The whiff of corruption follows McCully around

Written By: - Date published: 9:09 am, April 19th, 2016 - 89 comments
Categories: accountability, corruption, national - Tags: , , ,

Odd isn’t it how the whiff of corruption follows McCully around – ‘Numerous donations’ by hotel founder to National Party, but no conflict

During the 2014 election, Scenic Hotel Group founder Earl Hagaman donated $101,000 to the National Party. A month later, the company won a contract to manage the Niuean Matavai Resort, heavily funded by the New Zealand government. Last year, $7.5 million in aid funding was announced to expand the resort.

A clear conflict of interest.

A hotel group that won a contract to run a Niue resort has denied any conflict, despite its founder making “numerous donations” to political parties.

“I mean, it’s not first time he’s donated to the National Party and he’s made quite numerous donations to the ACT party over the years as well.

“From the hotel’s perspective, we’re politically neutral. We actually don’t play any bias towards any political parties.”

Made similar donations to Labour and The Greens? The claim of no bias is laughable.

A conflict of interest “is a situation in which a person or organization is involved in multiple interests, financial interest, or otherwise, one of which could possibly corrupt the motivation of the individual or organization.” Clearly the motivation of the National Party could possibly have been corrupted by a $101,000 donation. The denials are as worthless as the claims of neutrality.

89 comments on “The whiff of corruption follows McCully around ”

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  1. Keith 1
    19 April 2016 at 9:21 am

    The stench of corruption is coming from the National Party. McCully is merely a loyal drone in the organisation doing as he is told.

    • ianmac 1.1
      19 April 2016 at 9:43 am

      McCully has the reputation for going off on his own agenda. Remember as soon as he became Foreign Minister, his stopping the Pacific Welfare fund and choosing to back chosen businesses like the Scenic Hotel Group. Robbing the people to pay a few. Same approach as the IMF in Vietnam post-war. The most that the Vietnamese locals got out of the upmarket hotels, was as gardeners and laundry staff.

    • whateva next? 1.2
      19 April 2016 at 3:20 pm

      Exactly what I was going to say too. +1 Keith

  2. Rolfcopter 2
    19 April 2016 at 9:22 am

    I’d suggest seeking comment from Ross Ardern… I’m sure he could clear it all up for you.

    Contact his daughter to set it all up.

    • jbc 2.1
      19 April 2016 at 10:57 am

      I think in all the excitement of the chase, this little detail has been overlooked.

    • leftie 2.2
      19 April 2016 at 2:41 pm

      Why Rolfcopter? Whats he got to do with McCully shoulder tapping one of National’s donors for a multi million dollar govt contract?

      • Smilin 2.2.1
        19 April 2016 at 6:57 pm

        It appears to me that the Gnats do nothing by the book of Democracy or the laws of accountability only that which accommodates the free market which detests govts of any kind telling them what they can do

  3. Rosie 3
    19 April 2016 at 9:31 am

    Great to hear on rnz this morning that the Labour Party have asked the Auditor General to investigate. Good to get the ball rolling. Now perhaps sources of mainstream news, might actually pay attention and report on it. There was no mention on shrub or stuffed of this amazingly dodgy series of two linked events.

    Or is this this behaviour is so commonplace now that it doesn’t warrant a mention?

  4. Myrtle 4
    19 April 2016 at 9:33 am

    Definitely the smell of corruption here which worries me. What worries me more is the continued lack of response from the NZ population at large – ponytail pulling, flag embarrassment, Saudi sheep deal, Oravida corruption and more – this is becoming the norm and it seems that National and John Key is loved more and more.

    • adam 4.2
      19 April 2016 at 9:54 am

      Myrtle

      It’s only about a third of the population which are hard core National party fanatics. Only about a third of the population that accept amoral behaviour, as normal.

      So it’s not a bad figure when you think about it. It’s not the 55% you read in the papers or see on the TV, it is actually a smaller figure. It is only about a third.

      But if history tell us anything, a third of the population can do some really really bad things.

      • NZJester 4.2.1
        19 April 2016 at 10:30 am

        Actually it is less than a third of the population.
        It is only a third of the eligible voters.
        There is a large proportion of the population not eligible to vote as they are below the legal voting age or in prison.

        Those running small to medium sized businesses in New Zealand are screwing their own businesses by voting National.
        Under National a lot of their potential customers do not have the money to buy the goods they sell so while they pay less tax on their profits, the loss in profits are more than the money saved from the tax cuts National bribed them with.
        National believes in trickle-down economics that has been shown not to work as the rich spend none of the extra cash they get and the economy goes stagnant.
        Put the money into the hands of the workers however and it all gets spent working its way up the chain so that businesses get the capital they need to grow and the customers to support that growth and the economy is no longer stagnant.

        • Sabine 4.2.1.1
          19 April 2016 at 10:55 am

          this:
          Those running small to medium sized businesses in New Zealand are screwing their own businesses by voting National.

          one of the reasons i give when asked why i don’t vote for National is simply that, I need customers that have discretionary income and well with Income Inflation, high rents, increased GST, and the likes people have no money left for discretionary spending.

          But it’s all good, rich people can buy up some more houses, surely that wealth will trickle down on us, in the form of an Accomodation Supplement maybe?

          • Colonial Viper 4.2.1.1.1
            19 April 2016 at 5:50 pm

            NZ business owners ain’t dumb. Why is it that Labour have never explained this alternative economics to them?

            • Sabine 4.2.1.1.1.1
              19 April 2016 at 5:57 pm

              actually mate, this business owner is Labour because its in her interest.

              so go cry a river elsewhere, i have no use for you.

            • Smilin 4.2.1.1.1.2
              19 April 2016 at 7:31 pm

              Alternative economics? isnt that what happened when JK got elected ?Total free market control and paying themselves to bs the nation that it was all necessary -120 billion in debt 4 ever

            • Colonial Viper 4.2.1.1.1.3
              19 April 2016 at 8:37 pm

              You may think that your fellow SME owners are dumb, but actually, they ain’t.

              Or maybe it is because you are arrogant enough to think that you know your fellow SME owners best interests better than they do.

              You don’t.

        • Expat 4.2.1.2
          19 April 2016 at 5:25 pm

          NZJester

          A perfect observation of the real world economics for small businesses in NZ, and as Sabine confirms, high unemployment has a negative impact on small businesses and ends up flowing through the whole economy, increasing unemployment, and so the spiral continues on, relatively low pay rates exasperate the situation.

          Historical, global economic data for the last 200 years and across 40 countries, clearly shows that economies have been the most prosperous during periods where wealth distribution to the “many” has prevailed, and the funny thing is, the businesses also increase their profits, a win win for all, the only thing holding us back is the ideology of trickle-down, which they know doesn’t work, but there are great financial benefits for a few privileged.

          • Colonial Viper 4.2.1.2.1
            19 April 2016 at 6:05 pm

            well, there is no political ideology in NZ which makes these distinctions, and which is happy to make a clear statement that the top 0.1% are earning too much while the bottom 80% are earning too little.

            • Expat 4.2.1.2.1.1
              19 April 2016 at 6:57 pm

              Oh, Dunedin must be a very, very, very small town, or are you one of the privileged few, certainly the Nats made the distinction back in 2010 when they altered the TAX regime, which gave a distinct advantage to a few, or do you disagree with that.

              • Colonial Viper …
                19 April 2016 at 8:40 pm

                Did you read my comment? It said that there is no alternative political ideology to the one National is selling right now. At best there are mildly different versions of it.

          • Smilin 4.2.1.2.2
            19 April 2016 at 7:22 pm

            Yes trickle down is the opposite in fact a ruddy great dam liable to burst

      • Colonial Viper 4.2.2
        19 April 2016 at 5:49 pm

        But if history tell us anything, a third of the population can do some really really bad things.

        Come on mate, what the fuck. Are you going to compare this third of voting kiwis with those people who helped Mussolini or Hitler or Lenin or Mao Tse Tung take power?

        • alwyn 4.2.2.1
          19 April 2016 at 6:08 pm

          “Are you going to compare this third of voting kiwis with those people who helped Mussolini or Hitler …..”.
          He just did CV. An idiot to be sure but I think he really does think that way.

          • Colonial Viper 4.2.2.1.1
            19 April 2016 at 6:17 pm

            I know very good, very smart people who vote National. The Left appears to be losing touch with what politically motivates people in this country, turning ordinary Kiwis with different political views into some kind of caricatures to be taken the piss out of.

        • adam 4.2.2.2
          19 April 2016 at 6:51 pm

          Actually I was trying to avoid a Godwin.

          And when did I start speaking for the left?

          My point is, a small groups of people can do bad things at the expense of the rest of society. When we have an electoral system which is effectively anti democratic it will always be a small group of people doing what they like.

          In times past, but maybe you don’t remember, when someone won an election they ruled for the whole country, not just their faction. And if that means I’m out of touch – so be it.

          • BM 4.2.2.2.1
            19 April 2016 at 6:57 pm

            John Key is probably the most centered PM we’ve ever had.

            The fact that you can’t see that speak volumes about how politically blinded you are.

            • Expat 4.2.2.2.1.1
              19 April 2016 at 7:03 pm

              BM

              “John Key is probably the most centered PM we’ve ever had.”

              I suppose if you call a pony tail pulling PM as being centered, but normalising this behavior only serves to lower morality of the whole of society, but then who needs morality any way, right.

              • BM …
                19 April 2016 at 7:10 pm

                This pony tailing pulling has been completely blown out of proportion, I realize it’s probably not one of his best moments, but, It’s not like he did anything really freaky.

                No offence to the woman involved but she’s just one of the thousands of people the PM meets every week, he probably didn’t actually realize he’d done it before.

                • Smilin …
                  19 April 2016 at 7:25 pm

                  You really are takin the piss in such a right wing bitch of a way .Whats your next line dont hit me ?

                • Expat …
                  19 April 2016 at 10:21 pm

                  BM

                  ” but, It’s not like he did anything really freaky”

                  You can’t be serious, it must be the normalising.

                  “No offence to the woman involved but she’s just one of the thousands of people the PM meets every week”

                  Some of the victims were young girls, not women, but hey, that’s not really freaky, is it, at least, not for a PM.

            • UncookedSelachimorpha 4.2.2.2.1.2
              19 April 2016 at 8:17 pm

              KDSDS

            • Whateva next? 4.2.2.2.1.3
              19 April 2016 at 11:03 pm

              Self centred

    • MARY_A 4.3
      19 April 2016 at 12:21 pm

      @ Myrtle (4) Absolutely agree.

      You say in your final comment ” … and it seems that National and John Key is loved more and more.”

      Is he?

      Or is what we are being told and expected to believe?

      Subliminal manipulation of the citizenry’s thought processes more like it!

      • whateva next? 4.3.1
        19 April 2016 at 3:24 pm

        And I would love understand exactly how this “polling” lark works, such power for such irrelevant data, which seems to sway those who “aren’t sure who to vote for”

  5. roy cartland 5
    19 April 2016 at 10:03 am

    Of course they’re corrupt – how else could they stay in power? They simply do not represent the best outcome for most people.

  6. Pete 6
    19 April 2016 at 10:24 am

    The PM every now and then utters his famous words, “The people “aren’t silly.”

    So there’s a pile of horseshit. It looks like that, it smells like that, you poke a stick in it and it acts like that. And McCully and Co. say it’s a lovely pavlova, all tasty and sweet.

    The PM every now also utters his famous words about being, “Open and transparent.”

    So I’m not silly and to me it’s openly transparent that the Niuean Matavai Resort business is a load of horseshit.

  7. alwyn 7
    19 April 2016 at 10:56 am

    The Labour Party is going to have an interesting time if they try and follow their new found principles should they become the Government at some time in the future.
    They will have to refuse to negotiate employment conditions with any union which makes donations to them. I presume the seamen on the Cook Strait ferries are represented by the Maritime Union. Obviously we will have to regard any improvement in their pay as being a pay-off for the donations the union has made to the Labour Party. Corruption in other words. No negotiations with your union, comrades.
    I wonder if they get anything from the PSA or the Education unions?

    On the other hand I suppose Grant, who is likely to be the leader before they ever get back into Government will find some reason to see it as “different” than Little Andy seems to pretend.

    I think the only reason Labour is bellowing about this is that they are trying to scare the hell out of anyone thinking of donating to National. Make a donation and we will smear you is their philosophy. They hope that they can then drive National out of the game.

    • ropata 7.1
      19 April 2016 at 11:03 am

      As usual, the Nat fanatic has no moral justification for the latest scandal, and goes off on a rant against Labour

      • alwyn 7.1.1
        19 April 2016 at 11:25 am

        The only actual scandal here is a typical Labour Party response of throwing smears around and trying to destroy the reputation of anyone who doesn’t worship them.
        Just like Little and his smear of John Shewan in Parliament the other day. Andy has clearly been taking lessons from Trevor Mallard, hasn’t he?

        • Draco T Bastard 7.1.1.1
          19 April 2016 at 11:31 am

          There’s no smears being thrown around – just very, very valid questions.

          • alwyn 7.1.1.1.1
            19 April 2016 at 11:35 am

            Yes dear. You stick to your beliefs, weird though they may be.

            • The Other Mike 7.1.1.1.1.1
              19 April 2016 at 12:43 pm

              Do you EVER address the content in the OP? Or just come here to type BS anti Labour Party rants?

              Seems so.

              Just another effing troll.

              • alwyn …
                19 April 2016 at 1:09 pm

                The person who made the original post brought up the other parties, in particular the Labour Party and the Greens. They appeared to be complaining when they said
                “Made similar donations to Labour and The Greens? The claim of no bias is laughable.”

                They then talked about conflicts of interest.
                “Clearly the motivation of the National Party could possibly have been corrupted by a $101,000 donation”.
                I am merely curious how, should they get back into power, they are going to handle their own conflicts of interest if negotiations between the Government and Unions take place?

                • Draco T Bastard …
                  19 April 2016 at 4:00 pm

                  What sort of negotiations take place between government and unions?

                  I’m pretty sure that none of the unions run hotels.

                  • alwyn …
                    19 April 2016 at 6:05 pm

                    “What sort of negotiations take place between government and unions”.
                    Pay negotiations you silly boy.
                    I would assume that members of the Maritime Union, who were quite generous in their donations to the Labour Party, represent the crews of the Railway’s owned Cook Strait Ferries.
                    Conversation “We’ll give you $100,000 toward your election fund. In return we expect all our members to get 10% pay increases next year”. “Done, we need the money”.
                    I think the probability of it happening is exactly on a par with the probability of what people here are fantasizing about having occurred.
                    I doubt if Jacinda and her father are terribly amused though.

                    • Draco T Bastard …
                      19 April 2016 at 10:19 pm

                      Last time I looked, the government doesn’t actually have anything to do with setting the wages of Kiwirail’s workers.

                      Whereas the government does directly appoint who’s getting money directly from the government to run a government subsidised hotel.

                      So, what we have here is you trying to build up a false equivalence so that you can scream LABOUR DID IT TOOOOOOOO!!!!

                      You’re pathetic really.

                    • alwyn …
                      20 April 2016 at 12:37 pm

                      You really are stupid aren’t you?
                      You claim “Whereas the government does directly appoint who’s getting money directly from the government to run a government subsidised hotel”
                      The Government appointed a committee who chose the organisation who got the contract to run the hotel. They included the current High Commissioner to Niue and a very senior official in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, together with a former High Commissioner Mark Blumsky.
                      At KiwiRail the Government appoints a Board of Directors who are responsible for the activities of the company, including the wages and salaries paid.
                      In neither case is the Minister directly involved.

                      You then claim that I am somehow doing this so “that you can scream LABOUR DID IT TOOOOOOOO”.
                      I have never done that have I? I am merely pointing out that if Little is claiming corruption in this case he will have to either accept that accepting donations from organisations dealing with any part of the Government means he is guilty of corruption or he will have to refuse all such contributions.

                      There isn’t any corruption in the hotel situation. The only whiff of corruption is the dreadful smell arising from the fast decomposing body of yet another failed Labour leader. He is sitting there in Parliament awaiting the final dagger in the back from Gracinda.

                      You’re pathetic really.

        • ropata 7.1.1.2
          19 April 2016 at 11:36 am

          Bizarre stuff. The masters of dirty politics & smear attacks are on the 9th floor of the Beehive, you seem to be projecting your (lack of) morals onto others.

          Labour is doing its job of _opposition_ and calling the govt to account. I know people like you don’t like sunlight.

      • Draco T Bastard 7.1.2
        19 April 2016 at 11:29 am

        +1

        A rant that doesn’t even connect to the topic except through, painful, illogical, convoluted spin.

  8. Puckish Rogue 8
    19 April 2016 at 11:58 am

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=11624603

    The Matavai is owned by the Niue Tourism Property Trust on behalf of the Government of Niue, which owned the resort before then. That arrangement was put in place in 2011 to ensure oversight of the aid investment New Zealand was putting in. Mr McCully appoints the trustees who are Ross Ardern (NZ’s High Commissioner to Niue and father of Labour MP Jacinda Ardern), Ministry of Foreign Affairs deputy secretary Jonathan Kings and former High Commissioner Mark Blumsky, who was formerly a National MP and now lives in Niue.

    Throw enough mud and hope some of it sticks…bit Dirty of Labour but its not like its unusual for them

    • adam 8.1
      19 April 2016 at 12:28 pm

      yes dear

    • Magisterium 8.2
      19 April 2016 at 12:40 pm

      …Mr McCully appoints the trustees who are Ross Ardern (NZ’s High Commissioner to Niue and father of Labour MP Jacinda Ardern)…

      aaaaaand there it is. Every time.

      • One Anonymous Bloke 8.2.1
        20 April 2016 at 11:23 am

        I’m curious as to how you think he’d know about a $100k donation to the National Party.

    • Keith 8.3
      19 April 2016 at 1:54 pm

      A 100k donationn at least to the National Party by a very astute businessman who is then awarded a multi million deal by National was actually revealed by RNZ and on its own it stinks like a rotten corpse. On top of every other dodgy dirty deal done by National it is well past mere coincidence! Its now an episode from The Sopranos. Labour have quite rightly picked up on it, why the hell wouldn’t they?

      And I’ve got to love the deflection to Jacinda Aderns father. Did he get paid off too because if so he should be facing the music but somehow that’s just fuel to the fire for this damning behaviour. But one thing is for sure, anyone like Adern, who is associating with National will be thinking right now is why they got the job!

      Corruption is not acceptable or tolerable or something anyone should turn a blind eye to. Why do Nat suppoters see no evil here?

      • Puckish Rogue 8.3.1
        19 April 2016 at 2:05 pm

        Because, as of yet, there is no corruption here. Why do lefties believe you don’t have to prove anything as long as you have enough allegations?

        Now if corruption has been shown then you and all the other mouth breathers will have a point but if nothing comes out will the lefties apologise?

        Doubtful

        • ropata 8.3.1.1
          19 April 2016 at 4:36 pm

          there is a sordid pattern here that’s obvious to everyone but you

        • Stuart Munro 8.3.1.2
          19 April 2016 at 6:26 pm

          As you know perfectly well PR, McCully as a cabinet minister is required to be consoicuously proper in his dealings: not merely not corrupt, but demonstrably not corrupt.

          Here is an anomalous payment and a massive pro quo apparently for that quid. It lies with McCully to demonstrate that it is not another instance of the bribery which he has chosen as his hallmark.

          Bribing Shane Jones to leave Labour (bit of an own goal frankly)
          Bribing a sheik on the forlorn hope of a free trade deal
          and now overpaying for hotel management.

          Are you really desperate enough to claim McCully didn’t recognise the impropriety? Hard to believe the dirtiest party ever would know dirt when it saw it.

          McCully Nuie.

      • Nick K 8.3.2
        19 April 2016 at 9:06 pm

        Except……..the contract wasn’t awarded by the government.

        • Stuart Munro 8.3.2.1
          20 April 2016 at 12:59 am

          Direct from Cabinet Club then?

          Just when you think the Gnats could stoop no lower they’re out there limbo dancing under snake’s bellies in wagon ruts.

  9. Puckish Rogue 9
    19 April 2016 at 12:34 pm

    Due c’mon you gotta be quicker than that, I mean a half our difference in posting just makes you look like one of my groupies 🙂

  10. McFlock 10
    19 April 2016 at 12:54 pm

    Dunno what Scenic Circle is on about.

    The CoI has nothing to do with them – it’s whether McCully’s appointees had any motive in giving preference to a business owned by a major tory donor.

  11. Magisterium 11
    19 April 2016 at 1:33 pm

    Ahahahaha one mention of Jacinda Ardern’s connection to the Niue deal and everything comes to a screaming halt.

    COMMENCE OPERATION SWEEP-UNDER-CARPET

    • McFlock 11.1
      19 April 2016 at 1:39 pm

      Nah, people like to have lunch without dealing with unnecessary stupidity.

      You’re a legend in your own mind.

    • Tautoko Mangō Mata 11.2
      19 April 2016 at 3:54 pm

      Altogether now…….
      Chorus
      Labour did it too, mate
      Labour did it too.
      We inherited it from Labour
      So what else could we do?
      If ever we’re in trouble
      And the news has turned to pooh
      Then it’s time to plug the same old line
      “Labour did it too!”

    • Draco T Bastard 11.3
      19 April 2016 at 3:58 pm

      But we’re not actually talking about an Jacinda Adern connection. The connection is with her father and I’d be surprised that they even talked about it.

      The other person on the board is an ex-National MP which gives us two connections to National. That connection makes the corruption even more probable.

  12. whispering kate 12
    19 April 2016 at 2:35 pm

    I agree with Keith about the stench which follows McCully around, it happens too often, the Saudi deal was corrupt and still hasn’t been resolved and the truth revealed. Now with the Nuie deal with the resort. If the founder of Scenic Hotel Group had no idea about the contract does he not have any oversight on what is going on , he shouldn’t be allowed to be in control of a business. It seems Hagaman is doing what the PM does, doesn’t want anything which is dodgy touching him so he “sees nothing and knows nothing”. And the donation of $100K, nobody gives a donation to a political party and doesn’t expect kick backs of some kind. How dodgy is that. The MSM need a kick up the proverbial and should be ripping this disgusting deal apart. Some hope.

    Old cynical cops/dectectives always agree and say that there are no coincidences in crimes, where there is smoke there is fire. How they are going to cover all this corruption up beggars belief. Deflect with stupid sound bites like the “first family” in China in the news and paper probably, like they always do.

  13. Repateet 13
    19 April 2016 at 2:51 pm

    Are all MPs responsible for their parents?

    Carmel Sepuloni got it in the neck for what her mother did. Now Jacinda Arden is being dragged into something because her father is associated with a deal in Niue which has had questions asked about it.

    And some cretins are trying to distract from the issue by implying if any crap has gone on, through that Arden link it somehow casts aspersions on the Labour Party and minimises any wrong doing there might be from National party people.

  14. Once Was Tim (and in fact never was Tim) 14
    19 April 2016 at 3:19 pm

    “The whiff of corruption follows McCully around”

    Christ Almighty – it goes a frikken sight deeper than McCully who probably only succumbed to his own naivety, aided and abetted by that Chez Longe upholstery material cladded vixen; know-it-all member of something we used to call a 4th Estate – now more aptly described as the ass-licking Thorndon bubble press gang. (Most of whom don’t/can’t see the medium/long term). Just another Rosemary McCluck lookalike aspiring to claim their rights to a higher class (otherwise known as social climbing wankers)

    …… NOW we have our dearest Leader, John Key (side-by-side with knock-kneed Adonis son Mex – whose beauteous presence pervades as much social media as he and his acolytes can muster) suggesting he’s ‘open’ to an extradition treaty (provided of course, ewwmun roights britches en the deth penty don’t figure in such an arrangement).
    Apparently there are 50 on a list (that is 50 that are known of presumably)

    They reap what they sow. I wonder jst hear relexed he’s gunna b when he reterns home on Earforce 1. (John – you really must get that 757 repainted!)

  15. Mathew 15
    19 April 2016 at 5:11 pm

    No surprise here re corruption. McCully is currently aware that there is a cop at the Bangkok embassy who was arrested in nz and was allowed to leave by the police without going to court. He has done nothing, despite all of the noise he made over the Malaysian diplomat

  16. Magisterium 16
    20 April 2016 at 12:38 am

    One almost feels sorry for Little now. So many own goals, so many bombs going off in his face.

    Jessica Mutch: How do you think the trustees were involved in this, one of them obviously the father of one of your front bench MPs? How do you think he’s implicated in this?

    Andrew Little: Well the issue isn’t the trustees, I don’t care about the trustees, what I care about is the fact that somebody who donated over a hundred thousand dollars to the National Party one month later gets a contract to run a hotel and then several months later gets seven and a half million dollars. That’s got to be investigated.

    Jessica Mutch: You’re saying that you don’t care about the trustees but yesterday you did say that you’ve got all the trustees appointed by the Minister, you were questioning their position of being there. Has that changed now that the attention has come that it is Jacinda Ardern’s father ?

    Andrew Little: There is only one issue here and that is a large donor to the National Party…

    Jessica Mutch: How do you feel about indirectly implicating and some would say smearing the father of one of your front bench MPs?

    Andrew Little: Well apart from that being one of the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard, I would be failing in my duty as the leader of the opposition if having seen a large donor to the National Party…

    Jessica Mutch: You did say though that the deal stinks, do you not think that that reflects poorly on him?

    Andrew Little: The fact that a large donor to the National Party donated over a hundred thousand dollars…

    Jessica Mutch: Was it an oversight, did you forget about the link with Jacinda Ardern’s father? Did you know about it yesterday when you came out so strongly and spoke about it?

    Andrew Little: I would be failing in my duty as the leader of the opposition if I didn’t actually draw attention to and ask for an assurance about a donor to the National Party donating…

    Jessica Mutch: Isn’t it messy though that Jacinda Ardern’s father is involved in this?

    Andrew Little: New Zealanders are entitled to an assurance from this Government when one of their biggest donors gets a Government contract a month later…

    https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/answer-question-mr-little-labour-leader-gets-repetitive-wont-straight-ardern-link

    • framu 16.1
      20 April 2016 at 7:47 am

      im keen to hear how this link to the labour party via an MPs father has any significance

      cmon – explain it. Why does it matter so much that you and others are focusing on that?

      • Magisterium 16.1.1
        20 April 2016 at 10:56 am

        Andrew Little just accused a NZ High Commissioner of corruption. That’s, you know, a Thing. The fact that the commissioner is also the father of one of a front-bench Labour MP is just a bonus.

        Once again, Labour leadership looks like it just races shit out the door half-finished, half-thought-out, with implications and consequences never considered.

        HEY WE’RE NOT SAYING THAT THE HIGH COMMISSIONER STINKS TO HIGH HEAVEN, WE’RE JUST PUTTING IT OUT THERE, WE JUST WANT TO HAVE A DISCUSSION

        • One Anonymous Bloke 16.1.1.1
          20 April 2016 at 11:28 am

          What would the HC know about the National Party’s corrupt arrangements? This comes back on McCully and his sleazy money-laundering boss.

        • framu 16.1.1.2
          20 April 2016 at 12:25 pm

          why is labour and jacinda ardern responsible for the actions of her father?

          why are you and so many others latching on to what is probably the smallest issue in this case?

          its pathetic

  17. Descendant Of Sssmith 17
    20 April 2016 at 6:58 am

    Ahh the influence of both Kinloch and McCully surely resulted in this:

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/politics/5055820/Queries-over-2-4m-parenting-contract

    http://werewolf.co.nz/2012/04/public-office-private-gain/

    Wonder what research has been done into the effectiveness of these courses. I’m still waiting for mine to arrive.

    And of course their was PEDA as well.

    http://pacific.scoop.co.nz/2010/06/new-zealand-govts-4-8-million-package-for-pacific-eda-questioned/

    and there’s putting an irrigation system by Amy Adams farms, the port infrastructure being built on Carter land, the p[re-election threat of sacking Ecan, …………..

    Co-incidences all.

    Maybe this needs updating from depression to corruption.

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    Australia, Canada and New Zealand today issued the following statement on the need for an urgent ceasefire in Gaza and the risk of expanded conflict between Hizballah and Israel. The situation in Gaza is catastrophic. The human suffering is unacceptable. It cannot continue.  We remain unequivocal in our condemnation of ...
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    18 hours ago
  • AG reminds institutions of legal obligations

    Attorney-General Judith Collins today reminded all State and faith-based institutions of their legal obligation to preserve records relevant to the safety and wellbeing of those in its care. “The Abuse in Care Inquiry’s report has found cases where records of the most vulnerable people in State and faith‑based institutions were ...
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  • More young people learning about digital safety

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Government’s online safety website for children and young people has reached one million page views.  “It is great to see so many young people and their families accessing the site Keep It Real Online to learn how to stay safe online, and manage ...
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    21 hours ago
  • Speech to the Conference for General Practice 2024

    Tēnā tātou katoa,  Ngā mihi te rangi, ngā mihi te whenua, ngā mihi ki a koutou, kia ora mai koutou. Thank you for the opportunity to be here and the invitation to speak at this 50th anniversary conference. I acknowledge all those who have gone before us and paved the ...
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  • Employers and payroll providers ready for tax changes

    New Zealand’s payroll providers have successfully prepared to ensure 3.5 million individuals will, from Wednesday next week, be able to keep more of what they earn each pay, says Finance Minister Nicola Willis and Revenue Minister Simon Watts.  “The Government's tax policy changes are legally effective from Wednesday. Delivering this tax ...
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  • Experimental vineyard futureproofs wine industry

    An experimental vineyard which will help futureproof the wine sector has been opened in Blenheim by Associate Regional Development Minister Mark Patterson. The covered vineyard, based at the New Zealand Wine Centre – Te Pokapū Wāina o Aotearoa, enables controlled environmental conditions. “The research that will be produced at the Experimental ...
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  • Funding confirmed for regions affected by North Island Weather Events

    The Coalition Government has confirmed the indicative regional breakdown of North Island Weather Event (NIWE) funding for state highway recovery projects funded through Budget 2024, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Regions in the North Island suffered extensive and devastating damage from Cyclone Gabrielle and the 2023 Auckland Anniversary Floods, and ...
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  • Indonesian Foreign Minister to visit

    Indonesia’s Foreign Minister, Retno Marsudi, will visit New Zealand next week, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced.   “Indonesia is important to New Zealand’s security and economic interests and is our closest South East Asian neighbour,” says Mr Peters, who is currently in Laos to engage with South East Asian partners. ...
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  • Strengthening partnership with Ngāti Maniapoto

    He aha te kai a te rangatira? He kōrero, he kōrero, he kōrero. The government has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the aspirations of Ngāti Maniapoto, Minister for Māori Development Tama Potaka says. “My thanks to Te Nehenehenui Trust – Ngāti Maniapoto for bringing their important kōrero to a ministerial ...
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  • Transport Minister thanks outgoing CAA Chair

    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has thanked outgoing Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority, Janice Fredric, for her service to the board.“I have received Ms Fredric’s resignation from the role of Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority,” Mr Brown says.“On behalf of the Government, I want to thank Ms Fredric for ...
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  • Test for Customary Marine Title being restored

    The Government is proposing legislation to overturn a Court of Appeal decision and amend the Marine and Coastal Area Act in order to restore Parliament’s test for Customary Marine Title, Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith says.  “Section 58 required an applicant group to prove they have exclusively used and occupied ...
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  • Opposition united in bad faith over ECE sector review

    Regulation Minister David Seymour says that opposition parties have united in bad faith, opposing what they claim are ‘dangerous changes’ to the Early Childhood Education sector, despite no changes even being proposed yet.  “Issues with affordability and availability of early childhood education, and the complexity of its regulation, has led ...
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    After receiving more than 740 submissions in the first 20 days, Regulation Minister David Seymour is asking the Ministry for Regulation to extend engagement on the early childhood education regulation review by an extra two weeks.  “The level of interest has been very high, and from the conversations I’ve been ...
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  • Government upgrading Lower North Island commuter rail

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  • Government moves to ensure flood protection for Wairoa

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  • PM speech to Parliament – Royal Commission of Inquiry’s Report into Abuse in Care

    Mr Speaker, this is a day that many New Zealanders who were abused in State care never thought would come. It’s the day that this Parliament accepts, with deep sorrow and regret, the Report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care.  At the heart of this report are the ...
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    For the first time, the Government is formally acknowledging some children and young people at Lake Alice Psychiatric Hospital experienced torture. The final report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith-based Care “Whanaketia – through pain and trauma, from darkness to light,” was tabled in Parliament ...
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  • ‘Open banking’ and ‘open electricity’ on the way

    New legislation paves the way for greater competition in sectors such as banking and electricity, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly says. “Competitive markets boost productivity, create employment opportunities and lift living standards. To support competition, we need good quality regulation but, unfortunately, a recent OECD report ranked New ...
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  • Charity lotteries to be permitted to operate online

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  • Accelerating Northland Expressway

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    4 days ago
  • Sir Don to travel to Viet Nam as special envoy

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    4 days ago
  • Grant Illingworth KC appointed as transitional Commissioner to Royal Commission

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says newly appointed Commissioner, Grant Illingworth KC, will help deliver the report for the first phase of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into COVID-19 Lessons, due on 28 November 2024.  “I am pleased to announce that Mr Illingworth will commence his appointment as ...
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    4 days ago
  • NZ to advance relationships with ASEAN partners

    Foreign Minister Winston Peters travels to Laos this week to participate in a series of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-led Ministerial meetings in Vientiane.    “ASEAN plays an important role in supporting a peaceful, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific,” Mr Peters says.   “This will be our third visit to ...
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    4 days ago
  • Backing mental health services on the West Coast

    Construction of a new mental health facility at Te Nikau Grey Hospital in Greymouth is today one step closer, Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey says. “This $27 million facility shows this Government is delivering on its promise to boost mental health care and improve front line services,” Mr Doocey says. ...
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    4 days ago
  • NZ support for sustainable Pacific fisheries

    New Zealand is committing nearly $50 million to a package supporting sustainable Pacific fisheries development over the next four years, Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones announced today. “This support consisting of a range of initiatives demonstrates New Zealand’s commitment to assisting our Pacific partners ...
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    4 days ago
  • Students’ needs at centre of new charter school adjustments

    Associate Education Minister David Seymour says proposed changes to the Education and Training Amendment Bill will ensure charter schools have more flexibility to negotiate employment agreements and are equipped with the right teaching resources. “Cabinet has agreed to progress an amendment which means unions will not be able to initiate ...
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    4 days ago
  • Commissioner replaces Health NZ Board

    In response to serious concerns around oversight, overspend and a significant deterioration in financial outlook, the Board of Health New Zealand will be replaced with a Commissioner, Health Minister Dr Shane Reti announced today.  “The previous government’s botched health reforms have created significant financial challenges at Health NZ that, without ...
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    5 days ago
  • Minister to speak at Australian Space Forum

    Minister for Space and Science, Innovation and Technology Judith Collins will travel to Adelaide tomorrow for space and science engagements, including speaking at the Australian Space Forum.  While there she will also have meetings and visits with a focus on space, biotechnology and innovation.  “New Zealand has a thriving space ...
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    5 days ago
  • Climate Change Minister to attend climate action meeting in China

    Climate Change Minister Simon Watts will travel to China on Saturday to attend the Ministerial on Climate Action meeting held in Wuhan.  “Attending the Ministerial on Climate Action is an opportunity to advocate for New Zealand climate priorities and engage with our key partners on climate action,” Mr Watts says. ...
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    5 days ago
  • Oceans and Fisheries Minister to Solomons

    Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is travelling to the Solomon Islands tomorrow for meetings with his counterparts from around the Pacific supporting collective management of the region’s fisheries. The 23rd Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Committee and the 5th Regional Fisheries Ministers’ Meeting in Honiara from 23 to 26 July ...
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    7 days ago
  • Government launches Military Style Academy Pilot

    The Government today launched the Military Style Academy Pilot at Te Au rere a te Tonga Youth Justice residence in Palmerston North, an important part of the Government’s plan to crackdown on youth crime and getting youth offenders back on track, Minister for Children, Karen Chhour said today. “On the ...
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    7 days ago
  • Nine priority bridge replacements to get underway

    The Government has welcomed news the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has begun work to replace nine priority bridges across the country to ensure our state highway network remains resilient, reliable, and efficient for road users, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“Increasing productivity and economic growth is a key priority for the ...
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    1 week ago
  • Update on global IT outage

    Acting Prime Minister David Seymour has been in contact throughout the evening with senior officials who have coordinated a whole of government response to the global IT outage and can provide an update. The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet has designated the National Emergency Management Agency as the ...
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  • New Zealand, Japan renew Pacific partnership

    New Zealand and Japan will continue to step up their shared engagement with the Pacific, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.    “New Zealand and Japan have a strong, shared interest in a free, open and stable Pacific Islands region,” Mr Peters says.    “We are pleased to be finding more ways ...
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    1 week ago
  • New infrastructure energises BOP forestry towns

    New developments in the heart of North Island forestry country will reinvigorate their communities and boost economic development, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones visited Kaingaroa and Kawerau in Bay of Plenty today to open a landmark community centre in the former and a new connecting road in ...
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  • 'Pacific Futures'

    President Adeang, fellow Ministers, honourable Diet Member Horii, Ambassadors, distinguished guests.    Minasama, konnichiwa, and good afternoon, everyone.    Distinguished guests, it’s a pleasure to be here with you today to talk about New Zealand’s foreign policy reset, the reasons for it, the values that underpin it, and how it ...
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    1 week ago

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