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andin

Tue, 15 Aug 2017 11:03:40 +1200

Mental health? How fit is your mind. In Mr Coleman's case he is unspokenly saying
'Hey look at me I am a functioning member of parliament I cant have any mental health problems because of who I am'.
How wrong that thinking is....

Ian Dalziel

Tue, 15 Aug 2017 09:44:58 +1200

Health Minister Jonathan Coleman sits down for a live chat with Stuff at midday regarding mental health. today Aug 15.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/95781530/Today-in-politics

He was in fine fickle form in his rare appearance on Morning Report today – trying to push the blame back on PSA and Etu for agreeing to the…

Ian Dalziel

Mon, 14 Aug 2017 15:37:10 +1200

Which parties care about your health – Chchch public meeting

dave stewart

Mon, 14 Aug 2017 13:03:51 +1200

I think The Spin Off's policy comparison tool is pretty cool:
http://policy.thespinoff.co.nz/
Easy way of comparing policy apples & oranges (or lack of).

Ian Dalziel

Mon, 14 Aug 2017 09:29:13 +1200

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/95714277/womans-survey-of-ministry-of-social-development-clients-shows-many-felt-worthless-and-bullied

Joe Wylie

Sun, 13 Aug 2017 19:16:19 +1200

If Metiria really was motivated by altruism, that was fairly unencumbered by her own desire to score politically, she could always go out there as the lawyer she is, and do some human rights work. Possibly in the defence of people on benefits, who get pushed around by bullies.

[[https://scontent-syd2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/20728257_1299083626867211_1054633498942784045_n.jpg?oh=8ff5a63088e1fda1cd35339638f98059&oe=59F5DBEF|Here you…

andin

Sun, 13 Aug 2017 18:11:09 +1200

confront themselves.
I can think of quite a few people who should go somewhere and do some honest reflection on their beliefs and how they have come to them, and while they're about it a critical reappraisal of their actions might be handy for those whose lives their policies are…

Katharine Moody

Sun, 13 Aug 2017 17:50:09 +1200

And an ex IRD/tax collector's point that #WearealMetiria;

https://letstalkabouttaxnz.com/category/welfare/

And a related campaign from ActionStation;

https://donate.actionstation.org.nz/taxfraud

Ian Dalziel

Sun, 13 Aug 2017 17:36:14 +1200

Only four days ago, Turei would stubbornly tell media for the last time there was no poll number that would see her step down—dogged by further revelations she had been highly selective with her story of living on the DPB. Hours later, she'd quit. **(But not before costing the jobs…

william blake

Sun, 13 Aug 2017 14:28:23 +1200

Oh god they are foul. I can't see the logic in taking the 'most violent and recidivist ' youth and teaching them how to shoot accurately.

Katharine Moody

Sun, 13 Aug 2017 14:13:13 +1200

Oh for goodness sake;

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/95727988/special-bootcamp-for-youth-offenders-at-waiouru-army-camp-under-national

New 'wrap around' services policy – fine the parents and send the kids away.

Lynn Yum

Sun, 13 Aug 2017 12:27:35 +1200

It was the intentionally polarising a population for political gain. She took a gamble, to advance her political objectives, that people other than her will pay for.

Wait, what? I can agree that she should have handled her confession better, i.e. cleared her account with MSD completely before confessing. But…

Sacha

Sun, 13 Aug 2017 11:40:32 +1200

The Ohariu poll announced on Q+A this morning has the Greens at 12%

Only within that electorate and with a larger than usual margin of error.

Dennis Frank

Sun, 13 Aug 2017 10:29:16 +1200

Yes, I saw James say that. My point hinges on whether that is an actual rule, written as part of a procedural document (code of conduct) which binds behaviour like an employment contract, or whether it is merely parliamentary convention – and to what extent can parliamentarians act in accord…

andin

Sun, 13 Aug 2017 10:21:18 +1200

Its an opinion piece so throw in a few cliches, slag off an easy target, show irreverent support for the status quo, like you're a right wing rebel with a cause. And Stuff will put it up on its website to fill in a few hours of clickbait
Fucking tossers,…

Ian Dalziel

Sun, 13 Aug 2017 09:46:29 +1200

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/95630749/damien-grant-greens-should-stick-to-saving-whales-and-snails
I cant believe this 'writer' is actually paid for such rubbish.

Sacha

Sun, 13 Aug 2017 09:05:03 +1200

NBR resurrects the spectre of the Greens' successful previous comms advisor Andrew Campbell in its analysis. This part is what irks me most too:

One Green Party insider tells NBR the key problem was that the current comms team did not “war game” what would happen after their co-leader confessed…

simon g

Sun, 13 Aug 2017 08:17:41 +1200

Everybody relax, she's gone, we're safe. Meanwhile ...

These people are not Maori mothers on a benefit.

Ian Dalziel

Sun, 13 Aug 2017 08:12:55 +1200

Oscar Kightley offers his compassionate perspective
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/95719299/oscar-kightley-brave-tureis-main-mistake-was-to-be-so-honest

izogi

Sat, 12 Aug 2017 21:25:43 +1200

I don't have the specific ref, but I recall James Shaw in one of his RNZ interviews soon after they left (Morning Report?), he said there was meant to be some notice period of anyone leaving --- I think something like 48 hours --- so that the exec could discuss…

Dennis Frank

Sat, 12 Aug 2017 15:14:07 +1200

True. That does indeed put the procedural question aside somewhat. The question of the extent to which any politician has a right of free speech is a murky one in our governance system.

Given that Ken & Dave explained themselves in their RNZ interview in terms of conscience, one wonders to…

Sacha

Sat, 12 Aug 2017 14:58:03 +1200

An MP going to the media without caucus approval is unlikely to be forgiven in any political party.

Dennis Frank

Sat, 12 Aug 2017 13:17:21 +1200

Sorry, typo, replace `latter' with `former' in my second paragraph..

Dennis Frank

Sat, 12 Aug 2017 13:15:27 +1200

"Yesterday the Green Party's Executive met to consider Dr Graham's request, but found he had breached the Party's Candidate Code of Conduct in a serious manner."

It would be helpful if they told us precisely how he did so. The public info from those involved so far informs us only…

rjal

Sat, 12 Aug 2017 12:05:07 +1200

Journalists may be obliged to see her as a Member of Parliament, but that does not mean that it’s open season on her private life or her family. That a story may be coming out anyway does not let anyone off the hook.

It wasn't Metiria the Member of Parliament…

william blake

Sat, 12 Aug 2017 12:04:40 +1200

Oh, fuck right off.

Metiria Turei. Maori woman who owned benefit fraud to highlight issues of poverty.

Paula Bennett. Maori woman who can't remember if she did benefit fraud, and lawyered up when challenged, who became minister for social welfare and recinded the educational opportunities that she had to get…

Rosemary McDonald

Sat, 12 Aug 2017 10:01:45 +1200

Time for a tune?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lX63u9LEhdQ

Sacha

Sat, 12 Aug 2017 09:42:43 +1200

Green party exec board says thanks but no to Kennedy Graham standing again.

keeaa

Sat, 12 Aug 2017 09:24:25 +1200

Yeah, what Craig said, only mine was shorter.

Craig Ranapia

Sat, 12 Aug 2017 09:15:17 +1200

blog at The Standard posted just after the shit started to hit the fan. Lots of commenters asking for Paula Bennet to be subjected to investigation by the MSM.

Oh, fuck right off. I'm sorry, but the left-wing brometariat calling for another not-white woman to be hounded out of Parliament…

keeaa

Sat, 12 Aug 2017 08:52:55 +1200

Doing the same to Bennett just repeats the offence.

keeaa

Sat, 12 Aug 2017 08:02:47 +1200

The people grieving Metiria's harsh exit see journalists as pursuing the poor, brown solo mum she was 20-odd years ago. Journalists are obliged to see her as the Member of Parliament she's been for the past 15 years, as a would-be member of the country's governing executive.

MP or not,…

tussock

Sat, 12 Aug 2017 02:32:34 +1200

The people grieving Metiria's harsh exit see journalists as pursuing the poor, brown solo mum she was 20-odd years ago.
Hi. Yes.

It's the default assumption of so much of the media attention that Metiria must have ripped the system off for tens of thousands of dollars. Who the fuck…

andin

Fri, 11 Aug 2017 23:51:58 +1200

Thanks

keeaa

Fri, 11 Aug 2017 21:00:05 +1200

Leilani Momoisea has contributed this, which I feel we could all benefit by reading:

https://t.co/hc3XdVort0

Dennis Frank

Fri, 11 Aug 2017 17:36:07 +1200

No stereotyping intended, Mikaere. Just reminding folks that plenty of us have clarity of thought & expression despite – or perhaps even because of – getting high often throughout life. You think he joined NORML for some reason other than the justice issue? I think he was operating from experience & solidarity…

Mikaere Curtis

Fri, 11 Aug 2017 16:55:38 +1200

Nandor still has a clarity of thought & expression that no amount of getting high has defeated

Got a citation for this ? Why are you painting him as a stoner ? What evidence do you have beyond that he espouses Rastifarianism – many who use marijuana in a way that…

Rosemary McDonald

Fri, 11 Aug 2017 16:49:22 +1200

.... Seymour on Morning report ..... have an open mind..... euthanasia bill – yet .... Metiria ..... slinging mud of dubious provenance.
Another odious oik ....

Yes, curdled the milk in my ricies it did...

Perhaps, and this is only a suggestion mind, since Metiria has actual lived experience of…

Dennis Frank

Fri, 11 Aug 2017 14:42:41 +1200

Nandor still has a clarity of thought & expression that no amount of getting high has defeated (takes one to know one) but someone copied a link recently to a 2006 thing he wrote on his own site that outlined why the green movement was neither left nor right. The GP…

Sacha

Fri, 11 Aug 2017 13:23:49 +1200

Thanks, Dave. Note that this site automatically makes links clickable if you paste the whole thing including the beginning.

dave stewart

Fri, 11 Aug 2017 13:10:51 +1200

The Spin Off has Nandor's take on this whole saga:
https://thespinoff.co.nz/politics/11-08-2017/greens-icon-nandor-tanczos-on-metiria-and-what-the-party-really-stands-for/

Russell Brown

Fri, 11 Aug 2017 12:41:01 +1200

Guys, there really doesn't seem to be a lot of point to this argument. And "you have no idea" and "dick" don't lead anywhere useful. Let's move on.

andin

Fri, 11 Aug 2017 11:33:42 +1200

dont put your ignorance on me go read a book

Sacha

Fri, 11 Aug 2017 11:32:45 +1200

Maybe you could tell group who you really are.

Please let's not have this conversation again. People have reasons for using different identities online, though real names are more common here than many other places.

Katharine Moody

Fri, 11 Aug 2017 11:28:57 +1200

Well it certainly shows through in the way that we so often talk about child poverty instead of just poverty, even if just to try to make an argument which seems less negotiable.

Yes, that's the deserving/undeserving dichotomy in action for sure. The moral implication of that emphasis on child…

James Littlewood*

Fri, 11 Aug 2017 11:06:18 +1200

I think she’ll make an awesome anarchist.

Me too.

Ex Green Party Female Co-leadership Nominees' club. That's an elite group I'd like to see.

Ian Dalziel

Fri, 11 Aug 2017 10:59:03 +1200

It was a bit rich hearing Seymour on Morning report this morning asking people to have an open mind about his hobby horse euthanasia bill – yet he wasn't prepared to have an open mind about Metiria – but was prepared to try slinging mud of dubious provenance.
Another odious…

andin

Fri, 11 Aug 2017 10:35:10 +1200

Honesty is about abiding by the law of the day, truth is more to do with morality, and authenticity which I think comes more from personal insight
You have no idea do you? here let me help
read this for starters

izogi

Fri, 11 Aug 2017 09:47:07 +1200

Armstrong:
An almost audible groan would rumble along the National Party’s benches at Parliament every time she rose to ask a question. They knew it was a cue for another sanctimonious lecture on National’s failures.

Yes because clearly the real purpose of question time is so that government back-bench MP's…

Craig Ranapia

Fri, 11 Aug 2017 07:47:06 +1200

It was quite striking that Morning Report made a point of saying that David Seymour had tried to shop them some bullshit rumours this week and they weren't having a bar of it. It was an unusually hot burn.

Gee, someone feeling a little guilty about taking an MP out…

Craig Ranapia

Fri, 11 Aug 2017 07:41:14 +1200

Journalists are obliged to see her as the Member of Parliament she's been for the past 15 years, as a would-be member of the country's governing executive.

And I'll say this again because it keeps being ignored, journalists didn't feel obliged to "see" the freshly-minted Police Minister when Michael Woodhouse…

Ian Dalziel

Fri, 11 Aug 2017 07:33:18 +1200

(re Back Benches) Jeesus – Watching Wallace wotshisname enabling Seymour and laughing at his braggadocio, is as sickening as the thought of walking National billboard Mike Hosking ‘moderating’ the electoral debates on TV1…

izogi

Fri, 11 Aug 2017 06:52:24 +1200

Well it certainly shows through in the way that we so often talk about child poverty instead of just poverty, even if just to try to make an argument which seems less negotiable.

Katharine Moody

Fri, 11 Aug 2017 01:56:49 +1200

I have every sympathy for her, but still felt a sneaking suspicion the 'moral choice' was laid on a little thick (forced to lie 'to feed my baby' vs 'to pay the rent').

Yes, her use of the 'feed my baby' line made me cringe/uneasy – it focused the issue…

simon g

Thu, 10 Aug 2017 23:56:53 +1200

An almost audible groan would rumble along the National Party’s benches at Parliament every time she rose to ask a question.

They knew it was a cue for another sanctimonious lecture on National’s failures.

Opposition MP in Criticising Government Shock! The nerve of the woman.

If nothing else, the past…

Joe Wylie

Thu, 10 Aug 2017 22:16:52 +1200

That question asked on Backbenchers about Robin Hood, reminded me how the Tops party would like to see superannuation beneficiaries means tested, then money that rich old people don’t need, transferred to children who do need it.
"He steals from the poor, and gives to the rich, stupid bitch."
https://youtu.be/kp-R1o753pM…

Ianmac

Thu, 10 Aug 2017 21:33:03 +1200

I always thought Seymour was sort of interesting to listen to. When I saw him on Backbenches, and Read of his vindictive trash talk, I too found him disgusting. If he represents the true nature of Act then damn them.

izogi

Thu, 10 Aug 2017 20:36:40 +1200

Jan Logie told Seymour to his face last night, on Backbenches, that he disgusts her (around 7m30s).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PABzXMF6mew

Bruce Thorpe

Thu, 10 Aug 2017 20:04:15 +1200

Very good work, Russell.
Why did an extremely loveable onetime-solo-mum bring herself and her party to this point when the always unsympathetic treasury wonk get away with much worse?
He paid it back. He followed legal advice. He did not strike a defiant public position.
I am so depressed by…

mark taslov

Thu, 10 Aug 2017 19:56:58 +1200

still sounds to me like ’all 'trips' are equal but some trips are more equal than others’.

Lilith __

Thu, 10 Aug 2017 19:48:30 +1200

Marama Davidson on Twitter today deserves a signal boost:

Final reading of Treaty Settlements in House 2day. Relevant since our whole country is apparently outraged about historic lying & stealing.

I give zero fucks about the details of Metiria Turei’s personal life, then or now. She stood up for those of…

Moz

Thu, 10 Aug 2017 19:38:48 +1200

Few – I suppose – would have found the tenancy tribunal or any other Government department as dogged and efficiently hostile as WINZ/MSD in its holding to account.

My point was more that the bureaucrazy doesn't just trip up the poor, it trips up the PM and everyone in between…

mark taslov

Thu, 10 Aug 2017 18:32:28 +1200

In theory...

Are you saying it's life Jim but not as we know it?

Few – I suppose – would have found the tenancy tribunal or any other Government department as dogged and efficiently hostile as WINZ/MSD in its holding to account.

Pointing out capitalism's folly is timely, then concluding…

Russell Brown

Thu, 10 Aug 2017 18:13:38 +1200

What a horrible, unreflective column. Just awful.

There are many people who hate beneficiaries. They also hate politicians. Put the two together and you get a very toxic and very explosive combination of nastiness.

Many on the left have praised her for possessing the courage to tread in such dangerous…

Ian Dalziel

Thu, 10 Aug 2017 17:50:54 +1200

Wow, what did Metiria do to John Armstrong?
I noted this piece:
and her convenient memory lapses regarding how much she diddled the taxpayer
Is this Armstrong bloke known for lambasting the Nats for their regular 'memory lapses as well?

Neil

Thu, 10 Aug 2017 17:43:00 +1200

The system deselects anyone with a track record of competence in solving complex problems. Thus social problems – and those that are widespread are the most complex – tend to persist.

I'm not sure, there's also an element of solutions being difficult.

A few weeks ago I was at a…

Tom Semmens

Thu, 10 Aug 2017 17:41:16 +1200

Wow, what did Metiria do to John Armstrong? Steal his walking stick and only give it back after she covered it with Green party stickers?

Dennis Frank

Thu, 10 Aug 2017 17:31:44 +1200

The increasing amounts of homelessness. The increasing inequality. The failures on housing. Why is this not front and centre this election? We are in serious trouble, and this government needs to be held to account in ways it hasn't had to. Instead the bullies seem to have won, aided and…

Tinakori

Thu, 10 Aug 2017 17:27:26 +1200

"Unlike Barclay, she didn’t brazenly lie to journalists."

So misrepresenting the truth is not lying?

Perhaps it is more accurately behaviour identified by of the head of the UK civil service in the Spycatcher case – She was economical with the truth

Tinakori

Thu, 10 Aug 2017 17:24:19 +1200

"Unlike Todd Barclay, Metiria Turei never treated those around her badly. Unlike Barclay, she didn’t brazenly lie to journalists."

You might consider checking this out with people who work in Parliament who are not Greens.

Trevor Nicholls

Thu, 10 Aug 2017 17:14:48 +1200

it's a game to people like him

It's OK to game the system if you're part of the system :-(

dcnbwz

Thu, 10 Aug 2017 16:54:17 +1200

I'm one of the people that Finlay MacDonald described as mewling in his Radio NZ piece. Metiria would have been a fantastic advocate inside parliament, and it upsets me greatly to see someone of great integrity, who really does have the people of New Zealand at heart, get treated this…

Trevor Nicholls

Thu, 10 Aug 2017 16:43:02 +1200

David Seymour is a prat who only survives because of regular government handouts.

Russell Brown

Thu, 10 Aug 2017 16:40:52 +1200

She was going to end up being forced to either accept whatever rumours media chose to publish and hope that the source eventually made themselves so untrustworthy the stories stopped

It was quite striking that Morning Report made a point of saying that David Seymour had tried to shop them…

Trevor Nicholls

Thu, 10 Aug 2017 16:40:50 +1200

There's not a win position for her, pretty much from last week.

It's a pity for her party that Metiria didn't come to that conclusion last week because it would have saved them two MPs and a colossal amount of negative momentum in the media.

izogi

Thu, 10 Aug 2017 15:54:32 +1200

I think we're being unfair.

Surely it's not Bill English's fault that the Parliamentary Service isn't a vindictive, punitive organisation that sees its mission as extracting a total and cruel financial efficiency from its beneficiaries at all costs, then aggressively attacking those who don't comply to the maximum extent afforded…

Moz

Thu, 10 Aug 2017 15:51:39 +1200

As many who’ve been on benefits know; the system is designed to hold one accountable to every little detail

In theory it's just as bad for those not on benefits, the complexity of what counts as income, which bond has to be deposited where, who exactly is living in the…

Moz

Thu, 10 Aug 2017 15:41:59 +1200

I totally get it if she didn't want this to step up to a whole new level where she was having a messy family argument in front of the public.

That was my thought. She was going to end up being forced to either accept whatever rumours media chose to…

izogi

Thu, 10 Aug 2017 15:24:09 +1200

It appears she involved her family in this without discussing it with them first. Now she claims to be quiting to protect them but it looks more like she's going to protect herself from her family.

I have no idea about Metiria's family, and I'm personally fortunate to have a…

Robert McLachlan

Thu, 10 Aug 2017 15:21:52 +1200

Simon Wilson's version of Turei/English/Key: https://thespinoff.co.nz/politics/09-08-2017/the-sins-of-metiria-bill-and-john-sense-checking-the-fact-checkers/:

1. Bill English must have known that he and his family did not live in Southland. But the system allowed him to pretend that they did, and he took advantage of that.
2. He got away with it by arguing that his lawyers had…

mark taslov

Thu, 10 Aug 2017 15:05:39 +1200

A respectful and comprehensive piece Russell. Tangentially: a textbook example of how readily English as a language lends itself to relitigation of the past.

There are also some Green Party staff furious at how this has gone down. How, they ask, was this not thought through? How could this not…

Euan Mason

Thu, 10 Aug 2017 15:05:17 +1200

The best the Herald could do was that English had legal advice it was OK…..

So if you want to commit fraud, just pay a lawyer to tell you it’s OK. Then the judge will know you made an effort to comply and it just didn’t work out. Your butt…

Dennis Frank

Thu, 10 Aug 2017 14:38:43 +1200

Probably both. Plenty of families like that around, eh?

Glenn Pearce

Thu, 10 Aug 2017 14:02:42 +1200

Possibly because of this, they were basically all at it back then

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/2930184/Greens-pay-back-double-dip-rent-error

Neil

Thu, 10 Aug 2017 13:56:30 +1200

She could believe it although that poses other problems.

It appears she involved her family in this without discussing it with them first. Now she claims to be quiting to protect them but it looks more like she's going to protect herself from her family.

Ianmac

Thu, 10 Aug 2017 12:58:58 +1200

Patrick Gower actually apologised to James Shaw this morning for claiming yesterday's Newshub-Reid poll had preciptated his co-leader's resignation
Materia decided to quit on Wednesday morning. She was told about Paddy's poll later in the afternoon. So the poll did not cause her exit. Paddy is wrong of course.

Dennis Frank

Thu, 10 Aug 2017 12:25:37 +1200

She misrepresented the central element of her story.

Too harsh really. Factor in the Rashomon effect: https://pundit.co.nz/content/in-the-end-you-cannot-understand-the-things-people-do

I've caught myself out in precisely this manner several times in recent years. Memory becomes selective. Seems to be a natural process. Quite embarrassing to discover one has remembered only one key facet…

Robert McLachlan

Thu, 10 Aug 2017 12:22:32 +1200

The Bill English housing allowance thing has been raised (constantly) at https://thestandard.org.nz/no-way-back/; the surprise is that this time co-accused Wayne Mapp (MP 1996-2011) actually wrote a detailed explanation and rebuttal. It included the following lines: "Since he was the MP for Clutha Southland he has a house there (and presumably…

Russell Brown

Thu, 10 Aug 2017 12:16:38 +1200

Yeah, I still don’t get why Metiria has been hung out to dry over this but Bill English gets a free pass.

It’s not like nothing happened. Reporting on the story forced Key to close the loophole, revealed that other ministers were doing the same and moved the office of…

Rob Stowell

Thu, 10 Aug 2017 12:11:23 +1200

Talking this over (with a journalist :)) we were pondering how media narratives get spun; and how maintaining control of the narrative is so hard.
But it certainly can happen. Key was extremely talented at this; even when (Dirty Politics, but more esp the ponytail) the narrative got out of…

Steve Withers

Thu, 10 Aug 2017 12:02:57 +1200

The best the Herald could do was that English had legal advice it was OK.....

So if you want to commit fraud, just pay a lawyer to tell you it's OK. Then the judge will know you made an effort to comply and it just didn't work out. Your butt…

Neil

Thu, 10 Aug 2017 12:02:41 +1200

Yes, a dramatic divergence. I think it’s symptomatic of various undercurrents within broader left wing politics that have been causing tensions for awhile.

Others have done wrong but the wrong didn’t cut into deep underlying divisions on difficult issues.

Indeed, she got caught telling the truth, if not in all…

Zach Bagnall

Thu, 10 Aug 2017 12:01:02 +1200

Yeah, I still don't get why Metiria has been hung out to dry over this but Bill English gets a free pass.

Blessed are the homeowners.

Steve Withers

Thu, 10 Aug 2017 11:58:54 +1200

I may have occasionally driven over the speed limit. I've may have parked my car illegally for a few moments to get an errand done.......

If I confess to any of this . What next?

kiwiwolf

Thu, 10 Aug 2017 11:53:04 +1200

I look forward to your forthcoming articles on the wrongdoing of English and his cabinet members.

Mike O'Connell

Thu, 10 Aug 2017 11:47:02 +1200

I don't get it either, how the dominance of the 'stale pale male' continues in this enlightened age. How much of a role does mainstream media play in this?

Hebe

Thu, 10 Aug 2017 11:46:37 +1200

Well wrote Russell.

Nick Russell

Thu, 10 Aug 2017 11:39:37 +1200

Yeah, I still don't get why Metiria has been hung out to dry over this but Bill English gets a free pass.

Euan Mason

Thu, 10 Aug 2017 11:34:21 +1200

It’s a sad set of circumstances. If she had paid it back beforehand, as you say, or even if she had stepped down as leader but remained on the list as late as Monday, the issue would not have been so destructive for the Green Party.

As it stands, she…

Rob Stowell

Thu, 10 Aug 2017 11:30:53 +1200

"Metiria’s AGM speech prompted me to do something I hadn’t done before: to say, yeah, me too." Me too. That's us out of politics forever :)

Public Address

Thu, 10 Aug 2017 11:30:53 +1200

Discussion from blog post.