The Northland coverup

Written By: - Date published: 9:32 am, March 16th, 2015 - 64 comments
Categories: by-election, humour - Tags: , , ,

Ooops…

If you missed it in the weekend, also catch up with Armstrong on the Nats in Northland:

Questionable tactics in race for Northland votes

“New” jobs which may or may not be full-time jobs; “new” road bridges which are not a priority; “new” promises on the roll-out of broadband which are old promises.

Is there no limit on the lengths to which the National Party will go to pull the wool over voters’ eyes and hope that prevents the seat of Northland from falling into Winston Peters’ clutches?

It would seem not. The prime lesson to be taken from the first week proper of the byelection campaign is to treat every utterance from National with a healthy and hefty degree of scepticism. …

Update: – And so a new meme is born?

https://twitter.com/JohnKeyMustGo/status/577189671169613824

64 comments on “The Northland coverup ”

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  1. saveNZ 1
    16 March 2015 at 10:02 am

    The Nats 7 step strategy for Northland –

    IGNORE -Ignore as expect it to be a safe seat and put a Nat stooge MP in.

    CHARM & BRIBE -Be surprised by strong support for Winston and then push out Brand Key for 3 visits with lots of talk of more money and projects in the area.

    THREATEN -Be even more surprised by Brand Key not working, and start to threaten the people of Northland with removal of infrastructure projects if they don’t vote National.

    BLAME -Blame, others for not keeping past National promises, Dotcom and Nicky Hager are always good bets to blame even if stretching even the most credible supporter.

    MANIPULATE MSM -Start manipulating by ‘encouraging’ pro National MSM for Northland, organise other parties support like ACT, try to split votes and manipulate Labour, (hey even try to help them like with Davis),

    SMEAR Winston Peters. (Winston too old, does not live in Northland). Always smear via others not directly.

    BUY- Buy, put as much money in as possible to out spend other parties.

    • Karen 1.1
      16 March 2015 at 10:18 am

      Nats 8th strategy
      Drive as many of your supporters to early voting as you can in case the truth about Sabin is revealed before the election

      • saveNZ 1.1.1
        16 March 2015 at 10:33 am

        @Karen
        True!
        But can they pull the rabbit out of hat and manipulate judiciary for Step 9?

        OMIT -Postpone Northland voters finding out what National MP’s really can be getting up to?

        When will we find out about Sabin? Will it be before the by election?

        • saveNZ 1.1.1.1
          16 March 2015 at 10:41 am

          Luckily there has also been a… wait for it…
          X Factor Scandal!
          Another investigative expose on Granddaddy Herald!

          The judges should resign!
          Bullying not allowed…

          You can’t help wondering if they have any self analysis between John Key, I will resign with mass surveillance and reality TV:)

        • Karen 1.1.1.2
          16 March 2015 at 12:42 pm

          Should be this Thursday, although not guaranteed.

  2. adam 2
    16 March 2015 at 10:04 am

    Is it just me – or for the interests of Democracy – shouldn’t the media be talking about Sabin’s personal issues?

    Should not the public know – to make an informed choice, of the choices this government is willing to make – to hold onto power?

  3. Skinny 3
    16 March 2015 at 10:08 am

    This mornings cabinet meeting will be grim. Not made any better when Nationals full caucus get briefed tomorrow. Judith Collins to Campaign Manager Stephen Joyce “looks like John didn’t nail this one, the Teflon Don Peters is in control.”

  4. Penny Bright 4
    16 March 2015 at 10:53 am

    The Northland BUY-election and /or the Northland BRIBE-election?

    Is ‘brand KEY’ buggered?

    When Winston Peters takes Northland off National – it will be!

    Let’s do all we can to help make that happen folks 🙂

    Strategically vote Winston Peters for Northland!

    Penny Bright

  5. Simple Simon 5
    16 March 2015 at 11:00 am

    It would seem that the saying ” every dog has it’s day ” is coming true regarding J Key.

    Couldn’t think of a better Dog for it to happen to.

  6. weka 6
    16 March 2015 at 11:00 am

    Underneath the coverup is an even worse coverup!

    https://twitter.com/JohnKeyMustGo/status/577039597114302465

  7. fisiani 7
    16 March 2015 at 11:45 am

    The biggest cover up is the dirty deal to shaft the Labour candidate and install the dementing Winston and a new mp from Invercargill

    • Lanthanide 7.1
      16 March 2015 at 11:53 am

      Please provide evidence that a deal has been undertaken.

      • fisiani 7.1.1
        16 March 2015 at 12:11 pm

        Dirty deals do not leave evidence as well you know.

        • Skinny 7.1.1.1
          16 March 2015 at 12:20 pm

          Fully expecting Prime to publicly endorse her supporters to vote for Peters once the next poll shows she is only vote splitting. Hope that poll result comes out in the next day or two.

        • Lanthanide 7.1.1.2
          16 March 2015 at 12:52 pm

          “Dirty deals do not leave evidence as well you know.”

          Own goal, fisi.

        • tricledrown 7.1.1.3
          16 March 2015 at 1:42 pm

          But they do leave a fisihy smell.as you know well.
          Why is it that only National party MP,s get name suppression

        • David H 7.1.1.4
          16 March 2015 at 3:18 pm

          So in other words it’s all in your not so very good imagination then aye Fizzy?

        • Hayden 7.1.1.5
          16 March 2015 at 3:21 pm

          Of course, lack of evidence of a dirty deal is in fact itself evidence of a dirty deal. The less evidence, the dirtier it is. QED.

        • Anno1701 7.1.1.6
          16 March 2015 at 3:56 pm

          they actually wrote a book about it…

          #dirtypolitics

        • Rodel 7.1.1.7
          16 March 2015 at 8:41 pm

          fisi-child..childish …must try harder

    • thatguynz 7.2
      16 March 2015 at 11:58 am

      The Wellington boot is a type of boot based upon leather Hessian boots. They were worn and popularised by Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington. This novel “Wellington” boot became a staple of hunting and outdoor wear for the British aristocracy in the early 19th century.

      Wellington boots are also known as rubber boots, wellies, wellingtons, topboots, billy-boots, gumboots, gumbies, gummies, rainboots, gavin’s, Alaskan Sneakers, kboots.

    • Hateatea 7.3
      16 March 2015 at 12:50 pm

      And even were that claim true, what is the matter with M.P.’s from Invercargill?

      You do remember that we operate under MMP now?

      • tricledrown 7.3.1
        16 March 2015 at 1:15 pm

        Hateatea.
        He might be from dipton.
        Fisisanil scoring more own goals.
        Yesterday it was I predict trends showing Osabinourne losing 10% support every 2 days.
        Simple Simons Bridges.
        PorKey barrel of laughs
        Desperate Disasters.
        National have bought all their big gun’s so far they have drawn a blank.
        Fisianil time to head back to South Africa.
        Pathetic propaganda I would fire you for being so useless and unoriginal.
        But it looks like National are used to having fanboys on their payroll.

        • Hateatea 7.3.1.1
          16 March 2015 at 1:57 pm

          Southland certainly owes New Zealand an apology for that son of the South but we have also had some quite respectable reps , both blue and red over times past 🙂

          • Tracey 7.3.1.1.1
            16 March 2015 at 2:55 pm

            and lets not forget those poor bastards in hellensville having the hawaiian parneler in parliament

          • tricledrown 7.3.1.1.2
            16 March 2015 at 4:24 pm

            Burt Munro’s brother was once the labour MP for Invercargill.

    • lprent 7.4
      16 March 2015 at 3:06 pm

      I would call the real story as being that Sabin was likely to have been protected by the National hierarchy and probably the Northland National candidate since 2011. According to various reports, that was when complaints were first made to the police, and probably reported to them.

      I gather from rumours that this cover may (or may not) get lifted at or about the 20th. You can see why National has been pushing their people to vote early before the dirt becomes clear.

      But it does sound like the awareness of what has been going on is pretty widespread in Northland already, even if you don’t know about it

      • Olwyn 7.4.1
        16 March 2015 at 3:25 pm

        There is something I don’t understand re the “prominent New Zealander” or “New Zealanders:” I thought that all details of a case involving a case against a certain PNZ were suppressed. Now I see there is a case in which the charges against a PNZ, who has name suppression until March 19th, are listed. So, either the blanket suppression in the first case has been partially lifted, allowing the charges but not the names to be published, or two prominent New Zealanders are currently facing charges with differing suppression orders. Does anyone know which is true?

        • Tracey 7.4.1.1
          16 March 2015 at 4:44 pm

          was not suppression ended except stuff that can identify victims and such lift of suppression is being appealed. i dont think identifying the charges is a way to identify victims or perpetrator?

          • Olwyn 7.4.1.1.1
            16 March 2015 at 5:06 pm

            Thanks – I thought that the blanket suppression included the charges, and did not realise that it had ended.

          • tricledrown 7.4.1.1.2
            16 March 2015 at 5:07 pm

            This is a crock perpetrators such as Rolf Harris ,Bill Cosby would not have been outed for multiple crimes.
            This is about Power the very reason thesr Men think they can get away with these type of crimes had these Men had been a local nobody teacher scout master priest.
            There would be no reprieve the publicity would bring other victims forward.
            That is why these powerful well connected people pay for the best lawyers .
            Last year the laws around name suppression were changed to make it much harder to obtain suppression.
            You wouldn’t believe so when it comes to the National party.

            • Tracey 7.4.1.1.2.1
              17 March 2015 at 10:08 am

              There are times when suppression is a good idea for the protection of victims. And in doing so it “protects” the identity of the accused.

      • Anno1701 7.4.2
        16 March 2015 at 3:59 pm

        Dont forget being protected by the NZPD IMO

        The cops always look after there own

      • Murray Rawshark 7.4.3
        16 March 2015 at 8:56 pm

        I agree. National’s connivance in suppressing everything and keeping Sabin in a powerful position, then endorsing him for a second term, is the real story. It’s a story that goes to the heart of the National Party and demonstrates what hollow men they all are.

        As for Northland, the story is pretty widespread, but there are also alternatives being promoted. One is that it was a bit of wife bashing, another that it was a bashing of drug dealers for the civic good. I don’t know who’s spreading them because I don’t think NAct have blubber boy onside with this one. Maybe penguins are involved?

      • Nick K 7.4.4
        16 March 2015 at 10:21 pm

        Yes, that date coincides with something.

  8. Murray Simmonds 8
    16 March 2015 at 12:35 pm

    ” . . . . treat every utterance from National with a healthy and hefty degree of scepticism. 
” ???

    My advice is “treat every utterance from National with total disbelief.”

    • Brutus Iscariot 8.1
      16 March 2015 at 4:32 pm

      You could follow that advice, but then you’d be as stupid as those who blindly swallow the National party line. Remember that your brain is your brain, not a partisan tool.

  9. Clare Swinney 9
    16 March 2015 at 1:07 pm

    Winston Peters has been a far better speaker than Mark Osborne, as he’s got a wealth of experience to call on obviously, plus he’s charismatic and he does not have the skeletons in the closet to contend with that National MP’s have to deal with.
    I believe this by-election is going to Winston Peters, unless the voting is rigged.
    I shot this footage at Wellsford and Kerikeri. The latter shows all the Northland candidates during a question time.

    Wellsford
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izyr3R_gkAg

    Kerikeri

    • Emalitza 9.1
      16 March 2015 at 2:15 pm

      Do you have footage of the question time in Kaikohe also?

    • Clemgeopin 9.2
      16 March 2015 at 6:57 pm

      “I believe this by-election is going to Winston Peters, unless the voting is rigged”

      I hope the Nats do not bring up, in the week of the election, some nasty/distracting dirty trick to derail Winston’s chances. I just don’t trust them much at all now.

    • swordfish 9.3
      16 March 2015 at 8:36 pm

      Appreciate your efforts, Clare. High quality video/sound. Provides a very useful insight into the campaign.

    • Murray Rawshark 9.4
      16 March 2015 at 9:27 pm

      Wow. Winston is head and shoulders above the rest as a public speaker. Osborne is like a schoolkid trying to impress adults.

    • felix 9.5
      17 March 2015 at 3:41 am

      It looks like the ACT candidate has literally pinned a blue ribbon over his yellow one.

  10. Penny Bright 10
    16 March 2015 at 2:06 pm

    I have this morning, phoned the Electoral Commission regarding my inquiry as to whom a complaint should be made regarding the National candidate for Northland – Mark Osborne for alleged ‘bribery’ under s.216 of the Electoral Act 1993.

    I was advised that they had received my email and ‘were looking at it’.

    Hopefully I will receive a reply this afternoon.

    That is what I requested.

    Penny Bright

  11. Tracey 11
    16 March 2015 at 2:53 pm

    Who is writing under Armstrongs by line????

  12. Incognito 12
    16 March 2015 at 3:23 pm

    I do hope that that photo is both symbolic and prophetic: “Northland turning over another leaf”.

    • Murray Rawshark 13.1
      16 March 2015 at 9:31 pm

      If the suppression goes, FJK’s presence there will do more harm than good. I have a feeling that, even with suppression, the same will happen. People know. Every day more Northlanders know what he did.

      • Nick K 13.1.1
        16 March 2015 at 10:24 pm

        I’m on the North Shore of Auckland and even I know what he is *alleged* to have done.

        • Murray Rawshark 13.1.1.1
          16 March 2015 at 10:34 pm

          Have you told anyone who gets to vote? I tried, but everyone I knew up there had already heard about it. I have posted on Winnie’s FB page a few times, with messages like “Vote National out to keep our children safe.”

      • b waghorn 13.1.2
        17 March 2015 at 7:10 am

        If the nats do loose now after all this extra work the embarrassment level is going to be off the scale.

  14. gsays 14
    17 March 2015 at 9:21 am

    hi there,
    sorry to perhaps appear to be a little naive about this but i have been sucked in before.
    is the image to go with his post original or has it been photoshopped?

    if original then a picture says a thousand words.

    sabin cover-up.
    same politics just papered over.
    national unstuck in northland.
    its sticky, john, just not sticky enough.
    nationals half-arsed efforts in northland.
    national not handling the heat.
    another cheap fix up in northland.

  15. SMILIN 15
    17 March 2015 at 9:45 pm

    Headless chickens running around on taxpayers money instead of the Nats money Pork Barrel bullshit promises Burying the truth about Sabin Key trying to find a 1950S MAGIC BULLET THAT DOESN’T EXIST what a shyster throw his capitalist cover up which is totalitarianism out of this country for good and lets get some democracy back in this country before we all have a mental breakdown at the garbage that this govt calls progress and governance before we have no country at all to look after Key is no leader he’s a parasite

  16. Brewer 16
    18 March 2015 at 11:42 am

    http://img.scoop.co.nz/stories/images/1503/42036460f70478b84074.jpeg
    Has the aspiring National Party Northland candidate, Mark Osborne, earned the title of “Porky Osborne” for telling us that he knew nothing about the accusations directed at former Northland MP Mike Sabin before late December last year? I find it very strange that Mark Osborne, in his role as the National Party Northland Branch treasurer in 2014 was so much out of the loop that he knew nothing about Mike Sabin’s situation earlier in the year. Telling porkies during an election campaign will not help him hang onto this safe National seat, that’s for sure.