Whaitiri can be quietly persuaded not to stand again, and if she can’t be so persuaded, then de-selected.

      • Rapunzel 8.1.4
        27 September 2018 at 11:59 am

        Neither is the type of undermining but more subtle bullying practised every day in NZ, the fact is that often this is not obvious to others but may well have longer and more detrimental effects on people and their lives.

      • halfcrown 8.1.5
        27 September 2018 at 12:38 pm

        +1

    • Tuppence Shrewsbury 8.2
      27 September 2018 at 10:29 am

      that’s not a body positive image Anne. Meka can’t control her physique and for your to comment that she looks “physically strong” i.e. mannish, won’t help her self esteem at this present juncture.

      Besides, Violence is never ok. whether you realise your strength or not

      • arkie 8.2.1
        27 September 2018 at 10:35 am

        GTFO. You created this connection between physical strength and ‘mannish’ with your comment. Disingenuous.

        • Tuppence Shrewsbury 8.2.1.1
          27 September 2018 at 10:37 am

          I didn’t comment on Meka’s physical appearance until Anne decided to point it out as a mysterious way of justifying an assault. I don’t think appearances should matter. But calling a female physically strong is a particularly back handed compliment and a put down

          • arkie 8.2.1.1.1
            27 September 2018 at 10:43 am

            Strength is not appearance, you egg, your faux feminism is obvious. You have fabricated this ‘put down’ and should be ejected for your Bad Faith.

            • Tuppence Shrewsbury 8.2.1.1.1.1
              27 September 2018 at 11:33 am

              “She looks a physically strong person” – Anne @ comment 8

              Subtle and judgemental that comment

              • marty mars …
                27 September 2018 at 12:14 pm

                Rubbish. What a dim lol.

                • In Vino …
                  27 September 2018 at 7:11 pm

                  BM and Tuppence are both unwelcome right-wing trolls who are hypocritically and cynically beating us lefties with our own anti-violence idealism, and probably chortling as they do it. BM’s own violent language is a dead giveaway (see at 12.1 – BM wants her brutally ‘kicked down’… so this rubbish he is pushing here has the smack of ‘Stamp out Violence’ about it.) The tuppenny shrew is also false: Anne is quite right to accuse him of sanctimony in his obvious over-concern for Whaitiri’s self-esteem. Tuppenny is the only one to have equated strength with mannish, in a slur of his own making. not Anne’s.
                  Treat these two trolls with contempt.

                  • marty mars …
                    27 September 2018 at 8:56 pm

                    Yeah tippy is a wanker, bm I have a small amount of time for cos we have some connection via our Māori blood and all that. We are opposite in view on just about everything but I do think he’s a real person and he certainly is internally consistent in his views. Plus unusually for a rightie he has a sense of humour. He is funny to rile and he gives as good as he gets although he’s behind the 8 ball with old muttonbird at the mo. Not sure how he’s going to get away from that michelle one now – it’s pretty clever and funny imo.

                  • marty mars …
                    27 September 2018 at 10:41 pm

                    I may have to retract my nice bm comments – he’s gone rouge- outer control- lost it – funny coloured cheeks – it’s not good.

          • the other pat 8.2.1.1.2
            28 September 2018 at 9:32 am

            shouldn’t you go back to your home under the bridge?….since when calling a woman strong a negative??….if you said that Helen Clarke she’d probably say thank you.

      • Anne 8.2.2
        27 September 2018 at 10:50 am

        Don’t you put your seedy, below the belt interpretations on to my words TS @ 8.2. I did not – and never would – suggest any woman was “mannish”. How low are these rwnj creeps prepared to go?

        • arkie 8.2.2.1
          27 September 2018 at 11:03 am

          There is no bottom to their barrel

          • chris73 8.2.2.1.1
            27 September 2018 at 11:15 am

            You do get this a thread about a Labour minister that grabs her staff hard enough to leave bruises and has a office where it could be described as bullying and/or toxic and has been stood down by Jacinda and given all that you still have people trying to defend her

            • ianmac 8.2.2.1.1.1
              27 September 2018 at 3:44 pm

              Was anyone here defending her alleged actions?

              • chris73 …
                27 September 2018 at 4:37 pm

                Certainly plenty of people in the “National did it” camp and others in the “victim was also to blame” camp

                • In Vino …
                  27 September 2018 at 7:35 pm

                  Oh, give it up chris73. You are scraping the non-existent bottom of your bottomless barrel. No traction out of this: it will all bounce off Jacinda’s popularity just as all the worse and more serious National scandals of the past simply bounced off Key’s Teflon coat. In fact, Jacinda is probably developing more and better Teflon than Key ever had. Get used to it.

        • Tuppence Shrewsbruy 8.2.2.2
          27 September 2018 at 11:36 am

          Don’t comment on others appearances in pejorative terms. You do it all the time. It’s offensive to many.

          • Anne 8.2.2.2.1
            27 September 2018 at 12:58 pm

            You’re a creep from way back tuppenny bit. And I’m not afraid to call out your types any time any place.

            • Tuppence Shrewsbury 8.2.2.2.1.1
              27 September 2018 at 1:02 pm

              At least I don’t make racist and pejorative comments based on someone’s appearance. If that makes me a crew so be it. I’ll keep calling you out as long as you persist

              • Muttonbird …
                27 September 2018 at 3:46 pm

                I’m sure you’ve dabbled in a bit of common or garden Maori-bashing in your time.

                It’s in your blood.

          • greywarshark 8.2.2.2.2
            27 September 2018 at 2:47 pm

            Let them speak for themselves troll. And change your name please I used to like Shrewsbury biscuits. Pity they can’t sue you for damaging their brand.

            • Jilly Bee 8.2.2.2.2.1
              27 September 2018 at 3:10 pm

              Ha, ha – my thoughts too greywarshark – my partner is from Shrewsbury, a beautiful town in the county of Shropshire, which I’ve had the opportunity to visit several years ago. Said partner would be unhappy, to say the least, to read Tuppence’s utterings.

              • greywarshark …
                27 September 2018 at 3:50 pm

                Hi Jilly Bee
                I have just realised that Ellis Peters / Pargeter’s books were set around Shrewsbury. I have read most of them. and have formed an affection for the place though I haven’t been there.

                • Jilly Bee …
                  27 September 2018 at 7:36 pm

                  Yes, the Brother Cadfael series of books were a good read and are in our bookshelf – the TV series starring Derek Jacobi as Bro Cadfael is a good watch too. My partner was very involved in the life of the Abbey (where the Bro Cadfael series was based) and learned to play the pipe organ there as a thirteen-year-old – several years ago now. By the way, I’m most surely not TS’s Gillian love of her life – sheesh.

              • Tuppence Shrewsbury …
                27 September 2018 at 4:42 pm

                Gillian? Is that you my love?

      • Gabby 8.2.3
        27 September 2018 at 1:03 pm

        What’s i.e. mannish about physically strong tuppers?

    • veutoviper 8.3
      27 September 2018 at 11:34 am

      Having worked with Meka I did two comments on the earlier post in late August. I enjoyed working with her, but some other work colleagues did not. She can be a polarising person.

      I will probably get slammed for the following even though I too am a woman, but as I noted in my earlier comments, physically Meka is tall (c 6 ft?) and well built. In her younger years, she was selected as a national representative for softball and netball, including being selected by the Silver Ferns as a reserve player. My understanding is that she continues to play a lot of sport and continue her association with netball and softball organisations.

      I recall that she preferred to talk standing up or walking around, is very direct in what she says, and often made hand movements when talking. So physically she is quite imposing when standing and talking face to face. I also recall that she tended to step into your space without realising it. On a couple of occasions I pointed this out to her, and she was embarrassed and apologised profusely. I have wondered whether that was indirect result of the close proximity that netball is played in defending and attacking, particularly around the hoop area.

      Anyway, I am sad that it has come to this. She very much seems to have the support of her Ikaroa-Rawhiti electorate – and for good reason in view of her background. Any idea of deselecting her for the Ikaroa-Rawhiti seat would likely carry with it considerable problems and risks in view of her popularity and mana within the electorate as I outlined in this comment last week.

      https://thestandard.org.nz/meka-had-to-go/#comment-1527384

      • marty mars 8.3.1
        27 September 2018 at 12:18 pm

        Thank you for some facts. This is sad for all concerned. Once again I state that I hope healing can come from this but I suspect it is now just another weaponisation to attack people.

      • Macro 8.3.2
        27 September 2018 at 12:34 pm

        I too echo Marty’s comment. Thanks for that very insightful comment Vv.

      • Sacha 8.3.3
        27 September 2018 at 12:41 pm

        ” I also recall that she tended to step into your space without realising it. ”

        Interesting. An aspie tendency perhaps?

      • Anne 8.3.4
        27 September 2018 at 1:13 pm

        My thanks too veutoviper. Your experiences of her fit nicely with my brief comment @ 8. She is tall and strong and not always aware of her own strength.

        I wouldn’t want to bump into any of the burly ABs. They would likely knock me over and out – unintentionally.

      • McFlock 8.3.5
        27 September 2018 at 3:08 pm

        Taking all that in the best possible frame, it still means that she hasn’t moderated her behaviour to suit the circumstances, which is an essential skill for a senior functionary like a minister.

        I’ve worked venue security, and I work in offices. I sure as shit don’t act the same way in each role. My vocab is different, my stance and posture are different, and I even try to moderate my “resting bitch face” (quite a useful feature for a bouncer lol).

        Even if she isn’t consciously a bully, she still lacks essential skills to act as a minister.

        • veutoviper 8.3.5.1
          27 September 2018 at 4:40 pm

          I have been very careful in all of my comments to state on each occasion that my experience which was good, was not necessarily that of all of our mutual work colleagues, and that she tended to polarise people.

          But for goodness sake, a lot of people here have not bothered to look at her longterm career history which has covered many years of working in and close to Parliament well before she became an MP, plus head of a number of large organisations. I summarised her career history in the link at the bottom of 8.3 above.

          She knows the role etc of MP and Minister far better than anyone here – apart from maybe Wayne, LOL.

          As for the staff turnover claims in her time as a Minister, I have been meaning to find the time to summarise what happens when a government changes and the upheaval that occurs with Parliamentary Service staff and Ministerial Services staff being assigned hither and thither to new MPs, new Ministers etc with some staff leaving and other new staff being brought in. It is all like a lolly scramble for months with turnover common as positions and relationships are sorted or changed.

          There are also many more MPs and Ministers on both sides of the House that have records of high staff turnover. But things are nothing like a certain person here tried to portray it in a recent post here which was an exaggeration to say the leas, from my experience of doing quite a number of secondments to work in Parliament over several decades, with most of my other employment in the last 20+ years of my career still working closely with Ministers’ offices, Select Committees etc on a very regular basis.

          • Ngungukai 8.3.5.1.1
            27 September 2018 at 4:47 pm

            + 100% good insight, sounds like Meka is getting the rough end of the pineapple ?

          • McFlock 8.3.5.1.2
            27 September 2018 at 4:56 pm

            If she’d had the skills to be a minister, she wouldn’t have been fired.

            • greywarshark 8.3.5.1.2.1
              27 September 2018 at 5:25 pm

              But McFlock there seem so many skills required to be a Minister, and no one could have them all. Having a thick hide seems to be one, and keeping on track to your goal as a people server and handling nation’s resources well. Being pushy and assertive may be another, and also whether you serve Labour or the left, or National with its entitled bunch, would be an important factor.

              • McFlock …
                27 September 2018 at 5:49 pm

                There are four million people in the country, surely we can find suitable folk for a couple of dozen cabinet posts?

                Some positions should require exceptional abilities.

          • RedLogix 8.3.5.1.3
            27 September 2018 at 7:58 pm

            Thank you for your informed comments veutoviper. Very helpful.

            Elsewhere I’ve expressed my own views on bullying and why it’s such a difficult topic to deal with. One thing that was obvious to me decades ago, was that like so many ill-defined ‘ism words, bullying is a term with very plastic boundaries that get stretched for all sorts of undeserving purposes.

            In my mind bullying has some very clear features that mark it out as pre-meditated, sustained, undermining and malevolent. It’s not clear on the public evidence I’ve seen that Meka’s actions have passed over that threshold. To me this looks like a hijacking of the bullying word.

            While on the face of it Adern has followed due process and probably done the right thing here; why am I left with a lingering discomfort over all of this?

            • Anne 8.3.5.1.3.1
              27 September 2018 at 9:12 pm

              In my mind bullying has some very clear features that mark it out as pre-meditated, sustained, undermining and malevolent.

              So true Redlogix, as anyone who has been on the receiving end of a real bully would know.

              To my mind Meka Whaitiri is more guilty of a spontaneous loss of temper towards her staffer rather than a premeditated attack on her. Yes she was wrong, and Jacinda was right to remove her ministerial responsibilities. Meka [maybe] needs to attend an anger management course.

      • ianmac 8.3.6
        27 September 2018 at 3:46 pm

        Helpful thanks Veuto.

    • SHG 8.4
      27 September 2018 at 3:39 pm

      It seems to me that Meka Whaitiri is not aware of her own strength. She looks a physically strong person. When most of us take someone’s arm firmly (and we’ve all been in that situation) we don’t leave a bruise.

      I know, and did you see what the staffer was wearing? I bet she was just begging to be grabbed

      • Anne 8.4.1
        27 September 2018 at 3:49 pm

        ??
        Oh dear. Can’t make a straight forward observation without the RW numpties turning up with crackpot innuendo.

      • greywarshark 8.4.2
        27 September 2018 at 5:27 pm

        You forgot SHG to put /sarc so that we know you are not intending to take the subject of this post off the track.

  9. Grantoc 9
    27 September 2018 at 10:11 am

    Low level or not, the problem is more to do with perception. Labour likes to claim the moral high ground when it comes to bullying type behaviour; especially when its directed by bosses towards employees.

    In addition Ardern talks about being ‘kind’ in politics. Although another motherhood and apple pie statement from her and in the real world will never happen, it once more points to Labour attempting to claim the high ground in these matters.

    Whatever the actual facts of the matter are, and no matter how low level the event rates – the minister’s actions at the very least demonstrate that Labour and the PM’s comments on bullying et al are mere hand ringing puffery.

    Willie Jackson’s absurd comments about being behind the minister all the way, even though, until now he, presumably. had not read the report simply reinforces this perception.

    Its not about the scale of the event; its about Labour’s hypocrisy when it comes to protecting their minister rather than the well being of the minister’s employee.

    • the other pat 9.1
      28 September 2018 at 9:41 am

      ” In addition Ardern talks about being ‘kind’ in politics. Although another motherhood and apple pie statement from her and in the real world will never happen, it once more points to Labour attempting to claim the high ground in these matters.”

      i think our p.M is onto it using words like kindness….its surely lacking and in this world shows her courage rather than a lack of judgement….a protagonist or bully what have you gets no traction or joy if the result they get is genuine kindness…. any other reaction is more of a reflection of the other persons “problems”.
      i say roll on kindness… expaand and take over….then we WILL get some meaningful shit done!

  10. John 10
    27 September 2018 at 10:20 am

    I don’t like the way this alleged assault is being minimised and compared to the Mallard and Brownlie cases.
    The big difference here is that this alleged assault is by a person who wields power over a worker and is in the context of a minister’s office that has had a very high turnover of staff.
    Labour is a workers’ party and should walk the talk here.

    • marty mars 10.1
      27 September 2018 at 10:28 am

      + 1 John. Good points.

    • Jimmy 10.2
      27 September 2018 at 10:37 am

      I agree

    • chris73 10.3
      27 September 2018 at 10:40 am

      Thats a good point. The victim probably doesn’t want to speak up because shes probably worried she won’t get another position

      Whats really sad is that is was all over a missed photo op, I mean nothing excuses what Mega Fightery has done but something as trivial as a photo op…

      • Anne 10.3.1
        27 September 2018 at 1:27 pm

        The event did take place in her electorate chris73. She had every reason to expect to be in that photo op.

        Fault lies with both of them. The staffer for not doing her job and advising Meka of the photo op. Meka Whaitiri for handling it badly.

        • chris73 10.3.1.1
          27 September 2018 at 1:44 pm

          The victim is not to blame for being manhandled by the minister

          • Anne 10.3.1.1.1
            27 September 2018 at 1:49 pm

            The minister is not to blame if the staffer didn’t do what she is there for – that is, keep her minister informed.

            The staffer is not to blame if the minister overreacts to her mistake.

            Reckon you can figure it out now numpty?

            • chris73 10.3.1.1.1.1
              27 September 2018 at 2:28 pm

              The difference is Meka can fire the staffer any time she likes whereas Meka looks like shes being protected

              Take your ideological glasses off and you might see the power imbalance thats going on

              • McFlock …
                27 September 2018 at 3:10 pm

                What more can Ardern do to punish Whaitiri?

                She can’t fire an electorate MP, can she?

                • chris73 …
                  27 September 2018 at 3:16 pm

                  Does she have any other responsibilities or is she just a back-bencher?

                  • McFlock …
                    27 September 2018 at 3:19 pm

                    I believe she’s still the head of a sub-caucus group that Ardern doesn’t control dictatorially.

                    So what more can Ardern do to punish Whaitiri?

                    • chris73 …
                      27 September 2018 at 3:30 pm

                      Jacinda needs to apologize to the victim for taking so long over what should have been a rather strait forward course action plus the victim needs to be moved to a more professional and supportive team, at the very least

                    • McFlock …
                      27 September 2018 at 3:50 pm

                      🙄

                      so how does any of that relate to “Meka looks like shes being protected”?

                      The minister was stood down quickly and a thorough investigation made when the allegations were made, and the minister was then fired before the report was formally concluded.

                    • Anne …
                      27 September 2018 at 3:57 pm

                      So chris 73. you believe a person should be hung, drawn and quartered first, and then have a trial or an inquiry? What if they’re found to be innocent? That’s their tough luck?

                      Sounds about right from a one-eyed right winger.

              • greywarshark …
                27 September 2018 at 5:29 pm

                Do you know whereof you speak Chris 73. Can you advise from your own knowledge that Ms Whaitiri can fire and hire as she likes?

  11. Tuppence Shrewsbury 11
    27 September 2018 at 10:30 am

    So Mickey, the leak about the act is the real issue for labour here is what your post is reads to me

  12. Ngungukai 12
    27 September 2018 at 10:49 am

    Sounds like one big Natzi/MSM beat up, Meka obviously grabbed a staff member by the arm firmly and she got a bruise – big deal, obviously this has been blown out of proportion to create maximum political fall out for Labour & Jacinda ?

    Should have been handled diplomatically within the Department ?

    If it was a serious assault there would have been charges laid, likewise you are not supposed to touch other staff members ?

    Very similar situation to National’s serial pony tail puller from Parnell ?

    • BM 12.1
      27 September 2018 at 10:54 am

      You don’t manhandle your staff ever, you fuck wit.

      If you can’t control your temper and resort to intimidation and violence you shouldn’t be in a work environment and especially in a position of power.

      Whaitiri needs to be kicked down to the back benches and basically told she has no future as a politician.

    • Enough is Enough 12.2
      27 September 2018 at 11:07 am

      Did you think it was acceptable for John Key to pull her pony tail?

    • Pete 12.3
      27 September 2018 at 3:04 pm

      Meka did not ‘obviously’ grab a staff member by the arm. Nor did she ‘obviously’ cause a bruise.

      Apparently Whaitiri denies grabbing the staff member. Bruises? If someone is bruised is the cause automatically what and how the bruised one claims?

      The contentions made in the your comment about Meka Whaitiri assume that statements made by ‘victims’ are automatically right and totally right. The inference from them is that Ms Whaitiri has motivation to not tell the truth but the staff member automatically doesn’t.

      I am sure everyone reading here knows of cases where accusations have been made which are false or of situations where events have been embellished or overstated. Human nature is what it is and the intricacies of motivation very nuanced.

      I am not accusing the worker of anything but I am not planning an automatic public flogging for the MP either.

      • McFlock 12.3.1
        27 September 2018 at 3:12 pm

        Except Ardern felt that the uncontested details were enough to fire Whaitiri.

        I’m cool with that.

    • the other pat 12.4
      28 September 2018 at 9:59 am

      i see where you are coming from but would add that its certainly a bloody big deal for the person being “handled”

  13. Enough is Enough 13
    27 September 2018 at 10:52 am

    “That way they will keep the story in the news cycle for another day”

    Umm yes. And so it should be in the news cycle. This is not the type of story that should be kept quiet.

    Anyone who wants to stamp out work place bullying should be wanting this story front and centre of the news cycle.

    And you seem to be saying low level assault from a Minister is fine?? What the actual fuck.

    This is a good leak which should be applauded. It is certainly not dirty politics.

  14. Wayne 14
    27 September 2018 at 10:54 am

    As an issue of political management why was this post even made? If you want a debate on an MP assault of a staff member (which must be just about unprecedented) that is what you would do, but why?

    A bit ridiculous to go on about leakers? Let’s say it was from people close to the victim, how do you pursue it except by revictimising the victim.

    The PM should have dealt with this by her own office (chief of staff). It is how other PM’s operated, including Helen Clark. No need for a formal report as such. The result would be the same, but it would all be “in house”.

    The PM needs to up her game on political management. Since she is a fast learner presumably she will. But Standardnistas need to stop pretending all is right with the world and that there is nothing to see here.

    • mickysavage 14.1
      27 September 2018 at 11:13 am

      We are not engaged in political management!

      • Wayne 14.1.1
        27 September 2018 at 12:31 pm

        Hmm, that surely is correct in the outcome. Except the opening sentence of your post is all about the Nats dirty tricks. Seriously?

    • Kat 14.2
      27 September 2018 at 12:43 pm

      You obviously don’t accept the statement “It must be acknowledged that Whaitiri continues to maintain that she had not touched the complainant.” At this stage is is only alleged that Whaitiri assaulted the complainant. That the PM has already announced that there will be a release of a public report once what actually happened had been determined shows Jacinda Ardern is true to her word to let natural justice take it course. Your criticism and accusation of political mismanagement is just more mud slinging and a veiled attempt to distract from the PM’s successes abroad which is in line with the National opposition tactics at present. The leaking of the report has nothing to do with shining any sunlight or seeing justice being done and is more about the insidious point scoring and gotcha political game that is being indulged in by National and its sycophantic poodles in the media. Time National cleaned the decades of dust, cobwebs and skeletons out of its tiny ideas closet and enter the 21st century.

      • Ngungukai 14.2.1
        27 September 2018 at 12:49 pm

        Natzi’s still following the Crosby Textor Hand book, “perpetuate a lie and it will become a fact”, especially if Meka Whaitiri maintains she had not touched the complainant ?

        These are serious allegations and attempts at character assasination being levelled by the complainant and Amy Adams.

      • Wayne 14.2.2
        27 September 2018 at 1:33 pm

        Kat

        I would not even have commented on the issue at all, except for this rather bizarre post by mickysavage. It just baffled me why he would do this, with his attempt to try and deflect the blame onto National through his first sentence. If anyone was trying to deflect from the PM’s success in NY, this post by micky was going to do it.

        In any event it seems pretty clear that the PM accepted the complainants version, as did the investigator.

        But as I noted, my surprise, and the reason for my comment, is why micky thought that this post was actually a good idea.

        • marty mars 14.2.2.1
          27 September 2018 at 1:37 pm

          Do you accept that the information and conclusions from hager’s dirty politics book are true?

        • Muttonbird 14.2.2.2
          27 September 2018 at 1:43 pm

          I the leak came from the complainant as you suggest above it would be interesting to know what “support” the National Party was giving the complainant at the time…

          This week we’ve been alerted that National Party aligned Michelle Boag is conveniently giving “support” to Derek Handley…

          …and I’m also wondering what “support” Chris Bishop of the National Party is giving Wally Haumaha right at the moment.

        • Kat 14.2.2.3
          27 September 2018 at 1:49 pm

          Wayne, why mention that the PM needs to up her political management game if all you were doing was questioning the rationale for this “bizarre” blog post. You were directly besmirching the managerial competence of the coalition leadership which seems to be de rigueur for National and its supporters at present. As Mickey commented the Standard is not in the business of political management. The Standard can however give opinions and invite comment on various topics, one of which is leaking and the continuation of dirty politics by the National opposition.

          • Wayne 14.2.2.3.1
            27 September 2018 at 1:55 pm

            “Dirty politics” in relation to this issue? How?

            It seems wholly to be in the Ministers domain.

            This whole item by micky seems to be one of those occasions where you can try too hard to help your own team!

            • Kat 14.2.2.3.1.1
              27 September 2018 at 3:09 pm

              Of course, how silly to even mention Dirty Politics, the National opposition would never dream of character assassination and had nothing to do with leaking the report and they are so tight lipped on Meka Whaitiri their lips are turning blue.

  15. Jum 15
    27 September 2018 at 10:59 am

    I’ve just finished reading Nicky Hager’s book based on an informant’s knowledge of dirty politics.
    I suggest everyone in Labour reads it, again and again and again and recognises that the slugs are back.
    They profile every MP they want to politically maim and look for items they can use to set up the MP – truth has little to do with that.
    Look at Helen Clark who wanted to help Maori and Pacifica and yet the nat slug dark web supporters turned that public good into something bad by suggesting she was denying everyone else.
    They are vicious and vitriolic and they will stop at nothing to bring down the Labour Government.
    Every OI request will have come from leaks to national and with every question in parliament the nats ask they will already know the answer.
    On a grimmer note, if they can’t find a fact they will invent a faction and keep repeating it. Sadly, New Zealanders find it hard to spot real cunning and the theft of democracy from under their noses.
    With the ongoing high vote count for national (if it really is true) the truth is that national supporters have little moral sense or integrity to continue voting for a party that clearly has no bottom line for grubby politics.
    I suggest government supporters check the campaign organisers and backers of every mp in parliament and then question their loyalty to all the people of New Zealand. Then question the media on their loyalty to present unbiased reporting. When media is scared by the dark web, that can only have a bad ending for New Zealanders and a democratic future.

    • Ngungukai 15.1
      27 September 2018 at 11:07 am

      + 100% the dark web of NZ Politics ?

    • chris73 15.2
      27 September 2018 at 11:24 am

      I suppose one way to stop the, alleged, dirty tricks is to maybe not bully your staff in the first place

      • Ngungukai 15.2.1
        27 September 2018 at 11:32 am

        Fair comment

      • Jum 15.2.2
        27 September 2018 at 11:54 am

        the dirty trick may have been to place the minister in a position where she had to move the person aside.
        I don’t know.
        I don’t subscribe to womanhandling.
        What I do know is that there are people that have no moral conscience. If past form suggests Meka was a hands on person, in a different sort of place to parliament, that will have been profiled by the immoral and the greedy for their immoral purposes, i.e. little care for either the minister or the staffer, or for the original circumstances being profiled, just the endgame.
        Example – Len Brown and his affair – no care about the people involved, like his wife, woman pressured to give up details and lied to about their dissemination, just to get rid of a Mayor and install a, to me, corrupt replacement. Corrupt behaviour, to me, is using a person for self-aggrandisement the final endgame being the gain for national and its plans for Auckland. Dodgy tricks from the party and web of dark tricks.
        New Zealand is becoming a darker place because of greed and lusx for power.

        • Ngungukai 15.2.2.1
          27 September 2018 at 12:00 pm

          Interesting senario, so Meka could have been set up, as National knew one of her weaknesses ?

        • chris73 15.2.2.2
          27 September 2018 at 12:03 pm

          ” If past form suggests Meka was a hands on person, in a different sort of place to parliament, that will have been profiled by the immoral and the greedy for their immoral purposes”

          If Meka is a “hands on” person then sthats on Labour for selecting her…unless it was a National plant that selected her!

          • Jum 15.2.2.2.1
            27 September 2018 at 12:19 pm

            Wikipedia – Whaitiri was born in Manutuke near Gisborne[1] in 1965,[2] and brought up in the Hastings suburb of Whakatu by a whānau of mostly freezing workers. She has affiliation to Rongowhakaata and Ngāti Kahungunu.[3] At Karamu High School, she was head girl.[1]

            She first worked at a freezing works herself before obtaining a master’s degree in education from Victoria University of Wellington. In both softball and netball, she competed to national level.[3] She was selected by the Silver Ferns as a non-travelling reserve player.[4][5] Her first professional job was for Parekura Horomia, who made her wait eight hours before he saw her, but then hired her immediately for the Department of Labour.[6]

            Like I said chris73 – hands on. Without ‘hands on’ you can’t catch the ball – duh!
            Freezing works – hardly a sewing bee – duh, again!

            Meka Whaitiri has real grit. But now she’s in parliament she has to learn that it’s all about the underbelly of greed that operates there and the constant attacks on any attempts at bringing social well-being to all NZers and public good projects that benefit all NZers. The underbelly uses stealth and makes stuff up. There is no honesty or openness in the nats agenda for power.

            I have to ask chris73 – you’re telling me that national planted her in Labour? Wow. Did the dark web tell you that, or did you make it up?

            PS Obviously, with nat supporters making stuff up, Labour needs a wiki person to check daily that the dark web has not added dirty politics to any Government MP’s writeup.

            • chris73 15.2.2.2.1.1
              27 September 2018 at 12:28 pm

              ‘But now she’s in parliament she has to learn that it’s all about the underbelly of greed that operates there and the constant attacks on any attempts at bring social well-being to all NZers and public good projects that benefit all NZers.’

              She has to learn not to bully and harass her staff

              Not interested in the deep web (its on youtube it must be true)

              https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L7JQ6tr_izE

            • Ngungukai 15.2.2.2.1.2
              27 September 2018 at 12:30 pm

              Good background information Jum, obviously Meka was frustrated with her staff that day and perhaps over stepped the mark. She appears to be a sound high achieving person rather than the local rat bag.

              The Natzi’s are having a feeding frenzy on this one, Amy Adam’s from the Adam’s Family sowing the seeds in Parliament the other day.

              The Natzi’s are really clutching at straws these days.

              • Sacha …
                27 September 2018 at 12:33 pm

                “Meka was frustrated with her staff that day and perhaps over stepped the mark. She appears to be a sound high achieving person”

                Who has turned over her entire office staff so far. Seems relevant when deciding if you trust her in such an important role.

                • Jum …
                  27 September 2018 at 1:14 pm

                  Is high turnover of staff, possibly because they didn’t have the same lofty goals as Whaitiri for New Zealanders, but rather still chanting the mantra of the greedy supporters of national, somehow worse than Nick Smith trashing a 34 page impact report from at least one (thank goodness) public servant who cared for the truth on the Ruataniwha Dam and demanding and getting a two paragraph whitewash of the project.

                  Does the 34 page report exist anymore?
                  Who wrote both reports. Was it the same person, who must have been given a harsh lesson in doing as you are told or by another less moral person happy to fulfil Nick’s Dream.

                  • Sacha …
                    27 September 2018 at 1:17 pm

                    They must all have been lesser mortals, it’s the only explanation that fits the sainthood.

                    • Jum …
                      27 September 2018 at 3:35 pm

                      What sainthood? Of Saint Nick? I think I’d cancel Christmas if I thought that that creature was coming down the chimney!

              • greywarshark …
                27 September 2018 at 3:18 pm

                I wonder what the employment situation is now? I can’t see Ms Whaitiri liking working with someone who, doesn’t work hard at her job, is ignorant of important factors like image and media placement, and who has a grievance about her boss which has been well aired. How can she be a trustworthy colleague after that.

                What options has Ms Whaitiri got to change her press secretary?
                Divorce on the grounds of incompatability?

                I can remember Steve Maharey’s difficulties when working with Christine wotsisname. He didn’t like her approach to the job, found it difficult to work with her, felt that her approach was wrong for the gravity of the job as head of social welfare. She didn’t get reappointment when her contract finished and went the government for nearly a million, which she didn’t get.

                http://www.jobsletter.org.nz/pdf/jbl149.pdf
                From a Jobs Letter Report. (Wonderful informative Jobs Letter!)
                The State Services Commissioner exercised “pastoral care” over his chief executives … which led to the expectation that CEO contracts would be renewed if their performance was satisfactory.
                — This expectation runs contrary to what the contracts actually say. Christine Rankin’s fixed-term three-year contract as CEO contained no written expectation of re-appointment.
                — Rankin’s claim for damages will hinge on whether State Services Commissioner Michael Wintringham was transparent with her about the government’s attitude to her future employment.

                • Sacha …
                  27 September 2018 at 3:57 pm

                  The press secretary will already be working for somebody else.

                • veutoviper …
                  28 September 2018 at 10:37 am

                  Along the lines of what Sacha said, the press officer may already be working for someone else, or may be on leave for the moment.

                  The person was obviously employed by Ministerial Services, hence the investigation etc being undertaken by MS as an employment matter.

                  That person and those in many other positions in a Minister’s office are not employed directly by the Minister. Most are positions filled by staff employed by Ministerial Services (part of the Dept of Internal Affairs).

                  Other positions are filled by staff seconded from the Ministries or Departments that the Minister is responsible for as part of the Minister’s portfolio(s).

                  Yet other positions of a direct political nature in relation to the Minister’s political party are employed through separate funding/employment arrangements.

  16. Gosman 16
    27 September 2018 at 11:50 am

    Mallard’s involved an altercation with another MP not an employee. There is a significant difference there.

    • Jum 16.1
      27 September 2018 at 11:56 am

      John key and his pony tail pulling technical or otherwise assault involved no damage to him at all. He should have been sacked. Just shows what side the media is on – the morally challenged.

  17. Sacha 17
    27 September 2018 at 12:31 pm

    “Whaitiri continues to maintain that she had not touched the complainant.”

    Which would have been enough reason for the PM to fire her, where evidence reasonably shows otherwise. Cabinet Minister is a high-trust role.

    • Jum 17.1
      27 September 2018 at 12:53 pm

      So how did Judith Collins get and keep her job back when? ‘The – if they don’t love me then let them fear me – crap.

      The current ‘handling’ of Meka Whaitiri is the outcome fair to all, until all evidence is sifted and the profiles of both mp and staffer examined.
      Every Labour MP needs to support the PM in this.

      If there is any truth to the accusation, then Whaitiri should have immediately apologised to the staffer and offered to work with the staffer to get a healthier relationship going, and could do that still. NZers require that of the people they pay to work on their behalf – working together.

      • Sacha 17.1.1
        27 September 2018 at 12:56 pm

        There is no further sifting to be done. The decision has been made based on the evidence available to the PM.

        • Jum 17.1.1.1
          27 September 2018 at 2:25 pm

          Jum 17.1
          27 September 2018 at 12:53 pm

          So how did Judith Collins get and keep her job back when? ‘The – if they don’t love me then let them fear me – crap.

          • Sacha 17.1.1.1.1
            27 September 2018 at 2:29 pm

            Eh? There is no common process here. The current PM and the past one just have different standards.

    • greywarshark 17.2
      27 September 2018 at 3:24 pm

      @Sacha
      What evidence have you?

      • Sacha 17.2.1
        27 September 2018 at 3:54 pm

        What has already been reported about the leaked report tells us what the PM would have had available when making her decision – including photos and an assessment of their meaning.

    • SHG 17.3
      27 September 2018 at 3:44 pm

      “Whaitiri continues to maintain that she had not touched the complainant.”

      Given the linguistic knots into which current Labour leadership are happy to tie themselves in order to mislead without literally lying, I presume Whaitiri has been reminded that she actually grabbed the staffer’s SHIRT, not the complainant body which lay beneath the fabric.

      • Sacha 17.3.1
        27 September 2018 at 3:55 pm

        Hard to bruise a shirt.

        • SHG 17.3.1.1
          27 September 2018 at 4:08 pm

          “Hard to bruise a shirt.”

          Exactly. And if there are bruises on the complainant, they were made by a shirt. Not by Whaitiri. Because Whaitiri did not literally touch the defendant’s body.

      • McFlock 17.3.2
        27 September 2018 at 3:59 pm

        linguistic knots into which current Labour leadership are happy to tie themselves in order to mislead without literally lying

        I ran that through a tory->:english translation engine and it came back with:

        Labour tell the truth, but they use big words I do not understand and instead of looking them up I just assume that they mean what I want them to mean and then feel lied to and a little bit silly when people explain that Labour actually told the truth.

  18. Jum 18
    27 September 2018 at 12:47 pm

    Meka Whaitiri was getting on with the animal welfare portfolio and now what’s happening to it?

    With her background, via the freezing works, she would have known how animals and the people that have to end their lives treated them and were in turn treated by company owners.

    With so much evidence coming through now of people’s need to see the animals, that provide food for their tables, treated humanely, there’ll be a halt to ongoing improvements in that area because of the halt to Whaitiri’s work.

    That is reason enough for me to have even more contempt for the crap that is now the opposition, because of their dodgy politics, uncovered through Hager’s book.

    He needs to republish.

  19. infused 19
    27 September 2018 at 1:15 pm

    It’s pretty funny reading the comments here over the last few weeks.

    When anything ever comes up of significances, it’s:

    “NATIONAL DID IT TOO, AND IT WAS WORSE”

    jesus christ.

    • Anne 19.1
      27 September 2018 at 1:41 pm

      Didn’t Gerry Brownlee push someone down some stairs? Don’t recall him having his portfolios taken away from him. Don’t recall the media going into a mega frenzy about it either. Oh, and he was a big strong person too but hey… that’s ok because he was a man.

      There’s been a few fisticuffs on both sides of the chamber over the decades – all of them men. But don’t think any of them were demoted in the process, but someone can correct me if I’m wrong.

      • chris73 19.1.1
        27 September 2018 at 2:34 pm

        “Oh, and he was a big strong person too but hey… that’s ok because he was a man.”

        Also it wasn’t someone that he could fire at any time

        “There’s been a few fisticuffs on both sides of the chamber over the decades – all of them men. But don’t think any of them were demoted in the process, but someone can correct me if I’m wrong.”

        MPs are at least on the power level, staffers not so much but who cares them eh Anne

      • SHG 19.1.2
        27 September 2018 at 4:06 pm

        “Didn’t Gerry Brownlee push someone down some stairs? Don’t recall him having his portfolios taken away from him. Don’t recall the media going into a mega frenzy about it either. Oh, and he was a big strong person too but hey… that’s ok because he was a man.”

        Literally ON THIS VERY PAGE you imply that Whaitiri may not be responsible for hurting the staffer because

        “It seems to me that Meka Whaitiri is not aware of her own strength. She looks a physically strong person. ”

        Jesus, your cognitivedissonanceometer must be redlining

    • McFlock 19.2
      27 September 2018 at 3:17 pm

      Understandable, given your crowd’s sudden concern for worker safety.

      But we are all judged by the least of our political allies, I guess.

      • Muttonbird 19.2.1
        27 September 2018 at 3:21 pm

        Yeah, I laughed hard when one of them brought up power imbalance earlier. Must be a very new concept for them!

        • chris73 19.2.1.1
          27 September 2018 at 3:34 pm

          I suppose laughing over right wingers is preferable to worrying over the bullying culture in Labour

          • Muttonbird 19.2.1.1.1
            27 September 2018 at 3:39 pm

            National have a history of bullying the vulnerable.

            Bene-bashing and Maori-bashing are meat and drink to right wingers so I’m surprised you suddenly seem to have an issue with bullying now.

            Politically convenient, perhaps?

            • chris73 19.2.1.1.1.1
              27 September 2018 at 4:38 pm

              Not the lesson Labour should be learning from National I’d have thought

              • Muttonbird …
                27 September 2018 at 5:20 pm

                You seem desperate to try frame this as a Labour wide issue. Much like the effort to frame Labour as sexual predators after the youth camp. And much like John Key trying to frame Labour as backing the rapists.

                What evidence do you have that bullying is a Labour wide issue?

          • Jum 19.2.1.1.2
            27 September 2018 at 3:40 pm

            Is this where you disappeared to Chris. I thought you’d been swallowed up by the dark web, and now I realise I was right.

        • Jum 19.2.1.2
          27 September 2018 at 3:43 pm

          I agree, Muttonbird –

          gerry brownlee, john key, take a bow you bullies.

        • McFlock 19.2.1.3
          27 September 2018 at 3:55 pm

          It’s sort of nice to know that some of it does get through to them eventually. Even if they try to appropriate the language in order to to support the party of society-wide bullying.

          One day they might even care about the issue.

          • In Vino 19.2.1.3.1
            27 September 2018 at 8:08 pm

            To my mind the irony is that when we lefties railed against far more serious breaches, it all bounced off John Key’s Teflon coat. Our ‘concerned’ hypocrites tonight, I suspect, are going to be sooo disappointed when they discover that Jacinda has already woven a better Teflon coat in terms of public popularity than John Key ever had.
            All their cynical wailing and gnashing of their false teeth about workplace violence and bullying will come to absolutely nothing. Jacinda rules – get used to it for a while, you losers.
            To quote the Simpsons, “Ha ha!”

    • Jum 19.3
      27 September 2018 at 3:49 pm

      Infused,
      National, although I didn’t agree with their policies and belief in self-aggrandisement, didn’t engage creatures of the night to make stuff up and destroy people’s lives. Now they have you and the slugs.

    • Ffloyd 19.4
      27 September 2018 at 11:30 pm

      Not just funny sweetie but true.

  20. adam 20
    27 September 2018 at 3:19 pm

    Love how all the usual suspects are getting upset about violence, but are more than happy to support a political party which cut funding to Women Refuge.

    And God forbid if you point out that violence is an inherent component of the economic relations in capitalism.

    So if violence is not acceptable at any time, like many of the national party supporters have said repeatedly on here. Is forcibly removing people from their homes violence?

    Is forcing someone to live 13 weeks without income violence?

    Because I agree, violence is unacceptable, but all violence, physical, emotional, and economic.

    • Jum 20.1
      27 September 2018 at 3:36 pm

      Excellent points, Adam.

    • ianmac 20.2
      27 September 2018 at 3:53 pm

      Hear hear Adam.

    • Anne 20.3
      27 September 2018 at 4:08 pm

      Thanks Adam.

      And lets not forget the daily violence of one sort or another accorded to many NZ citizens on a daily basis because of their religion, ethnic origins and of course the colour of their skin.

      However, because that is sometimes institutional violence that’s okay. 🙄

  21. Ian 21
    27 September 2018 at 8:50 pm

    She reminds me of why I left Gisborne many years ago. Got to solve everything with violence. Mega Fightery needs to resign from parliament .She is a disgrace.

  22. Durf 22
    3 October 2018 at 1:36 pm

    National’s dirty politics team MADE Mecha Fightery assault her employee?

    And why is the political left a worse employer than the EVIL big business it claims the workers need protection from??

    Unpaid labour election interns sleeping on the floor in a damp marae…. Government ministers assaulting their staff…

    But somehow it is “dirty politics” to point this put.

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