Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Why we thought what we thought

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  • Russell Brown,

    The Herald's Business editor Liam Dann writes this morning:

    It is odd to have to make a declaration but given the intense focus of the past few weeks it is worth noting that, to the best of my knowledge, the Business Herald has never traded information or sourced stories from Cameron Slater, Cathy Odgers or Carrick Graham.

    We've consciously avoided this stuff and tried to chart a path through the finance company fallout as diligently as the lawyers will allow.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Robert Fox, in reply to Russell Brown,

    Thae fact that someone at the Herald has to make a declaration like is pretty sad really. The Herald has been tainted by this scandal.

    Since Nov 2006 • 114 posts Report Reply

  • A S,

    Another OIA speedily approved by Collins office, this one to embarrass head of SFO according to stuff.

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/10444702/OIA-request-processed-in-two-days

    It is getting hard to draw a conclusion that doesn't point towards corrupt behaviour.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2007 • 269 posts Report Reply

  • Alfie,

    PM John Key has confirmed there will be a hurried inquiry into Collins's actions in relation to the Feeley / SFO affair. Mr Key has assured the public that the enquiry will of course be ‘Complete, Off-the-record, Verifiable, Extensive, Restricted and Ultimately Pointless’, as most New Zealanders would expect.

    [Caveat: that last comment is obviously not a direct quote] ;-)

    Dunedin • Since May 2014 • 1440 posts Report Reply

  • Joe Wylie,

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report Reply

  • A S,

    One question that a lot of this raises for me, is how much did the central agencies of the public service (SSC, Treasury, DPMC) know about what was going on in terms of dirty politics?

    If central agencies were aware of what was going on, and said nothing, that is a concern, and reinforces the need for a wide-ranging Royal Commission into dirty politics that looks at:

    1. Parliament,
    2. the public sector, and
    3. the media.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2007 • 269 posts Report Reply

  • Phil Wallington, in reply to Ethan Tucker,

    Darren Hughes was the electorate MP... for Otaki. He was popular in the district despite its largely rural nature (cows and sheep vote National). I live in this electoral division and we now have Nathan Guy as our local member. He is a farmer and strongly allied to the farming lobby. Darren was a loss and I hope that he wasn't targeted by the filth who seem to spend so much time swimming in the sewer on behalf of their dishonest leader and his gang. Key claims that he is clean but that claim looks increasingly threadbare.

    Waikawa Beach • Since Sep 2013 • 41 posts Report Reply

  • Danyl Mclauchlan,

    Darren Hughes was the electorate MP… for Otaki

    He was but he lost that seat and by the time of his resignation he was a list MP. He is mentioned in Slater's correspondence with, I think, Aaron Bhatnager, but there's no hint of any set-up, just very explicit details of Hughes' behavior which were totally unacceptable for an MP.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 927 posts Report Reply

  • Roger, in reply to Euan Mason,

    What happens next will be a test of our democracy.

    I am finding it very hard not to be both cynical and pessimistic; consequently I am expecting it to make little or no difference. Please world, prove me wrong.

    Hamilton • Since Jun 2007 • 179 posts Report Reply

  • Joe Wylie, in reply to Phil Wallington,

    Darren Hughes was the electorate MP… for Otaki. He was popular in the district despite its largely rural nature

    Hughes has strong local connections. He’s from Levin, went to school there. I believe that the gains he secured for local health care made him pretty popular with a certain sector of the electorate.

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report Reply

  • Alex Coleman, in reply to Joe Wylie,

    That's amazing Joe. Love the discussion that follows on from it regarding pedantry and tense too.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 247 posts Report Reply

  • Ben Austin,

    Hughes now works for the Electoral Reform Society here in London, if theur newsletter is accurate. Although if I recall they were more of a STV shop

    London • Since Nov 2006 • 1027 posts Report Reply

  • Hilary Stace, in reply to Danyl Mclauchlan,

    This may have all been speculation – there was no verification any of it. The police did an investigation but no charges resulted. There was reference to an anonymous letter that had been sent to many media outlets. One of the W/O journalist associates led the story. Darren stood down because of the media interest and later resigned – it also damaged Goff who had apparently also doubted the story so hadn’t acted immediately. He protested his innocence the whole time. Anonymous letters and a fabricated media storm. It all sounds very suspicious. NZ’s loss but the UK’s gain.

    Wgtn • Since Jun 2008 • 3229 posts Report Reply

  • Stephen Doyle, in reply to Steve Parks,

    I suspect he's been engaged by Paula Bennett.

    Stillwater • Since Nov 2011 • 28 posts Report Reply

  • Rob S, in reply to Sacha,

    Hear Boag spinning like a top and Hooten having a real go at her on Radio Live (embedded audio clip).

    Boag and Hooten going hammer and tongs fucking gold!
    I don’t think she could lie straight in bed.

    Since Apr 2010 • 136 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes, in reply to Dismal Soyanz,

    So his office but not him, but when he talks about himself does he mean himself himself or the PM’s Office himself? Confused? You will be …

    Oh the intricacies of spelling and the English language. To clarify, the PM talks through his Orifice.

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • Kumara Republic, in reply to A S,

    It is getting hard to draw a conclusion that doesn’t point towards corrupt behaviour.

    Corrupt behaviour straying into obstruction-of-justice territory.

    The southernmost capital … • Since Nov 2006 • 5446 posts Report Reply

  • A C Young,

    If I was Winston Peters I would start the process of tracking down Hanover investors who lost money they could not afford in their retirement and are willing to be interviewed about how they feel about the current situation.

    Wellington • Since Feb 2011 • 35 posts Report Reply

  • Angela Hart,

    With everyone else, Palmer, the opposition, even Hooton, calling for a proper wide ranging and independent inquiry, do you think Key can still avoid it? Surely he has to capitulate, which would mean it'll happen after the election. If not, it shows up some of the issues we have with the structure of our "democracy"- seriously inadequate checks on those in power. A limited inquiry will fool no-one and surely risk alienating honourable Nats, just digging a deeper hole.

    Christchurch • Since Apr 2014 • 614 posts Report Reply

  • Rich of Observationz, in reply to A C Young,

    Labour or the Greens could also do this.

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report Reply

  • nzlemming, in reply to Kracklite,

    Wow, Hooton neck deep in a sewage pond splashing about frantically trying to drive away the floating turds. Sorry, has everyone eaten already?

    Actual LOL

    Waikanae • Since Nov 2006 • 2937 posts Report Reply

  • Angela Hart,

    It all depends how high and far the rot can be shown to go, doesn't it? If the PM (not the PM's office) is truly clean, then it is in his own best interests to have a proper, full inquiry. It needs to be of the highest integrity and to be seen to be beyond any manipulation and it must have a very wide brief.
    If not... JK will be judged by his actions.

    Christchurch • Since Apr 2014 • 614 posts Report Reply

  • A C Young, in reply to Rich of Observationz,

    Labour or the Greens could also do this.

    They could but Labour is supposed to be avoiding attack politics and while I think the way that the Greens have been positioned by the media is unfair, their most likely voting demographic isn't currently retired people (or those who are afraid of their retirement going wrong).

    Winston on the other hand...

    If Winston switched from creepy race baiting to people whose retirement has been shattered then I feel like the world would be a slightly better place.

    Wellington • Since Feb 2011 • 35 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Williams, in reply to Danyl Mclauchlan,

    He is mentioned in Slater's correspondence with, I think, Aaron Bhatnager, but there's no hint of any set-up, just very explicit details of Hughes' behavior which were totally unacceptable for an MP.

    If true, which I don't know although perhaps others' do, then they'd be unacceptable for any individual, MP or otherwise, but you're points still valid about 'a set up'.

    Sydney • Since Nov 2006 • 2273 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Curtis, in reply to Joe Wylie,

    Slater attempting to pin down Brian Edwards and Judy Callingham on their relationship to Hotchin and his wife. You have to delve down through the comments:

    If you had delved down through the comments on Brian Edwards blog like you said, you would have seen classic Slater trying to misrepresent what Edwards said and then Brian doing a ritual halal on him.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 314 posts Report Reply

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