Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Everybody's Machiavelli

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  • Russell Brown, in reply to Steven Peters,

    They do not seem to be self governing bodies, autonomous from the council, and one of those employment lawyers you mentioned may agree, particularly if these are paid positions ‘within’ the council.

    The Ethnic Peoples Advisory Panel (EPAP) has a dozen members and a total annual budget of $87,000, so it sure ain't anyone's job. These panels/boards were established to provide a sounding board for various communities: disabled, Pasifika, etc, who might not otherwise have a voice on the council or in local boards.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Deborah, in reply to Hebe,

    Yes, well said, Craig. And Hebe. I spent 10 minutes writing and deleting and re-writing and re-deleting and eventually thinking, dammit, the standard you walk by is the standard you accept, so I hit post before I agonised anymore.

    New Lynn • Since Nov 2006 • 1447 posts Report Reply

  • Dave Waugh, in reply to FletcherB,

    There’s a lot of Daves… might have to cull the list a bit to narrow it down?

    It wasn't me I swear!
    Does that help?

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 98 posts Report Reply

  • "chris", in reply to Dave Waugh,

    It's a start...

    location, location, locat… • Since Dec 2010 • 250 posts Report Reply

  • Hebe, in reply to "chris",

    It’s a start…

    That leaves 22 Daves.
    http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/171612

    Christchurch • Since May 2011 • 2899 posts Report Reply

  • Hebe, in reply to Sacha,

    You’ve all been too busy reading the Women’s Weekly, admit it. :)

    You know what it's like: between shagging mayors we have to fit in a fetching barefoot pregnancy or two, global domination with our business-started-from-a-kitchen-table-while-the-twins-slept, then a Gina Hardfaced-Bitch career as a politician. Taking part in a community is so last millenium.

    Christchurch • Since May 2011 • 2899 posts Report Reply

  • "chris", in reply to Hebe,

    ...And one Soggy Muff.

    Thank goodness she didn’t :D

    location, location, locat… • Since Dec 2010 • 250 posts Report Reply

  • Hebe, in reply to "chris",

    Oops: no slut-shaming intended. I have loved that pome since I was a young kid and I have never, ever thought of Soggy Muff in THAT way. Funny that the old boy snuck in some filth (or did he not know?).

    Christchurch • Since May 2011 • 2899 posts Report Reply

  • Danielle,

    Aw, no one ever invites me to the Lady Meetings women hold regularly to decide what we think collectively about any given issue. Perhaps my scones aren't up to scratch.

    Charo World. Cuchi-cuchi!… • Since Nov 2006 • 3828 posts Report Reply

  • Hebe, in reply to Danielle,

    I didn't even KNOW about the lady-meetings so being failed for your scones is one up on my sub-optimal existence.

    Christchurch • Since May 2011 • 2899 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Cook, in reply to Russell Brown,

    Thanks for the free plug, Russell.
    But as per usual, you've only got half the story.
    We're actually launching two websites and just to be clear they're not "sex" sites - they're porn sites.
    Mark November 1 down in your diary.
    Still to confirm a venue for the launch of nzcams and nzxxx, but someone did suggest today why not the Ngati Whatua room.
    Sort of tacky, i thought... but given what we have up our sleeve it might just be the perfect venue.

    Auckland • Since Oct 2013 • 1 posts Report Reply

  • Pete, in reply to Ana Simkiss,

    Precisely.
    I don't want to know and the media is making me feel like some sort of peeping tom by running this constant prurient sanctimonious claptrap.(present company excepted)
    Unless he took public money or screwed up his job somehow it's none of my damn business.

    Since Apr 2008 • 106 posts Report Reply

  • 81stcolumn,

    I find this whole business disgusting. Not Brown’s affair, which I care about not at all, but the frenzy of prudish and prurient and self-righteous comments.

    The difference no doubt between wanting to say something and having something to say........................

    Nawthshaw • Since Nov 2006 • 790 posts Report Reply

  • linger, in reply to Steve Cook,

    nzcams

    Dear gods, tell me that’s not Slater’s next venture.

    Tokyo • Since Apr 2007 • 1944 posts Report Reply

  • linger, in reply to Hebe,

    Given that the list also includes

    Paris Garters

    … and, a name not to be attempted while drunk,

    Zanzibar Buck-Buck McFate

    … I suspect Geisel probably knew what he was doing.

    Tokyo • Since Apr 2007 • 1944 posts Report Reply

  • Steven Peters, in reply to Hebe,

    <q>"As an invisible woman the affair itself is not at all the issue… We’re rather relaxed about shaggery – it’s the sleazy politics surrounding this outing that is concerning..Chuang is an unlovely character…"

    You were invisible to me as female, Ms/Mrs Hebe. I am not sure that all NZ women are relaxed about shaggery, nor that the politics around this is ‘sleazy’ , but I do think the Mayors behaviour appears to be. Nor do I share your view that Ms Chuang ‘is an unlovely character’ (neither is the Mayor, for that matter).

    As for the nature of the professional working relationship between the Mayor and Ms Chuang, Russell, I still stand by my view, until proven otherwise, that there is a subordinate relationship in the nature of employer-employee.

    Its true the moralising, of which I must confess some guilt, is pointless. The reality is the Mayor has just been elected (although arguably on false pretences), and a majority of the council, many with an eye to the immediate future no doubt, publicly support him, except one or two brave souls. A new election seems beyond the pale, and uneccessary in the circumstances. If interested, Colin Espiner’s article in Thurs.18th CHCH Press may offers a nuanced view.

    .

    CHCH • Since Oct 2012 • 96 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    The Herald's Who is Luigi Wewege? story confirms the type I described in the original post: ambitious Young Nat, Simon Lusk acolyte.

    I think this young woman nailed it:

    Mr Wewege's messages were criticised by Brittany Raleigh, the chairwoman of the Young Nats' northern region, who called it "emotional abuse".

    "It's important that we speak out against bullying those you're in an intimate relationship with for personal political gain," she wrote on Facebook.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia, in reply to Russell Brown,

    ambitious Young Nat

    It's been a long time since I had cause to make the National Party constitution bedside reading, but surely there's still a mechanism in place to expel members who bring the Party into disrepute. Brittany Raleigh would have my full and public support if she initiated moves to take Wewege out with the trash.

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • Tom Semmens,

    A South African

    of Italian heritage, Mr Wewege moved to New Zealand in 2011 and began moving in Auckland political circles, including joining the youth wing of the National Party...

    ...Mr Wewege had also been involved in the campaign for Simon O'Connor, the National MP for Tamaki.

    Others described him as an acolyte of Simon Lusk, a campaign strategist for right-wing political candidates, saying he had attended several of Mr Lusk's summer camp training sessions.

    Jeez, that girl can pick them!

    Anyway, it is generally known amongst political afficiandoes that Lusk and Slater like to think that along with their Shai'tan Judith Collins they form one exceeding unpleasant power block within National, one that sees Lusk and Slater routinely using what seems to me to amount to a protection racket to get candidates to pay to attend "training" camps, a nice little earner for Slater and Lusk. So when it come to the taint in the National party's saiden, all roads seem to lead to Simon Lusk.

    Sevilla, Espana • Since Nov 2006 • 2217 posts Report Reply

  • Pete,

    These Tory wannabes are so devoid of charm that anyone with a shred of charisma can obviously go far in their world - is this what is referred to as a gap in the market?

    Since Apr 2008 • 106 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia, in reply to Pete,

    Hey, Pete. Most of the people I've known in the Young Nats had considerably more charm than that comment. To be fair, that bar isn't above ground level.

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • Hebe, in reply to Tom Semmens,

    Christchurch • Since May 2011 • 2899 posts Report Reply

  • Tom Semmens, in reply to Hebe,

    The very graceful Simon Lusk

    It is just what happens when the Hooray Henry candidate wins the seat of Napier. The whole place has turned into a nasty little nest of self-perpetuating provincial elites.

    Sevilla, Espana • Since Nov 2006 • 2217 posts Report Reply

  • Ross Mason,

    A South African

    of Italian heritage, Mr Wewege moved to New Zealand in 2011

    Maybe 'e should go bick to plaeying rogby in Ellis Pok.**

    Was last seen driving backwards away from the scene in his 10 reverse gear Italian tank.....Run for you life.

    How stereotypical......

    (** Headline from Alex Veysey years agoe emmitaeting bad SA accent)

    Upper Hutt • Since Jun 2007 • 1590 posts Report Reply

  • Konrad Kurta,

    When has NZ seen a sex scandal as nuanced and dramatic as this? I wonder how long it is until someone writes a screenplay...

    South Korea • Since Dec 2012 • 43 posts Report Reply

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