Walkergate: MP Quits

Written By: - Date published: 1:49 pm, July 8th, 2020 - 65 comments
Categories: Abuse of power, accountability, class war, corruption, democracy under attack, election 2020, Politics, same old national, todd muller - Tags: , ,

Embattled Tory MP Hamish Walker has announced that he will not contest the September election for National.

Ironically, the Covid 19 privacy breacher only became an MP when the incumbent, Todd Barclay, was caught breaching privacy and was forced to stand down.

This will not be the end of the matter.

Walker and National Party insider Michelle Boag will face further investigation, likely prosecution under the Privacy Act and possible criminal charges. No wonder Walker doesn’t want to go before the election; he’ll get nearly 6 months salary by staying on until election day. That’ll help pay the legal bills and fines, I guess.

Labour’s Stuart Nash claims it’s possible other Nat MP’s knew about the leaked list of Covid victim’s names. If so, then they deserve to go as well. They had a duty to the nation to play their part; they should have immediately told the new Minister of Health or the MOH head Ashley Bloomfield what they knew, the moment they knew it.

The same applies to temporary Tory leader Todd Muller, who sat on the news that Walker and Boag were the leakers for 24 hours.

That’s cowardly at best, irresponsible at worst.

The timeline of the leak is getting more interesting. Walker issued a dog whistle statement last week claiming that up to 11,000 people from “India, Pakistan and Korea” could be going to Dunedin, Invercargill and Queenstown for quarantine.

That’s very specific nationalities named, suggesting he had Boag’s material a week ago.

However, it has been reported that the leaked info does not have nationalities listed, so it looks very much like Walker has inferred the ethnicity of the Covid victims from their surnames.

Remember when Labour were accused of relying on ‘Chinese sounding names’ to make a point on housing?

National were all over that with shrill cries of racism.

Now …. crickets.

National leader Todd Muller reprimands Hamish Walker over 'racist ...

Muller’s response is to freeze Walker out, claiming that the MP went rogue.

That’s bullshit.

Walker was doing what National have been doing for a decade. Dirty Politics 2.0 is still dirty politics.

If Muller had any guts, he’d disband their sleazy ‘intelligence unit’ immediately.

But he won’t, because he has no authority, no mana and no hope.

Still, it’s good that NZ voters know that, in the team of 5 million, the National Party aren’t even fit to take a place on the sub’s bench.

 

UPDATE: Muller speaks live on the Walker/Boag scandal. And announces that National will make it all better by, er, building a road.

Asked why he waited to out Walker and Boag, Muller says he was effectively scared off by Walker’s lawyer. Muller claims that National are the party of values and that there is no such thing as ‘dirty politics’. Refers to the disgraced MP repeatedly as ‘Hamish’.

Says, as far as he knows, Nikki Kaye was not briefed by her friend Michelle Boag. Muller apologises to NZ and claims it does not reflect badly on his leadership.

To finish, Todd reminds us that National want to build a road. Rooooads!

 

65 comments on “Walkergate: MP Quits ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. anker 1
    8 July 2020 at 1:57 pm

    It defies belief that no one else in the National Party knew. Only Boag and Walker???? Really????????? Woodhouse had information about the isolation facilities and the two English women……………..

    National now will look even more ridiculous when they use the words shambles and disgraceful re the borders and Labour's Covid response…………..Unless there is some completely unexpected event, National are really done for. 28% may be looking very positive for National now.

    I am glad this has come out. but Walker is far from being an outlier or rogue……This type of approach to politics and electioneering pervades National.

    • Patricia Bremner 1.1
      8 July 2020 at 2:13 pm

      A man left isolation to food shop at Countdown. A distraction which will be used by the Right. Chris said both he and the earlier woman would be charged.

      These two, Boag and Walker are part of a larger group. Their outing of themselves and separation from the party is to cauterize the wound and to stop the “Bleeding”. imo

    • tc 1.2
      8 July 2020 at 2:25 pm

      Yes any chance Todd had of distancing himself from DP just got thrown back in his face.

      I'd like to see our useless MSM start asking the obvious question about nationals leader having no respect or discipline being shown by his rank and file.

      Todd's a compliant figurehead he's no leader.

    • Wairua 1.3
      8 July 2020 at 4:19 pm

      Trump gives notice of withdrawal from World Health Organisation

      https://truthout.org/articles/trump-gives-official-notice-of-withdrawal-from-the-world-health-organization/

      The announced departure from the international agency comes after Trump has threatened for several months to cut off funding to the WHO, as well as leaving the organization altogether, over his belief that the UN agency has promoted a pro-China bias. Despite lacking evidence to back its claims, the White House has alleged that the WHO aided Beijing in covering up the initial response to coronavirus at the start of the disease’s spread in Wuhan late last year.

      In making these claims against the WHO, Trump claimed they were backed up by supposed reports from December 2019 in the medical journal The Lancet, which he said had shown the WHO and China were aware of the destructive possibilities of COVID-19 at that time. Those claims, however, were immediately repudiated by The Lancet, which pointed out that it had “published no report in December, 2019, referring to a virus or outbreak in Wuhan or anywhere else in China.”

  2. Pi 2
    8 July 2020 at 1:59 pm

    "… likely prosecution under the Privacy Act …"

    As far as I can tell, he can't face prosecution under the Privacy Act as there are no offences under the Privacy Act relating to breach of Information Privacy Principles. Rather, breach of the IPPs is a civil matter and the Human Rights Review Tribunal can grant compensation awards.

    See: http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1993/0028/latest/DLM296639.html?search=sw_096be8ed819654ad_fine_25_se&p=1#DLM298433

    Or: https://privacy.org.nz/further-resources/knowledge-base/view/209

    • te reo putake 2.1
      8 July 2020 at 2:15 pm

      Correct. As an MP, Walker may have an out under the Privacy Act. Boag has no such protection.

      Privacy commissioner John Edwards said on Morning Report that Walker, as an MP, was likely not covered by privacy legislation, but he thought Michelle Boag and the Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust were. Specifically asked if Boag was in breach of the Privacy Act, Edwards said “Without a very good health-related or business-related reason, I would say yes.”

      Worth noting that the helicopter trust has said Boag getting the info has nothing to do with them and that she did not receive the info, which was sent to her personal email, as part of her work for them.

      • maggieinnz 2.1.1
        8 July 2020 at 2:32 pm

        Now, this is getting curly. According to the stuff article:

        ‘“The breach which has been admitted by Ms Boag was of an email that was sent to her personal account. As an administrative resource, Ms Boag has never had access to any clinical or patient data held by [the trust].

        “Any information we hold on patients is private with access on a restricted basis and has not been breached.”

        So, according to your quoted comment she is in breach, right?

        Also, if the data wasn't sourced from the trust it must have come from where? The MoH? Who else might have it?

        Other points: The trust has good reason to deny any breach occurred and without knowing specifically what their protocols are for determining a breach occurred can we accept their denial?

        • te reo putake 2.1.1.1
          8 July 2020 at 2:37 pm

          My best guess is that either Boag simply lied and tried to use the trust as cover, or that it actually came from someone close to the trust.

          • maggieinnz 2.1.1.1.1
            8 July 2020 at 2:47 pm

            Yeah, I think both options are feasible. She could be pointing to the trust as a distraction from where she really got the info or it could have come from someone inside/close to the trust. It wouldn't be hard to get the info out without triggering any sort of data security measures. Simply take a photo of the screen/document showing the data with your phone, make a spreadsheet using data from photo and send it to Boag's private email.

        • McFlock 2.1.1.2
          8 July 2020 at 2:43 pm

          I guess the trust can make a criminal complaint of apparent data theft, so the police could apply for a search warrant to find out who sent the email to her personal account.

          Sorry, I forgot she's a nat. No case to answer, as far as the cops would know.

          • maggieinnz 2.1.1.2.1
            8 July 2020 at 3:00 pm

            Does having the data sent to her private email put the breach outside of political protection do you know? I thought I saw somewhere that there's a distinction between in-house and out when it comes to what protection is afforded.

            You kind of have to view every scrap of wording as (potentially) duplicitous.

            • McFlock 2.1.1.2.1.1
              8 July 2020 at 3:51 pm

              She has no parliamentary protection, Walker does. She might have some whistleblower protections if she'd followed that protocol, but I think there are tees to cross for that before you go to "email an opposition MP".

              Right about the wording: if she "received the information in her capacity as acting chief executive" (ARHT dispute this if it relates to their patient data), then she was entitled to have it and no criminal activity occurred.

              If it went to her "personal email", rather than ARHT resources, then the copy could be distributed by her without misusing ARHT computers to leak the data, and no criminal activity occurred from that point of view, either.

              But if she sent it to her personal email from ARHT, that's possibly dishonestly using their computers. I suspect there would be a similar offence if she instructed an ARHT subordinate to send it to her personal email.

              But she could have received it from a third party that addresed it to her as acting CEO, but used her personal email address. If she gave them that address for ARHT business, and received confidential patient data that should have gone to ARHT patient management, then that is a data leak by the third party and they need to be held accountable. But on-leaking it might also place her in hot water legally.

              • maggieinnz …
                9 July 2020 at 1:49 am

                Appreciate the rundown.

                Yep, she's out for whistleblower protection because she didn't make a protected disclosure to appropriate authorities. Even if she claimed she handed it to Walker on the grounds it was a PD she should have made a PD statement, not actually caused further breaches by forwarding the doc.

                And it also seems that because her role was administrative she should not have had unredacted access to patient data even in her role.

                I'm not seeing a legitimate out for her given what you've outlined and what we know. Will be interesting how severe her wrist-slapping will be. They may get serious this time and forgo wetting the bus ticket.

                • McFlock …
                  9 July 2020 at 3:27 pm

                  If she wangled it so that she didn't do anything technically criminal, there's little that can be done. She might be sued for shafting ARHT's reputation. Maybe fined for a privacy breach.

      • McFlock 2.1.2
        8 July 2020 at 2:40 pm

        Worth noting that the helicopter trust has said Boag getting the info has nothing to do with them and that she did not receive the info, which was sent to her personal email, as part of her work for them.

        So whoever sent the document to Boag was the breach-point, and Boag at no time had any reasonable belief that she was entitled to possess that information.

        Also worth noting that Boag will claim to leak information she obtains as part of her employment, whereas she might have just thrown ARHT under the bus out of convenience.

      • Pi 2.1.3
        9 July 2020 at 1:59 pm

        I think you are missing the point. There is no ability to prosecute for breaches of the Privacy Act, because breaches of the Privacy Act are not criminal offences.

        Edit: For clarity, there are criminal offences under the Privacy Act – but they relate to things like lying to the Privacy Commissioner.

  3. Chris 3
    8 July 2020 at 2:08 pm

    How will the government expose this latest nats' black ops campaign – not just this current example with Walker and Boag, but the wider campaign Brownlee leads – in a way that properly convinces New Zealanders that what they're trying to do is in fact real and not to be tolerated?

    • tc 3.1
      8 July 2020 at 2:31 pm

      Waste of time, let due process play out. Nash and Hipkins apply the heat till the GE.

      Win the election outright and use that as a mandate to legislate a new landscape. Mediaworks and granny got taxpayers money to play this game !

      • Incognito 3.1.1
        8 July 2020 at 3:05 pm

        As exciting as the brain quakes and ongoing brain tremors of the Nats & Associates are, this is a huge distraction for the GE. Ploticians should be working their asses off writing policies and taking them to the voters. Instead of a political process we have a political circus.

  4. Tiger Mountain 4
    8 July 2020 at 2:18 pm

    But wait there’s more…

    https://i.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/122070095/auckland-rescue-helicopter-trust-says-michelle-boag-had-no-access-to-its-covid19-patient-data

    so who is the snout then…

    ”whites only!” Walker seems one of the even more arrogant shameless new breed Nats

  5. RedBaronCV 5
    8 July 2020 at 2:25 pm

    Well at this point I think the our new ethically and morally responsible National party who have rammed individual responsibility down everyone's neck for a decade should pay for each and every cost associated with this breach so the taxpayer does not have to.

  6. xanthe 6
    8 July 2020 at 2:26 pm

    Its not a team of five million any more……. Go team of 4,999,998 !

    • peterh 6.1
      8 July 2020 at 2:58 pm

      No, team of five million less 13%, the same amount in the last poll who did not think govt was doing good in covit response, also the same 13% who wanted Muller PM

  7. woodart 7
    8 July 2020 at 2:31 pm

    since the last three m.p.s from clutha -southland have been caught either, leaking, lying, spying, or double dipping, perhaps its time for a royal enquiry into the natz southland branch, and for the three strikes law to be used.

  8. Adrian 8
    8 July 2020 at 3:01 pm

    All of the information in the 3 leaks must have come from someone senior in MoH.

    Woodhouse even tried to give the homeless man authenticity by claiming a high source in health told him, possibly because a person ending quarantine could not supply a forwarding address and the 11000 going to the whites only laager of Southland could have only come from MoH. Therefore all the info must have come from the same source, the trust has been used as a smokescreen.

    The conduit MUST have been Boag in all three cases and then the ethically bypassed one had the gaul to implicate the helicopter trust.
    She is so fucking toxic.

    Fuck she is toxic.

    th

  9. greywarshark 9
    8 July 2020 at 3:07 pm

    I was wondering yesterday about wearing a mask. I have been thinking of doing so, and not because I am spooked by the occasional AWOL. But I do want people who have invested lives in NZ to be able to return and go into isolation of course. So I have to think about wearing a mask as I am increasing risk to myself. I've got a few things to do before I take that trip to infinity!

    I see that the Royal Society UK is advising on wearing a mask there. For good reason – that's the most practical and caring thing to come out of leaders there about Covid for a while.

    <i>Everyone in the UK should wear a face covering, the president of the Royal Society has said. In a statement published today, Venki Ramakrishnan said people should have face coverings with them when they leave their home and should always wear them in crowded public spaces, “particularly indoors in enclosed public spaces where physical distancing is often not possible.”</i> https://www.newscientist.com/article/2237475-covid-19-news-everyone-should-wear-face-coverings-says-royal-society/

    Now is there anything I can spray on my mask for added protection against the National Party contagion? Should it be flowery like Ringaringa Rosie to keep away the plague, or eau d'ail to keep away ghouls, plus a silver cross and a stake I think.

  10. Fireblade 10
    8 July 2020 at 3:43 pm

    Does anyone actually believe that Todd Muller and/or Nikki Kaye didn't know that Boag and Walker had the patient list, and were going to use it for a dirty politics hit job? Based on the fact that the National Party has a history of playing dirty, it sounds like a bullshit arse-covering story to protect the party leadership.

  11. Reality 11
    8 July 2020 at 3:45 pm

    I see Walker did not want Muller to disclose his identity, citing privacy concerns. If it wasn't so serious it would be hilarious. Where was his concern for privacy when leaking to the media. Mind boggling.

  12. ianmac 12
    8 July 2020 at 4:15 pm

    Walker was not sacked from the National Party. He just said he would not stand at the Election.

    So Muller said he had written to the Party Board to sack Walker, but they didn't do what he asked them to do. Does this indicate that he does not have the confidence of his Board. Walker therefore continues as a sitting member in the House on full pay.

    • gsays 12.1
      8 July 2020 at 4:25 pm

      To give credit where it is not due, I reckon Walker was given the option of leaving before pushed.

      In a similar vein to Clark perhaps cont…

      • Ed1 12.1.1
        8 July 2020 at 6:03 pm

        I do not see any comparison at all – David Clark achieved a lot within the Health portfolio; he resigned as Minister when the major focus turned to administration and physical security. If National were serious about showing disapproval of Walker's actions they would have insisted on an immediate resignation. As it is he continues to be paid as for the other MPs that are not standing at the next election.

        • greywarshark 12.1.1.1
          8 July 2020 at 7:29 pm

          Yes someone did a list of his achievements and they were multiple. Just another David Shearer I feel. I am going off David as a name.

  13. gsays 13
    8 July 2020 at 4:16 pm

    The reason for the 4 lane road down south is clear, the churn of Nat candidates in the southern electorate and their lawyers toing and froing, have worn out the old one.

  14. Ed 14
    8 July 2020 at 4:37 pm

    Interesting. So WHO did give her the information?

    'Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust says Michelle Boag 'never' had access to COVID-19 data.'

    https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2020/07/auckland-rescue-helicopter-trust-says-michelle-boag-never-had-access-to-covid-19-data.html

    • Ken 14.1
      8 July 2020 at 5:02 pm

      Michelle obviously has access to people who have access to info.

      The fact that some "nobody" healthcare worker will be thrown under a series of buses, takes nothing away from the dastardly deeds of Boag and Walker.

  15. Gabby 15
    8 July 2020 at 5:27 pm

    Mike Bush. Wonder what access to info he has.

  16. Morrissey 16
    8 July 2020 at 5:36 pm

    Best course of action for hopeless, hapless Tod Muller….

    https://media1.tenor.com/images/7227be633ae5578164544ffda8fd337e/tenor.gif?itemid=10882805

  17. George 17
    8 July 2020 at 5:43 pm

    Boag was involved in a privacy breach situation years ago with a woman over ACC files I recall… Bronwyn Pullar… It was a big stink as well. Very strange. Boag was in deep as the support person apparently. Again leaked personal information of people. Hmmmmm…

    • UncookedSelachimorpha 17.1
      8 July 2020 at 7:42 pm

      Pullya Benefit liked the same tactics…could there be a common thread there? A common connection to some sort of organised group perhaps?? A group that condones and encourages this sort of crap even?

      Nope, can't think of one.

  18. Morrissey 18
    8 July 2020 at 5:48 pm

    She used to be feared by the lackeys in the National caucus, back in 2005 when National was trying to deal with another hopeless “leader”….

    10:05 a.m. The Brethren's Churchill Road Gospel Hall in Crofton Downs. The National Party caucus is in session. The former chairwoman of the party, MICHELLE BOAG, is reading the riot act. Demoralised politicians with sour, defeated expressions listen in gloomy silence. At first glance, everyone appears shell-shocked. However, closer inspection shows that several members are rather more sanguine. Deposed leader BILL ENGLISH actually seems to be enjoying it somewhat. To the anger of many, and the amusement of some, he is ostentatiously reading Nicky Hager's explosive book The Hollow Men. BOAG bores on relentlessly…

    BOAG: …. and in all fairness the less we hear of Don Brash over the next seven days the better.

    BILL ENGLISH: You chose 'im!

    BOAG: [grimly ignoring the disaffected former leader] And we will be hearing no more at all from our former "strategist" — if that's the right word for what he's been up to over the last fortnight. [she glares at MURRAY McCULLY like a basilisk] From now on, I and seven friends, who will remain anonymous, will be directing this campaign. For the last week of the campaign we need to stop shooting ourselves in the foot and remind people of our CORE
    PRINCIPLES. I sometimes wonder whether anybody remembers what the National Party STANDS for any more.

    DR LOCKWOOD SMITH: [excitedly waving hand in the air] Ooh! I know, I
    know!

    BOAG: [nervously] Ye-e-e-e-e-e-e-esss, Lockwood?

    DR LOCKWOOD SMITH: Never pay in cash, Never tell the truth, and Never play by the rules!

    BOAG: [closes eyes in despair, buries face in hands] Give me str-r-r-r-r-r-r-rength!

    DON BRASH: No, no, no, no, no, no, no! That's not right, Lockwood! Eeeeeeehhhhhh….

    JOHN KEY: [cool, smiling, unfazed] Actually, that IS the National Party philosophy.

    SIMON POWER: And it's a darned fine philosophy too.

    DON BRASH: Oh no, no, no, no, no, no, no……

    TONY RYALL: [in disgust] The right hand doesn't know what the left hand is doing.

    BILL ENGLISH: [shaking his head] These right wing ideologues are tearing this party apart! IT'S A FAILURE OF LEADERSHIP!

    JOHN KEY: [cool, smiling, unfazed] We stand for… ooooohhhhh… taking the tax off petrol.

    RYALL: Eh? You said the opposite two weeks ago!

    SOWRY: It's ANOTHER flip-flop!

    BROWNLEE: [with boyish excitement] Right, that's enough thinking! Let's go GET Helen Clark with our new flip-flop policy!

    BOAG: [tartly, between clenched teeth] Shut up and sit down, you fatuous, footling fathead.

    BROWNLEE: [aggressively] You can't call me fatuous! That's size-ist!

    DON BRASH: Eeeeeeeehhhh, Gerry, when Michele calls you "fatuous", it does not mean you are fat, it means you are foolish.

    BROWNLEE: [cheerfully] Oh! Well, that's all right, then!

    DISAFFECTED CAUCUS MEMBER: Shut up and sit down, Brash! Michelle's in
    charge, not you!

    DOCTOR DON BRASH: Oh no, no, no, no, no, no. Eeeeeeeehhhhhh…..

    BOAG: [doggedly ignoring the mounting turmoil] Now we also need an attack strategy to get at Margaret Wilson, and —

    SIMON POWER: We could base our strategy on the fact she's got a wooden leg!

    BOAG: Yes! For once, a bright idea! Now let's brainstor—-

    [BOAG is interrupted mid-sentence by the late arrival of the deposed shadow welfare spokesperson.]

    MISS R*CH: Sorry I'm late.

    BOAG: [acerbically] Sit down quickly at the back of the room, next to Tony Ryall and Nick Smith, and that Maori woman.

    DAVID CARTER: Siberia!

    CAUCUS: Ha ha ha ha ha!

    BOAG: Stop that! This is a party in crisis! The time for levity is after we win the election!

    RYALL: Ha! THAT'll be the day! [imitating Fraser from Dad's Army] We're DOOMED! We're all DOOOOO-O-O-O-OOOMED!

    CAUCUS: Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! ….I'd rather have Captain Mainwaring in charge than Don Brash! …. We're TOAST, let's face it, fellas! … Don't PANIC!!!! … Ha ha ha ha ha!

    DOCTOR DON BRASH: Oh no no no no no no no no no. That's not funny.

    CAUCUS: Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!

    BOAG: Stop this nonsense NOW! We need to FOCUS!

    DOCTOR DON BRASH: Eeeeeeeeeeehhhhhhhhh….

    [The room descends into uproar. After the laughter has roiled around the room for an extended period, the hubbub eventually dies down. K*TH*R*N* R*CH moves toward the back of the now silent room. Unfortunately, this necessitates moving past her successor, the bulldog-like JUDITH COLLINS…]

    https://morrisseybreen.blogspot.com/2017/12/national-party-emergency-caucus-meeting.html

    • ianmac 18.1
      8 July 2020 at 6:44 pm

      The stage awaits thee Mr Morrissey.

    • Drowsy M. Kram 18.2
      8 July 2020 at 7:05 pm

      “Oh no no no no no no no no no. That's not funny.” I disagree laugh

    • georgecom 18.3
      8 July 2020 at 7:25 pm

      only things you forgot were

      DOCTOR DON BRASH uuuuggggghhhhh eeeeeeeeeerrrrhhhh….my wifes from Singapore…….eeeehhhhhhhuuuuu…..I don't know, one thing I do know it that it's not the national party…….uuuuuhhhhhhh…….tax cuts………eeeeeerrrrhhhh……they met me for prayer……..zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

  19. Muttonbird 19
    8 July 2020 at 6:44 pm

    Incredible to see the media roll over and allow National to claim rogue MP yet again. Rather than asking the question about the endemic, toxic National Party culture.

  20. Muttonbird 20
    8 July 2020 at 7:11 pm

    A $1.5 billion dollar motorway between Christchurch and wait for it, a tiny town of 34,000 people.

    What's the BCR on that?

    • Pat 20.1
      8 July 2020 at 7:56 pm

      a complete waste of resources….not to mention a decade of transport disruption on a massive scale…and for what? eventually a 5 minute time saved in travel for some travellers during high use periods which occur infrequently anyway.

      gross stupidity

      • Muttonbird 20.1.1
        8 July 2020 at 8:22 pm

        Plus, the well-to-do of that region got $1.7 billion just ten years ago paid out by Bill English in the dead of the night!

        That Nats will be eyeing that area up for massive intensive farming and horticulture and the rivers be damned. Why doesn’t a journalist ask them about why the need for such an expensive road there.

  21. UncookedSelachimorpha 21
    8 July 2020 at 7:49 pm

    The BIG question is – who leaked to Boag?? Both her and the Natz have gotten off very lightly on that question so far. The person who sent the info is in all probability both a criminal and highly unethical, and they presumably continue to have access to sensitive personal data. If inadvertent they need to be educated, and if deliberate – sanctioned.

    Hopefully the enquiry can compel Boag to reveal her source.

    • observer 21.1
      8 July 2020 at 8:45 pm

      The latest reporting suggests that there was not a leak to Boag. She simply received regular, daily updates from the MoH. She was on the mailing list because of her CEO role.

      RNZ:

      “Boag told RNZ the Ministry of Health had sent daily emails to her private email, which included the sensitive details of the country’s Covid-19 cases.

      Boag couldn’t explain why it was sent to her private email, but suspected it was because she was only temporarily in the role of chief executive.

      The government has already confirmed emergency services were regularly sent the details of the country’s active cases, so they could take the proper precautions if responding to a call-out where someone with Covid-19 was present.”

      • mpledger 21.1.1
        9 July 2020 at 8:29 am

        It seems odd that that kind of data should be sent to a CEO – it's operational stuff. And if it was sent to her personal account then it must have been her choice to get it sent there – the MoH doesn't dream up an email address to send it to.

    • George 21.2
      8 July 2020 at 8:52 pm

      According to Boag this didn't sit well with her in her role as CEO Of said emergency service as someone (like her) could then expose these people's private health information publicly. So she gave it to a National minister to prove his/her point. She should never ever be allowed again in a position of trust in a public organisation. Using your position of power to prove how easy it to abuse positions of power is not the moral high ground…it's hypocrisy.

      • observer 21.2.1
        8 July 2020 at 8:56 pm

        Unfortunately there's a lazy, box-ticking convention that says – you hand out positions on boards to people already on boards, because they have proved their worth by being on boards.

  22. Maurice 22
    8 July 2020 at 10:17 pm

    Careful people!

    Excessive crowing does not go down well with middle NZ and we need as many of those as possible to vote correctly ……

    A week is a long time in politics … and we are several weeks away from the GE

  23. millsy 23
    8 July 2020 at 10:36 pm

    Boag is finished now. No one will give her any sinecures every again. No talking head slots either.

    • froggleblocks 23.1
      8 July 2020 at 11:13 pm

      People used to think the same about Tony Veich.

      I guess Boag is a lot older though.

  24. mosa 24
    9 July 2020 at 1:29 am

    " How New Zealand's media endangered public health "

    This report from Glen Johnson of Aljazeera

    https://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/zealand-media-endangered-public-health-200707103532946.html

    • Drowsy M. Kram 24.1
      9 July 2020 at 2:03 am

      Thanks Mosa – excellent report. "Will the media hold the National Party to account?"

  25. Observer Tokoroa 25
    9 July 2020 at 3:22 am

    BUT !

    just a minute – Frau Boag did not rescue the Westpack Rescue Helicopter…

    The Helicopter said so – in strong forthright words. They had nothing to do with the Frau. She made it up.

    As is the way of National business. Gave her all to the Walker Boy, who is now completely Snug in the National Party – Southland.

    Toddy has not solved anything. Has he ?

    National is always corrupt.

    I warrant that alter Boy Toddy, has not been to see the People he wantonly allowed to be plastered all over Southland and the two Islands of New Zealand.

    Instead, he is going to borrow the Helicopter – Frau Boag hasn't got -and build a a road to glory.

    Toddy the Ratbag. I will bet you a Toddy bears Picnic, that National has not put to right their scandalous dealings with the People dealt out by the Muller monstrosity.

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

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    6 days ago

  • Tuesday’s Chorus: RBNZ set to rain on National's victory parade
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    6 days ago

  • Electorate Watch: West Coast-Tasman
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    6 days ago

  • Big money brings Winston back
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    6 days ago

  • 20 days until Election Day, 7 until early voting begins… but what changes will we really see here?
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    6 days ago

  • A night out
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    6 days ago

  • A pallid shade of Green III
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    7 days ago

  • A coalition of racism, cruelty, and chaos
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    7 days ago

  • More migrant workers should help generate the tax income needed to provide benefits for job seekers
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    7 days ago

  • Letter To Luxon.
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    12 hours ago

  • Safeguarding Tuvalu language and identity
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    19 hours ago

  • New community-level energy projects to support more than 800 Māori households
    Seven more innovative community-scale energy projects will receive government funding through the Māori and Public Housing Renewable Energy Fund to bring more affordable, locally generated clean energy to more than 800 Māori households, Energy and Resources Minister Dr Megan Woods says. “We’ve already funded 42 small-scale clean energy projects that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Huge boost to Te Tai Tokerau flood resilience
    The Government has approved new funding that will boost resilience and greatly reduce the risk of major flood damage across Te Tai Tokerau. Significant weather events this year caused severe flooding and damage across the region. The $8.9m will be used to provide some of the smaller communities and maraes ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Napier’s largest public housing development comes with solar
    The largest public housing development in Napier for many years has been recently completed and has the added benefit of innovative solar technology, thanks to Government programmes, says Housing Minister Dr Megan Woods. The 24 warm, dry homes are in Seddon Crescent, Marewa and Megan Woods says the whanau living ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Te Whānau a Apanui and the Crown initial Deed of Settlement I Kua waitohua e Te Whānau a Apanui me...
    Māori: Kua waitohua e Te Whānau a Apanui me te Karauna te Whakaaetanga Whakataunga Kua waitohua e Te Whānau a Apanui me te Karauna i tētahi Whakaaetanga Whakataunga hei whakamihi i ō rātou tāhuhu kerēme Tiriti o Waitangi. E tekau mā rua ngā hapū o roto mai o Te Whānau ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Plan for 3,000 more public homes by 2025 – regions set to benefit
    Regions around the country will get significant boosts of public housing in the next two years, as outlined in the latest public housing plan update, released by the Housing Minister, Dr Megan Woods. “We’re delivering the most public homes each year since the Nash government of the 1950s with one ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Immigration settings updates
    Judicial warrant process for out-of-hours compliance visits 2023/24 Recognised Seasonal Employer cap increased by 500 Additional roles for Construction and Infrastructure Sector Agreement More roles added to Green List Three-month extension for onshore Recovery Visa holders The Government has confirmed a number of updates to immigration settings as part of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Poroporoaki: Tā Patrick (Patu) Wahanga Hohepa
    Tangi ngunguru ana ngā tai ki te wahapū o Hokianga Whakapau Karakia. Tārehu ana ngā pae maunga ki Te Puna o te Ao Marama. Korihi tangi ana ngā manu, kua hinga he kauri nui ki te Wao Nui o Tāne. He Toa. He Pou. He Ahorangi. E papaki tū ana ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Renewable energy fund to support community resilience
    40 solar energy systems on community buildings in regions affected by Cyclone Gabrielle and other severe weather events Virtual capability-building hub to support community organisations get projects off the ground Boost for community-level renewable energy projects across the country At least 40 community buildings used to support the emergency response ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • COVID-19 funding returned to Government
    The lifting of COVID-19 isolation and mask mandates in August has resulted in a return of almost $50m in savings and recovered contingencies, Minister of Health Dr Ayesha Verrall announced today. Following the revocation of mandates and isolation, specialised COVID-19 telehealth and alternative isolation accommodation are among the operational elements ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Appointment of District Court Judge
    Susie Houghton of Auckland has been appointed as a new District Court Judge, to serve on the Family Court, Attorney-General David Parker said today.  Judge Houghton has acted as a lawyer for child for more than 20 years. She has acted on matters relating to the Hague Convention, an international ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Government invests further in Central Hawke’s Bay resilience
    The Government has today confirmed $2.5 million to fund a replace and upgrade a stopbank to protect the Waipawa Drinking Water Treatment Plant. “As a result of Cyclone Gabrielle, the original stopbank protecting the Waipawa Drinking Water Treatment Plant was destroyed. The plant was operational within 6 weeks of the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Govt boost for Hawke’s Bay cyclone waste clean-up
    Another $2.1 million to boost capacity to deal with waste left in Cyclone Gabrielle’s wake. Funds for Hastings District Council, Phoenix Contracting and Hog Fuel NZ to increase local waste-processing infrastructure. The Government is beefing up Hawke’s Bay’s Cyclone Gabrielle clean-up capacity with more support dealing with the massive amount ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Taupō Supercars revs up with Government support
    The future of Supercars events in New Zealand has been secured with new Government support. The Government is getting engines started through the Major Events Fund, a special fund to support high profile events in New Zealand that provide long-term economic, social and cultural benefits. “The Repco Supercars Championship is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • There is no recession in NZ, economy grows nearly 1 percent in June quarter
    The economy has turned a corner with confirmation today New Zealand never was in recession and stronger than expected growth in the June quarter, Finance Minister Grant Robertson said. “The New Zealand economy is doing better than expected,” Grant Robertson said. “It’s continuing to grow, with the latest figures showing ...
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    2 weeks ago

  • Highest legal protection for New Zealand’s largest freshwater springs
    The Government has accepted the Environment Court’s recommendation to give special legal protection to New Zealand’s largest freshwater springs, Te Waikoropupū Springs (also known as Pupū Springs), Environment Minister David Parker announced today.   “Te Waikoropupū Springs, near Takaka in Golden Bay, have the second clearest water in New Zealand after ...
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    2 weeks ago

  • More support for victims of migrant exploitation
    Temporary package of funding for accommodation and essential living support for victims of migrant exploitation Exploited migrant workers able to apply for a further Migrant Exploitation Protection Visa (MEPV), giving people more time to find a job Free job search assistance to get people back into work Use of 90-day ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Strong export boost as NZ economy turns corner
    An export boost is supporting New Zealand’s economy to grow, adding to signs that the economy has turned a corner and is on a stronger footing as we rebuild from Cyclone Gabrielle and lock in the benefits of multiple new trade deals, Finance Minister Grant Robertson says. “The economy is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Funding approved for flood resilience work in Te Karaka
    The Government has approved $15 million to raise about 200 homes at risk of future flooding. More than half of this is expected to be spent in the Tairāwhiti settlement of Te Karaka, lifting about 100 homes there. “Te Karaka was badly hit during Cyclone Gabrielle when the Waipāoa River ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Further business support for cyclone-affected regions
    The Government is helping businesses recover from Cyclone Gabrielle and attract more people back into their regions. “Cyclone Gabrielle has caused considerable damage across North Island regions with impacts continuing to be felt by businesses and communities,” Economic Development Minister Barbara Edmonds said. “Building on our earlier business support, this ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • New maintenance facility at Burnham Military Camp underway
    Defence Minister Andrew Little has turned the first sod to start construction of a new Maintenance Support Facility (MSF) at Burnham Military Camp today. “This new state-of-art facility replaces Second World War-era buildings and will enable our Defence Force to better maintain and repair equipment,” Andrew Little said. “This Government ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Foreign Minister to attend United Nations General Assembly
    Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta will represent New Zealand at the 78th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York this week, before visiting Washington DC for further Pacific focussed meetings. Nanaia Mahuta will be in New York from Wednesday 20 September, and will participate in UNGA leaders ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Midwives’ pay equity offer reached
    Around 1,700 Te Whatu Ora employed midwives and maternity care assistants will soon vote on a proposed pay equity settlement agreed by Te Whatu Ora, the Midwifery Employee Representation and Advisory Service (MERAS) and New Zealand Nurses Association (NZNO), Minister of Health Dr Ayesha Verrall announced today. “Addressing historical pay ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • New Zealand provides support to Morocco
    Aotearoa New Zealand will provide humanitarian support to those affected by last week’s earthquake in Morocco, Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta announced today. “We are making a contribution of $1 million to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) to help meet humanitarian needs,” Nanaia Mahuta said. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 weeks ago

  • Government invests in West Coast’s roading resilience
    The Government is investing over $22 million across 18 projects to improve the resilience of roads in the West Coast that have been affected by recent extreme weather, Prime Minister Chris Hipkins confirmed today.  A dedicated Transport Resilience Fund has been established for early preventative works to protect the state ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 weeks ago

  • Government invests in Greymouth’s future
    The Government has today confirmed a $2 million grant towards the regeneration of Greymouth’s CBD with construction of a new two-level commercial and public facility. “It will include a visitor facility centred around a new library. Additionally, it will include retail outlets on the ground floor, and both outdoor and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 weeks ago

  • Nanaia Mahuta to attend PIF Foreign Ministers’ Meeting
    Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta will attend the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, in Suva, Fiji alongside New Zealand’s regional counterparts. “Aotearoa New Zealand is deeply committed to working with our pacific whanau to strengthen our cooperation, and share ways to combat the challenges facing the Blue Pacific Continent,” ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 weeks ago

  • PREFU shows no recession, growing economy, more jobs and wages ahead of inflation
    Economy to grow 2.6 percent on average over forecast period Treasury not forecasting a recession Inflation to return to the 1-3 percent target band next year Wages set to grow 4.8 percent a year over forecast period Unemployment to peak below the long-term average Fiscal Rules met - Net debt ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 weeks ago

  • New cancer centre opens in Christchurch
    Prime Minister Chris Hipkins and Minister of Health Dr Ayesha Verrall proudly opened the Canterbury Cancer Centre in Christchurch today. The new facility is the first of its kind and was built with $6.5 million of funding from the Government’s Infrastructure Reference Group scheme for shovel-ready projects allocated in 2020. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 weeks ago

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