Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: On the Clark candidacy

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  • Rosemary McDonald,

    I'm one of the guilty, perhaps, for getting into this issue on The Standard last night, so I won't sully this by repeating my rant.

    However, as a commenter on TS posted this morning...Fox took exactly the opposite stance on Clark's bid for higher office on Waatea News back in April.

    IMHO...Fox is acting like a true politician....showing a flexible set of principals, changing according to whatever controls the political climate.

    It would be absolutely awesome to have a New Zealander heading up the UN...especially one with a proven track record for consistently and intelligently speaking out on the factors that keep the world in conflict. Primarily, inequality and gender discrimination.

    My vote would go to Marilyn Waring.

    Waikato, or on the road • Since Apr 2014 • 1346 posts Report Reply

  • keeaa,

    I can agree with all of this except "it would be nice (and good for New Zealand) to have a New Zealander in the role". Best person for the job should get it, no matter where they're from, and New Zealand is well down the list of countries that need "good" to come from the UN.

    Since Nov 2014 • 19 posts Report Reply

  • Dan Salmon,

    Looks like Dr Carl thought he better do some post-post research. Tweets have gone...

    Auckland • Since Mar 2011 • 40 posts Report Reply

  • Jeff from Accounting,

    Former co-leader Tariana Turia offers lukewarm approval for Clark.
    http://www.maoritelevision.com/news/politics/maori-party-co-founder-endorses-helen-clark-top-un-job

    Since May 2009 • 4 posts Report Reply

  • ThoughtSpur, in reply to keeaa,

    Yes, I agree with this point. To think that the Secretary General is able to confer favour on their home turf is probably 180 degrees from the reality of the role. It might confer warm fuzzies on New Zealanders to think one of 'our own' is in a big job, that's how we seem to roll - but Clark is a private citizen and applying for a job in that capacity. If she advances her career and good trickles down from it then fantastic - but she isn't representing New Zealanders, except as co-denizens of the this blue marble.

    Auckland • Since Aug 2007 • 15 posts Report Reply

  • Jason Kemp,

    I read that Ungerer post in the Guardian and thought it was clearly wrong.

    The SG position is not something any of us get to vote on. Indirectly some of us may have influence but whomever gets the role needs to reform the UN. My guess is that most votes will be split between the status quo or a change candidate.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 368 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Jeff from Accounting,

    Former co-leader Tariana Turia offers lukewarm approval for Clark.

    Gee, that is interesting. And it’s a bit more than lukewarm, really.

    “I do think she is, I do think she’s got all the skills and abilities that we would want in that position, so yes I do. Well I didn’t agree with Helen’s position on the foreshore and seabed. I certainly have had some considerable regard for her.”

    She’s actually more implicitly critical of her former Maori Party colleagues.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel,

    I'm guessing Dr Carl Ungerer mistook the 5 Eyes alliance for the ANZUS alliance which has, you know, 5 letters (but only 3 countries) ...

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to ThoughtSpur,

    Yes, I agree with this point. To think that the Secretary General is able to confer favour on their home turf is probably 180 degrees from the reality of the role.

    I think there's an advantage in having a SG who understands New Zealand and similar countries and their interests, but as I said, not the main reason.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • James Littlewood*,

    I've been biting my tongue on the whole issue since she launched her candidacy. Surprised it took as long to come out as it did. Meanwhile, I'd been hoping that she'd have spoken to tangata whenua about it from the get go, considering the hand her government played. And dealt.

    "Needing good" is not the main requirement for a leader, who should "give good." And "best person for job" is HR speak, which has little to do with senior political roles. The boxes those candidates have to tick are about charisma and representation. The first, if you have to write it down, you ain't got it. The second is _all about_ who you are and where you're from.

    New Zealand is consistently ranked 1st or 2nd in the world for clean government, ease of business and low corruption. That's something we (she) can contribute (actually under Clark we were consistently 1st. We've slipped under Key). And, if we fared better than most through the GFC, that would be in large part due to the nicely stuffed coffers Clark and Cullen left behind them. Again: good outcome.

    I well and truly sympathise for tangata whenua and the treatment Maori received at the hands of Clark's govt. I also dig the idea of her running the UN. But I still need to check out all the candidates before I figure which one of those views carries the most weight.

    And also: who would the Maori Party prefer?

    Auckland • Since Mar 2008 • 410 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to James Littlewood*,

    And also: who would the Maori Party prefer?

    They don’t seem to have looked that far, or even considered what Clark’s done in the UNDP job, which is something I do feel comfortable faulting them for.

    But possibly Irina Bokova, director-general of UNESCO. I don’t think she’s anywhere near as qualified as Clark though.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Hilary Stace,

    I’ve had a bit of a moan today about the Maori Party’s active role in the removal of disability rights in the 2013 NZ Public Health and Disability Amendment Act No 2. Their support enabled the bill to pass. An act that specifically removed complaints under the Bill of Rights Act. What’s more they later lied and claimed they had not supported it. So much for the moral high ground – one lot of rights is apparently more important than another.

    But having said all that I also believe in restorative justice so why can’t there now be some sort of facilitated apology/acknowledgement process between Helen Clark and the Maori Party?

    Wgtn • Since Jun 2008 • 3229 posts Report Reply

  • Hilary Stace,

    By the way the current Maori Party are allies in seeking disability rights.

    Wgtn • Since Jun 2008 • 3229 posts Report Reply

  • Bart Janssen,

    The Maori party are entirely right to have a negative opinion of the Labour party that passed the foreshore and seabed legislation and of Helen Clark who led Labour at the time.

    What bugs me is the idea that she could not have learned from experience and perhaps might be a better now in her role in UN - having learned from past mistakes.

    It's their call to make. I just get the feeling it's being made looking backwards rather than forwards, but that's the The Maori Party's call.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 4461 posts Report Reply

  • izogi, in reply to keeaa,

    Best person for the job should get it, no matter where they're from

    Same here.

    I'm confident that Helen Clark has good qualifications, at least as much as could be said for anyone, but I'd like the best person for the job---whatever that is---to actually have the job.

    I do wish we were getting some more rounded media coverage of all twelve current candidates, what's needed for the UN and what could be expected from them. Neither blind cheerleading for Helen Clark nor frequent comparisons with Kevin Rudd (who's not even been nominated) seem terribly meaningful.

    Wellington • Since Jan 2007 • 1142 posts Report Reply

  • Rosemary McDonald, in reply to Hilary Stace,

    I’ve had a bit of a moan today about the Maori Party’s active role in the removal of disability rights in the 2013 NZ Public Health and Disability Amendment Act No 2.

    The basis of my rant on The Standard.

    "By the way the current Maori Party are allies in seeking disability rights."

    Do you remember Turia's support for the payment of family carers? Her initiative to have some Maori family carers paid? Her talking about her own family's experience with disabled family members?

    Yet when push came to shove....all that went out the window for a $1.2 billion commitment from the 2013 Budget for Maori Initiatives.

    And then she and Flavell denied having voted with the Government on the Part 4 amendment.

    The MP were supposed to be allies back then too.

    I don't think any Party can be properly described as being allies...

    Heavy sigh....

    Waikato, or on the road • Since Apr 2014 • 1346 posts Report Reply

  • Ianmac,

    Perhaps John Key should get the job at UN.
    He has plenty of experience at saying what his audience wants to hear.
    He is very flexible with principles.
    Has no problem reversing his previous statements.
    He is good buddies with a lot of Leaders.
    He has a low golf handicap.
    Do I have a seconder?

    Bleneim • Since Aug 2008 • 135 posts Report Reply

  • Lilith __,

    I think Helen Clark is brilliant. Other people are entitled to their views, and I understand that the Foreshore and Seabed Act and the Urewera Raids have led to bitterness.

    The Clark government achieved much in the area of equitable social policy. John Key’s government has intentionally increased inequity, with tax cuts for the rich, sale of state assets, privatisation in the public sector (prisons, schools), gutting of the social housing system, a “penal welfare” system that treats beneficiaries as criminals who need correction…

    The Maori Party has enabled Key’s government.

    Dunedin • Since Jul 2010 • 3895 posts Report Reply

  • Moz, in reply to James Littlewood*,

    I'd been hoping that she'd have spoken to tangata whenua about it from the get go

    Isn't there an important difference between tangata whenua and the Maori Party?

    Sydney, West Island • Since Nov 2006 • 1233 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Rosemary McDonald,

    However, as a commenter on TS posted this morning...Fox took exactly the opposite stance on Clark's bid for higher office on Waatea News back in April.

    Whoa. She was on TV this morning saying that declining to endorse had been the party's position all along.

    I guess you could draw a line between her personal view and that of the party, but it still seems rather strange. I wonder what happened?

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Kevin McCready,

    Best person should get the job. I've seen ZERO sensible comparison of candidates in NZ press, Pity. Shame on you all.

    Auckland • Since Jun 2013 • 119 posts Report Reply

  • mpledger,

    The Maori Parties position bugs me because IMO it's the best position for them to take that serves their petty self-interests rather than being about who is the best candidate for the top job to run an agency that covers the world.

    IMO Helen Clark runs her own agency too well for the powers that be to want to elevate her to a higher position.

    Nowadays, only the incompetent get promoted. The incompetent have to depend so much more on others to get the job done and they get to grab swathes of the power while being beyond view.

    Since Oct 2012 • 97 posts Report Reply

  • nzlemming, in reply to Russell Brown,

    I wonder what happened?

    Polling results? #cynical

    Waikanae • Since Nov 2006 • 2937 posts Report Reply

  • nzlemming, in reply to Lilith __,

    The Maori Party has enabled Key’s government.

    This. The Maori Party's alliance with National has left the Maori people worse off than before they took office. And all to take utu on Labour.

    Waikanae • Since Nov 2006 • 2937 posts Report Reply

  • James Littlewood*, in reply to Moz,

    Isn’t there an important difference between tangata whenua and the Maori Party?

    Oh, sure, take your pick. The Maori Party, Urewera people, the people who obtained the court ruling which her govt over turned ... more the merrier. Guess I should have just said Maori. Seems Tariana might have been a good reference to tap as well.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2008 • 410 posts Report Reply

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