Who is the National caucus leaker?

Written By: - Date published: 9:52 am, September 22nd, 2018 - 140 comments
Categories: national, nz first, Politics, Simon Bridges, winston peters - Tags: ,

The noose is tightening.  And time is ticking.

Hundreds of thousands of dollars of taxpayers money are being spent via the Leader’s office fund to expensive accountancy and law firms to find out who someone is that it took a couple of days for the police to find out.

And Winston reckons he knows who it is.

In Parliament this week he said this:

Now, they’re trying to find somebody who we know—that is, the identity of the leaker in the National Party, and guess who’s paying for the inquiry? Why, the New Zealand taxpayer, through the Leader of the Opposition’s leadership office funding. The New Zealand taxpayer’s paying for this absolutely mindless, hopeless inquiry, the end pathway and result of which we already know. So why don’t we just cut to the chase here? Pay the money to over to us, and we’ll give you the answer. Ha, ha! It is phenomenal.

You know what? Twenty-two days later, we still are no wiser. With these major New Zealand companies in full pursuit, and yet we formed the coalition Government in half that time—11 days—after we knew what the special votes meant. Eleven days to form a coalition; 22 days to try and find out what other people know: namely, who leaked on Mr Bridges. Now, there are members over there that should be very nervous. I won’t look at them, because if I do, or look where they should be, then the suspicion will be cast on them without us getting the reward of disclosure. We are famous for disclosure, especially when it comes to the National Party’s sins.

He finished off by saying this:

Can I just say, as we come to close, that the National Party in Opposition is “dysfunction junction”. Nothing’s happening there. It’s a total mess. The leader can’t even get one out of four National Party supporters. Whilst we’re interested in good public policy, all they care about is public relations. We strive for action; all they strive for is unction. The member needs to reveal to the public—that’s Mr Bridges—who the leaker is, or I will.

Here is the video:

Of course Winston may be bluffing.  This would not be unheard of.

But a National insider is also convinced that he knows who the leaker is.

I believe that Winston Peters does know who the leaker is. It is pretty much an open secret now among National people. I understand that the leaker has admitted as such to some Young Nationals in Auckland. I also know now who it is, and that is from many sources, all saying the same name. The clock is ticking.

Observant and well informed journalists will also know as the leaker is now being shunned by caucus.

Jacinda Ardern, by sacking Meka the Muss has raised the bar on Simon Bridges. He can no longer be soft on this leaker. He has to rinse them and totally. Meka Whaitiri is still in parliament. If Bridges wants to appear stronger than Ardern then he is going to have to take a head, place it on a pike and let that be a warning for others.

Much as I have difficulty taking anything Cameron Slater seriously I do find that his comments on internal National Party matters are either accurate or part of a campaign.  Or both.

So it seems to be only a matter of time before the identity is released.  And then Simon Bridges is going to have to decide does he go completely over the top and punish someone with personal issues for releasing information a couple of days early or does he wuss out.

He has effectively boxed himself into a rather tight corner.  He should have let it rest and laugh it off when the leak first happened.

140 comments on “Who is the National caucus leaker? ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. cleangreen 1
    22 September 2018 at 10:06 am

    Top article there Micky,
    Winston is at the top of his form there and we are eternally grateful to his wit!!!!

    Winston’s determination to rattle national party to the core in deeply refreshing as they are evil, and deserve a ‘racking over the coals’.

    • Kat 1.1
      22 September 2018 at 7:19 pm

      Agree, Winston is doing well in batting the Nats pathetic negative nonsense away. Its the National opposition that are weak, in chaos, leaking and with poor ineffectual leadership still sulking about not being in power. And of course its all Winston’s fault for signing up with Labour and the Greens. What the National opposition fail to realise is more voters collectively don’t want them in power. That is MMP. One day, sometime in the very distant future, when the next “real” leader of the National Party is helicoptered in, commentators will look back at these days and wonder how a party with over 40% plus of the vote shot themselves in both feet and then hoisted themselves on their own petard.

      Meanwhile Jacinda and Winston make hay.

  2. james 2
    22 September 2018 at 10:07 am

    “And then Simon Bridges is going to have to decide does he go completely over the top and punish someone with personal issues for releasing information a couple of days early or does he wuss out.”

    I disagree that that is over the top – the person should be fired pure and simple.

    • mickysavage 2.1
      22 September 2018 at 10:11 am

      Why? It was a relatively trivial breach. Parliament is a weird place and people have bad days and do pretty stupid things there sometimes.

      • james 2.1.1
        22 September 2018 at 10:31 am

        “Why? It was a relatively trivial breach.”

        I think its a large breach of trust / rules and you would be fired for it in many places of work.

      • alwyn 2.1.2
        22 September 2018 at 10:56 am

        Whatever happened to that nice Chris Carter when he dared to tell the truth about Phil Goff’s ability?
        Such a trivial act wasn’t it?

      • Ross 2.1.3
        23 September 2018 at 12:00 pm

        It was a relatively trivial breach.

        Was it a trivial breach when Poto Williams publicly had a go at Willie Jackson prior to the last election? Apparently not, as then-leader Andrew Little no doubt had some strong words with her about her comments. He didn’t come out of that situation smelling like roses and was subsequently replaced as leader.

        Oh and was Jacinda happy for Greg O’Connor to say that her handling of the Clare Curran fiasco could’ve have been handled better? I’d say she was livid.

        • Ankerrawshark 2.1.3.1
          23 September 2018 at 2:26 pm

          Yes Ross I think she was livid about OConnors comments, but she made good use of the situation when Bridges was quoting O’Connor in parliament asking her is she agreed with O’Connor that lessons had been learnt etc. she smashed bridges and clipped O’Connor around the ear (figuratively speaking) by saying Greg O’Connor has learnt all the lessons he needed to from this situation. It was hilarious

          • cleangreen 2.1.3.1.1
            24 September 2018 at 7:43 am

            Well that’s the beauty of MMP with opposing views within a political group means that they are not just gutless to examine their own ‘hasty’ views and policies.

        • Westiechick 2.1.3.2
          23 September 2018 at 3:03 pm

          The Poto Williams thing was not trivial. It was disloyal, damaging and stupid and showed a lack of judgement. Please don’t make Poto a Minister.

          • veutoviper 2.1.3.2.1
            23 September 2018 at 3:16 pm

            Poto Williams is a Deputy Speaker and doing a good job in that role, so she is unlikely to become a Minister.

    • Incognito 2.2
      22 September 2018 at 10:17 am

      I agree, name & shame them, for National treason.

    • dV 2.3
      22 September 2018 at 10:18 am

      the person should be fired pure and simple.

      Can an MP be fired?

      Removed from caucus maybe, but from parliament by a leader?

      Isn’t that what the waka jumping bill is about?

      • james 2.3.1
        22 September 2018 at 10:31 am

        I honestly do not know about the rules for firing.

      • mickysavage 2.3.2
        22 September 2018 at 10:32 am

        Electorate MPs are safe even under the Waka jumping bill

        • Dukeofurl 2.3.2.1
          22 September 2018 at 10:44 am

          Are you sure on Electorate Mps are ‘safe’

          55A(1)This section applies to every member of Parliament, except a member elected as an independent

          http://www.legislation.govt.nz/bill/government/2017/0006/latest/whole.html#DLM7478608
          With an electorate Mp they cant just be replaced by next on the list but via a by election.

          • mickysavage 2.3.2.1.1
            22 September 2018 at 10:51 am

            Right you are. One subject I have not followed in detail.

            • veutoviper 2.3.2.1.1.1
              22 September 2018 at 12:45 pm

              I have followed it in detail and you may recall I did a long comment on it. This whole area is still very much under debate with a number of SOPs still to be considered etc including to limit the Bill to list members only etc, etc. Not too many more sleeps though – extended hours next week.

              • Dukeofurl …
                22 September 2018 at 3:59 pm

                That would be interesting but the reality is ALL Mps are there to reflect the proportionality of parliament- apart from Overhang Mps

                Everybody seems to think the electorate Mps are declared elected and are topped up by list Mps from list.

                Thats not the case, only the Party vote decides the total for each party , of all types.
                The electorate Mps just affect the order in which Mps are decided, ie they are first then any remaining list Mps who havent won electorates.

                • veutoviper …
                  22 September 2018 at 4:30 pm

                  Again, read properly before reacting.

                  Did I say that it was a good or bad thing whether the Bill was limited to list MPs or applied to all MPs? No, I didn’t.

                  I simply said that there are quite a number of Supplementary Order Papers still to be considered which include proposals to limit the Bill at this time to list MPs. Go look them up – there are 34 of them currently and there is still time for more to be filed.

                  These will be considered by the Committee of the Whole House during the remaining Committee stages of the Bill in accordance with Standing Orders which govern the workings of Parliament and the passage of legislation through the House.

                  So what you, I or anyone else who is not a current MP in the House consider to be the right thing in theory in terms of proportionality (or any other relevant matter) is long past, and it is now up to MPs and their Parties to decide what will apply in fact.

                  And who is this “Everybody” you speak of? I can assure you that not “Everybody” thinks that. I certainly don’t “think the electorate Mps are declared elected and are topped up by list Mps from list”.and therefore it is not “Everybody” by definition.

                  • Dukeofurl …
                    22 September 2018 at 5:46 pm

                    Your comments always are interesting

                    However ‘my theory’ is more than just my musings.

                    “The first vote is for the political party the voter chooses. This is called the party vote and largely decides the total number of seats each political party gets in Parliament.”
                    https://www.elections.org.nz/voting-system/mmp-voting-system

                    The progress of amending legislation on possible removal of Mps doesnt change how our Mps are declared elected after an election .
                    Thats more than theory , its FACT.

      • Dukeofurl 2.3.3
        22 September 2018 at 10:32 am

        The previous exmaple Donna Huata was ‘fired’ , as she wasnt a ‘splitter’ but her
        criminal activities discredited the ACT party

        While ACT was happy to flip flop on legislation they opposed and use its provisions, cant see national doing that. They have covered up criminal activities rather than expel someone in the Barclay affair.

    • Muttonbird 2.4
      22 September 2018 at 10:28 am

      James, isn’t it criminal that Simoan is wasting hundreds of thousands of dollars of taxpayer money on enquiries when most of Wellington knows already, after wasting hundreds of thousands of dollars of taxpayer money on limousines?

      • james 2.4.1
        22 September 2018 at 10:33 am

        They “know” already huh?

        I assume they have evidence to back this up? Or are they guessing.

        Perhaps they “know” like people “knew” about Clarke Gayford.

  3. Anne 3
    22 September 2018 at 10:07 am

    I’m de-esperate to know who it is. Not sure how long I can stand the suspense. 😈

    • Dukeofurl 3.1
      22 September 2018 at 10:28 am

      My guess is still Bishop. Thats mostly the reason why Oily Orca is such a buzz over it. His enemies withing National are those who are relatively Liberal wing.
      Bishop too has recently had a ‘personal crisis’ when it was revealed as the Snapchatter plus hes way down the party rankings at #37 when others similar such as Jami Lee Ross are the #7- all could produce a sense of deep despair.

      • veutoviper 3.1.1
        22 September 2018 at 12:53 pm

        Can’t possibly be Bishop. Trevor allowed him to take one of his “women” into the House on Wednesday and she had NO CLOTHES ON.

        https://twitter.com/cjsbishop/status/1042631242707951617

        • Dukeofurl 3.1.1.1
          22 September 2018 at 5:21 pm

          Dont continue to be a dickhead about clothing.
          Women Mps get enough grief from social media about what they wear as it is without someone trying to score political points by comparing what they wore on one day to the next.
          It becomes part of a cacophony of shrill and odious sledging . Im sure you never intended to be part of that but just. dont. do. it.

          • Cinny 3.1.1.1.1
            22 September 2018 at 6:52 pm

            duke, did you click on the link? It was a picture of Bishops rather cute fluffy white dog. JS.

            • Dukeofurl 3.1.1.1.1.1
              22 September 2018 at 8:09 pm

              Yes I saw the dog. The comment was about clothing…. Just another disjointed
              series of ramblingss from VV who just won’t leave yesterday’s discussion alone.

              • veutoviper …
                23 September 2018 at 11:35 am

                Talk about the pot calling the kettle black! LOLZ

                You were the one that would not leave yesterday’s discussion alone – which went on and on because your reading comprehension completely missed the point of referring in a neutral non-judgmental way to clothing to differentiate between two days, despite my attempts and those of others to point this out to you.

                Sure, my comment above was not a good attempt at humour; but you really should take your own advice – and “just.dont.do.it”.

                As to calling me a “dickhead” – again LOLZ. As I said in yesterday’s discussion (and have many times here on TS) – I AM A WOMAN and therefore do not have a dick!

                I also think that the odds are that you are male and are the “dickhead” – and one who really does not understand the meaning of “mansplaining”. Have another LOLZ.

  4. Ankerrawshark 4
    22 September 2018 at 10:14 am

    Oh please can we have a sweep stake…

    My money is still on the quinella of Collins/whale oil

    And good to turn the tables on bridges weak meme……….

  5. Muttonbird 5
    22 September 2018 at 10:14 am

    For a moment I read, “Who is the National caucus leader?”

    Then I had to think a moment more…🤣

  6. Ankerrawshark 6
    22 September 2018 at 10:15 am

    Muttonbird lol

  7. Muttonbird 7
    22 September 2018 at 10:17 am

    Who is being shunned by the Nats’ caucus? This shouldn’t be difficult for a real independent political journalist to find out.

    Oh, we don’t have any.

    • Chuck 7.1
      22 September 2018 at 10:38 am

      Your bottom jaw will drop Muttonbird when the big reveal happens.

      • Muttonbird 7.1.1
        22 September 2018 at 10:49 am

        Not sure if there is some sort of clue in there but I suspect there will be no big reveal. It will end with stonewalling and a shut-down by Bridges who will hide behind some sort of concern for privacy and mental health.

        Bishop does have a massive bottom jaw…

      • ianmac 7.1.2
        22 September 2018 at 11:58 am

        Could it be that Bridges was the leaker? He does seem to have personal issues over being unpopular, and lacking credibility and prone to ranting. Come on Chuck tell us.

        • Chuck 7.1.2.1
          22 September 2018 at 4:46 pm

          The salient facts to date…

          The police are ok the “leaker” does not have mental health issues but will not tell Bridges who it is due to privacy reasons.

          While Trev Mallard finds the text to be from someone clearly very disturbed.

          All Nat MP’s have signed waivers to have their devices looked over by PwC and Simpson Grierson.

          The travel expenses were to be released anyway (only days after the leak). The leak was not so much “wow look how much was spent”, rather it was to imply disharmony within the Nat’s.

          It was clumsy…

          • Sacha 7.1.2.1.1
            22 September 2018 at 9:18 pm

            The Police said the leaker was not at immediate risk, that’s all. Nobody other than you has tried to dismiss mental illness as a factor. Or is it a line from somewhere ..

      • Dukeofurl 7.1.3
        22 September 2018 at 12:20 pm

        Chucky , is the clue in this previous WO post ?

        https://www.whaleoil.co.nz/2018/02/amay-adams-puddle-supporters/

        ‘Looking for the world like New Zealand’s version of Theresa May, the “May-bot” had the National caucus’s most disliked MP, Nikki Kaye, and National’s biggest leaker, Chris Bishop, along with New Zealand’s favourite grandmother, Maggie Barry, and rounded out by Tim “Nice but Dim” Macindoe. She made mention of climate change several times and bizarrely described herself as a “progressive”, after declaring she held true to all of National’s principles.’

        • OnceWasTim 7.1.3.1
          22 September 2018 at 2:08 pm

          Glad to see you’ve got a sense of humour.
          It’s a bloody shame we no longer have any comedic ridicule of the political class (other than maybe a few static muppets stuck to a pub wall across the road)
          James and others who can’t seem to take their hands off their cocks can find a few in the government – mainly based on personality (maybe like “Cindy has a big set of crockery).
          Whereas you look across the isle, and the problem is substance (as well as personality of course)
          Tim…Nice but Dim; Dear old Nafe who never inhaled; fark! the list is endless.
          You have to wonder how they can maintain any sense of smugness – and that’s at the feral end of the party. Then you look at the pretenders – some of who I have a great deal of pity for (such as Krus Funlaysin)

          Probably time for a gNatzi split when all said and done, although a good many of the fuddy duddies are either on the way out and in pursuit of other careers, or quite content with a future of embittered irrelevance.

          Oh dear, how sad

      • cleangreen 7.1.4
        22 September 2018 at 3:46 pm

        OK Chuck Schumer. is the Senate Minority leader and senior member of the the US democratic party.

        on 7.1

        Though your net worth is a modest US $850 K do you actually believe you are better off here in Gods own in NZ????

        Do you know who the leaker was inside NZ National Party?

        By the article that I see you are inside the war over in the US against President Trump.

        So if you have some inside info on our leaker in NZ, please share with us your knowledge?

        I tend to thin it is Bishop or Collins.

    • alwyn 7.2
      22 September 2018 at 1:39 pm

      But you don’t need such a thing.
      You have told us above that
      “when most of Wellington knows already”.
      Does that mean you are not on the insiders list or did you just make that statement up?
      Come on, if you know just tell.
      Otherwise simply confess that nobody talks to you.

      • Muttonbird 7.2.1
        22 September 2018 at 1:46 pm

        I knew you were naive but I didn’t know you were that naive.

        I’m not a Wellington insider, nor in the Police, and I’m not a politician so I don’t know, but they all do and you are being willfully stupid if you think otherwise (so normal transmission for you).

  8. Ngungukai 8
    22 September 2018 at 10:17 am

    We need to get this issue out onto the Public Arena as this is serious stuff ?

  9. Incognito 9
    22 September 2018 at 10:22 am

    All this brouhaha and spending of precious taxpayers’ money (where is Jordan Williams?) just to plaster over the internal cracks of the National Party. I’d call it pathetic pragmatism.

  10. Anne 10
    22 September 2018 at 10:30 am

    From C Slater quote:

    I understand that the leaker has admitted as such to some Young Nationals in Auckland.

    List of National MPs

    • Dukeofurl 10.1
      22 September 2018 at 10:35 am

      Who is the national spokesman for ‘Youth Affairs’ – LOL when hes acts more like 35 going on 48.

      Plus it has to be someone with animus to Bridges- and didnt support him in the leadership and paid a steep price for backing the wrong horse

      • Muttonbird 10.1.1
        22 September 2018 at 10:57 am

        Gawd. They actually put the Snapchatter in that portfolio. Brings new meaning to the words, “Youth Affairs”.😕

        • stunned mullet 10.1.1.1
          22 September 2018 at 11:26 am

          Classy paedophile smear Muttonbird.

          • Muttonbird 10.1.1.1.1
            22 September 2018 at 11:30 am

            Amazing he thought it appropriate to snapchat teenagers. If there was nothing more sinister going on it shows a remarkable lack of judgement at the very least.

            • Stunned Mullet 10.1.1.1.1.1
              22 September 2018 at 11:35 am

              You seem to know a great deal about what is appropriate or not regarding teenagers and a particularly creepy interest in paedophilia.

              • roy cartland …
                22 September 2018 at 12:05 pm

                Classy paedophile smear Muttonbird SM.

                • Stunned Mullet …
                  22 September 2018 at 12:07 pm

                  Thanks Roy – coming from you that’s high praise indeed.

                • Dukeofurl …
                  22 September 2018 at 12:15 pm

                  Who mentioned the P word but you Cartland and Mullet.

                  Its just highly inappropriate to snapchat pre teens ( as they were 12 yrs old) behind their parents backs.

                  It was national party policy to NOT use snapchat as a social media, thats why we know its inappropriate other than being bleeding obvious….duhh

      • Anne 10.1.2
        22 September 2018 at 10:58 am

        I might be on the the wrong road here but:

        Have a glimpse at Wikipedia’s list of previous occupations for Auckland’s Nat MPs.

        • Ankerrawshark 10.1.2.1
          22 September 2018 at 12:13 pm

          Oh Anne please give us a hint or a link. Tried looking myself without success.

          I know we do need to be careful about what we say

          • Anne 10.1.2.1.1
            22 September 2018 at 1:02 pm

            Follow the money?

            I could be up the creek without a paddle y’know. 🙂

            • Ankerrawshark 10.1.2.1.1.1
              22 September 2018 at 1:09 pm

              Thanks for that Anne. Got sick of scrolling through Nat posts profiles

              • Anne …
                22 September 2018 at 4:20 pm

                I should have loaded a wink not a smile at the end of that phrase. There’s a clue there among then thar words. Note also, the leaker has ties with the Young Nats. 😉

  11. Ankerrawshark 11
    22 September 2018 at 10:42 am

    Ok just read whale oil link. Can’t be Collins.

    I am really puzzled now

    Wonder if BM etc still maintain its all labour’s fault

  12. Nick K 12
    22 September 2018 at 10:56 am

    Peters is and always has been a bullshit artist. I believe nothing he says, and never will.

  13. Ankerrawshark 13
    22 September 2018 at 12:33 pm

    Actually more serious than the leak is discussing that he leaked with the young Nats IF that is true as WO claims. That would be brazen undermining of Simon whose trying to look serious and strong by having an investigation

  14. Cinny 14
    22 September 2018 at 1:25 pm

    Where’s paula? Pretty sure I didn’t see her in parliament this week.

    • Ed 14.1
      22 September 2018 at 1:33 pm

      Someone mentioned this earlier in the week.
      Her absence from 125th suffrage anniversary.
      There were concerns she was not well, from memory.

      • Muttonbird 14.1.1
        22 September 2018 at 1:48 pm

        Bad batch of silage.

        [lprent: Are you looking to become a steer. I think I remember the technique. ]

    • veutoviper 14.2
      22 September 2018 at 2:20 pm

      She was in Parliament on Tuesday, and did a photo shoot and video with Bridges and Nicola Willis that day on Suffrage etc.

      But she was not in the House on Wednesday, Suffrage 125 Day itself, nor on Thursday – and missed all of the Suffrage Day speeches in the House and photos with most of the women MPS on Wednesday.

      I was part of a loooonnnnnggg discussion yesterday on the above subjects, which you would probably appreciate. LOL

      https://thestandard.org.nz/how-some-men-celebrated-suffrage-day/#comment-1526983

      No mention of why she was absent etc etc and she was quiet on Twitter etc, but she did tweet about a housing development opening she did in Auckland yesterday.

      https://twitter.com/paulabennettmp/status/1042959177386082304

      I recommend that no-one mentions what Bennett or anyone else is wearing in that picture – unless you too want to go through what I did yesterday. LOLS

      • Cinny 14.2.1
        22 September 2018 at 3:15 pm

        Thanks VV for that info and the links, much appreciated 🙂 and lolololz after reading the TS link, funny re the clothing, totally appreciate where you were coming from.

        I did hear Miss 13 say ‘ewwwww gross what on earth is she doing there?’…. the other night when she was watching ‘the block’ as paula appeared in a promo for next weeks show.

      • Dukeofurl 14.2.2
        22 September 2018 at 5:53 pm

        Dont be a dickhead about what ‘learnings’ there are to be taken from what women Mps wear and when. Stay way from clothes, hairstyle etc as it encourages grosser comments. I doubt you want to be even of the fringe of that.
        There are no Lolz either Cinny

        • Cinny 14.2.2.1
          22 September 2018 at 6:50 pm

          Nothing to do with what’s in fashion or looks good/bad on people.

          The discussion VV was drawing attention to was the complete over reaction by some when VV commented this…. “From their clothing, those photos were taken on Tuesday, 18 Sept, not yesterday Suffrage Day”

          duke, women don’t often wear the same gear two days in a row, especially those in prominent positions. Personally as a fashion designer this is something I’m acutely aware of. VV made an observation, not a judgement or a criticism, but someone went bonkers about it, even when it was explained to them. And yes I found the over reaction rather funny.

          No ‘lolz’ you say? Better send a letter to the Oxford Dictionary then. LOLZ 🙂

          lolz (also lols) plural noun informal
          Fun, laughter, or amusement.

          https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/lolz

        • veutoviper 14.2.2.2
          23 September 2018 at 11:10 am

          “Dont be a dickhead”

          I cannot be. I AM a woman – and I do not have a dick.

          Cinny is also a woman. So I doubt that she has a dick.

          So stop mansplaining to us.

    • cleangreen 14.3
      23 September 2018 at 10:40 am

      Yes Cinny

      Paula is like a “jacquline in a box” strangely hasn’t she?

  15. Roflcopter 15
    22 September 2018 at 1:38 pm

    I guess the person must have been cleared from all mental issues, since you decided to have another go at them

    • lprent 15.1
      22 September 2018 at 3:19 pm

      Have you applied that logic to Simon’s expensive crusade? Or are you merely being a hypocrite?

      Please explain your personal logic a bit more clearly when casting stones.

      • Chris T 15.1.1
        22 September 2018 at 3:35 pm

        Will be interesting to see if Bridges actually releases the name and what he does.

        I’ll ignore anything Winston says as he is full of shit 9 x out of 10.

        With the money being spent I don’t particularly see the big deal. It can’t be anymore than the money spent on inquiries into the two suddenly ex Ministers

        • Dukeofurl 15.1.1.1
          22 September 2018 at 4:10 pm

          What enquirys. Did they involve high priced consultants or were they just informal and to get both sides.

          Bridges Limo Tour of the small towns and provinces $100k..so far
          Queen St Consultants reports , say $75k each on who released the numbers 4 days early.
          Priceless

          • Chris T 15.1.1.1.1
            22 September 2018 at 4:30 pm

            Do you think the people trawling through gmail, the police checking whether to charge for assault, the interviews with staff members , the employment lawyers, the compensation to a dude who moved his family from the other side of the world are all freebies and the work is done during everyone’s lunchtime?

            • Dukeofurl 15.1.1.1.1.1
              22 September 2018 at 5:28 pm

              Police wont even think about it unless there was a complaint

              As for Meka , as shes lost her ministerial job, so have all her staff. No need for employment lawyers.

              As for wasting time – have you the seem the daily avalanche of hundreds of written questions from nationals Mps to ministers about every diary item and every report for every day .

              Making sure they are concentrating on things that matter to kiwis!

              • Chris T …
                22 September 2018 at 6:09 pm

                Lol

                If you think Meka’s issue didn’t need employment lawyers then you seriously need to learn how staff assault accusations work

        • Bewildered 15.1.1.2
          22 September 2018 at 5:08 pm

          Yep Winston is pas Les Master in playing mind games, they don’t know what I know so I will use that to spray as much bs as possible or if not sure I will just slander and hide behind parliament , he really is a politician with out any virtue nor that high morale and ethics can be found in most politicians as Cindy has also graphically displayed with her I never lie but Winston tops it as a student of machavellie and has done so all is career, a smiling prick in short order

  16. JustMe 16
    22 September 2018 at 3:14 pm

    Even whilst in government the NZ National Party MPs became expert at mis-spending NZ taxpayers money.
    Again National is treating the NZ taxpayers as being the ambulance at the bottom of the cliff. Their attitude is OUR money is ‘easy come/easy go’.
    Simon Bridges knows perfectly well who the leaker is. But he isn’t going to say anything in the hope the matter dies down and NZers will have forgotten about it as time goes by.
    But one can see that Bridges’ approach is throwing the entire NZ National Party into scrutiny as to what little credibility it has left. That is the lack of Bridges to say whom the culprit is throws uncertainty and mistrust upon EVERY National MP by the NZ voting public.
    If NZers cannot trust ONE National MP then that indicates National really are in for a hiding at election time.
    Yesterday morning I was thinking that polticians, especially the National Party lot, are expert also at lying. And so if or when Bridges says he completely trusts his MPs we sure as Hell know he doesn’t and he probably doesn’t have many dependable National Party friends who will stand beside him.
    Here is a quote that I thought about recently: If one goes through life lying to others especially for the purpose of self-gain then one is not living a fulfilling life. Meaning you cannot carry on through life thinking that lies and deception will get you anywhere because at the end of the day(as the saying goes)you must be honest with yourself and others.
    A politician who lies copiously and without abandon isn’t living a fulfilling life but one of wanting to satisfy his/her wants for mostly material gain i.e money, ego, and attention seeking purposes. That certainly is not a very good way of living but we all know politicians are very selfish people.
    Simon Bridges comes across as a coward. Someone who would run off from something rather than face the situation. He doesn’t encourage trust let alone respect. Not since he used NZ taxpayers to fund his travel and accommodation costs around the “Get to Know Me” tour. Still well done Simon at your exceptional work at destroying the NZ National Party. Keep up the good work.

    • Bewildered 16.1
      22 September 2018 at 4:53 pm

      One problem with your logic me even with a Ledd than aspiring leader they still poll at 45 perenrb plus I think Key and Ardern have us that the leader of either party can push the Center vote 1 to 3 percent, in about case impact who votes green who votes red but barring that it takes a monumental balls up and lack of talent labour displayed in opposition to really cause a whole scale collapse in either national or labour’s vote, while Simon sound great he’s no cunliff or angry

    • Bewildered 16.2
      22 September 2018 at 4:53 pm

      One problem with your logic just me Nationsl even with a Less than aspiring leader they still poll at 45 percent plus I think Key and Ardern have shown that the leader of either party can push the Center vote 1 to 3 percent, in labours case also impact who votes green who votes red but barring that it takes a monumental balls up and lack of talent labour displayed in opposition to really cause a whole scale collapse in either national or labour’s vote, while Simon not great he’s no cunliff or angry Likewise Simon gets a pass card due to puddle deep talent in labour thus he doesnt look that bad in context

      • Chris T 16.2.1
        22 September 2018 at 5:07 pm

        Pretty much this

      • Anne 16.2.2
        22 September 2018 at 5:23 pm

        How about you learn to string sentences together Mr/Ms “Bewildered” then we might actually bother to read what you have to say.

        • Bewildered 16.2.2.1
          22 September 2018 at 5:38 pm

          Yes dear, remember every one hates a corrector little Annie, hence your troubled school days

        • Incognito 16.2.2.2
          22 September 2018 at 7:15 pm

          It could have been worse if Bewildered had not used 114 spaces between the words and those two commas.

          I deduced that Cunliffe was sorry that Key was a man with no balls and that Simon has got one red and one green ball.

          • Muttonbird 16.2.2.2.1
            22 September 2018 at 7:18 pm

            And how ironic bewildered talks about puddle deep talent.

            • Incognito 16.2.2.2.1.1
              22 September 2018 at 7:32 pm

              People have drowned in puddles. It doesn’t matter how deep it is if you go face-down. Mind you, National is losing face so they won’t have to worry about how shallow their talent pool puddle is.

              • Muttonbird …
                22 September 2018 at 7:36 pm

                It’s quite amazing that as soon as JA exercises her authority domestically and abroad, the Nats suddenly look a lot weaker and increasingly petty by comparison.

                This is when the hard realities of opposition life begin to bite for that sort corrupt bunch. Expect to see a lot of movement in bloodletting and resignations in the coming months.

                • Incognito …
                  22 September 2018 at 8:09 pm

                  National has got two options: to find a new leader to give a fresh and more human face to their dying ideology or to paint some fresh new ideas over their dying ideology to keep the deception going for a little longer (but it won’t stop the rot). Or both.

          • Anne 16.2.2.2.2
            22 September 2018 at 8:35 pm

            Incognito @ 16.2.2.2
            My sides are aching.

      • Robert Guyton 16.2.3
        22 September 2018 at 7:33 pm

        What is a “Less than aspiring leader” ???

        • Stuart Munro 16.2.3.1
          22 September 2018 at 7:34 pm

          Most of the Gnats – more comfortable wielding a knife from behind than fronting anything.

        • OnceWasTim 16.2.3.2
          23 September 2018 at 3:45 pm

          I don’t know – tell me. Is it a dog pissing against every lamp post it comes across desperately trying to gain territory?
          Nah! can’t be. Apparently most of the lamp posts are rotting already and won’t last much longer without one of those concrete cube Brownlees propping them up.
          mmmmm. Is it a jude? or maybe a truck stop gal that’s undergone a reality TV show reummige?

          Shit! I think I’ve run out of clues.

    • cleangreen 16.3
      23 September 2018 at 10:43 am

      100% JustMe. – Well said.

  17. Anne 17
    22 September 2018 at 5:41 pm

    If you can’t be bothered ‘to learn your grammar’ that’s fine. We’ll scroll over the top of you. We do anyway. 🙂

  18. One Two 18
    22 September 2018 at 6:44 pm

    Eleven and Twenty Two

    Mocking, toying, sneering…

  19. cleangreen 19
    23 September 2018 at 10:49 am

    Maybe the leaker was “the other person on the grassy knoll”??????

  20. Brian Tregaskin 20
    23 September 2018 at 4:00 pm

    Careful we don’t head into defamation country –i sense a name will be dropped here –sooner or later.

  21. Michael Smythe 21
    23 September 2018 at 6:29 pm

    Way back I suggested it is a strategy to have someone ‘fired’ from caucus before the waka jumping bill is passed so they can stay in parliament an form a new conservative anti–big government party to create a potential coalition buddy for National.

    • Muttonbird 21.1
      23 September 2018 at 6:39 pm

      The whole thing is so clumsy it has to be deliberate. It stinks to high heaven, especially with the police and most of Wellington knowing, the faux enquiries, and the delay in naming.

      I’d say that if National are pulling a stunt like this the public will savage them badly. Perhaps that’s the reason for continued secrecy – Bridges is getting cold feet about the plan.

      • Anne 21.1.1
        23 September 2018 at 6:49 pm

        Unless Bridges wasn’t in on the plan and ‘they’ failed to predict he would set up a full scale investigation.

        I dunno, it just doesn’t make any sense yet. Maybe when we know who the leaker was… the pieces will start to fall into place.

  22. Brian Tregaskin 22
    23 September 2018 at 7:36 pm

    “Way back I suggested it is a strategy to have someone ‘fired’ from caucus before the waka jumping bill is passed so they can stay in parliament an form a new conservative anti–big government party to create a potential coalition buddy for National.”
    Nice plan — MSM will love it

  23. Brian Tregaskin 23
    23 September 2018 at 7:41 pm

    “The whole thing is so clumsy it has to be deliberate. It stinks to high heaven, especially with the police and most of Wellington knowing, the faux enquiries, and the delay in naming.

    I’d say that if National are pulling a stunt like this the public will savage them badly. Perhaps that’s the reason for continued secrecy – Bridges is getting cold feet about the plan.”
    Its backfired already if we are talking about it here.

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