Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Incomplete, inaccurate and misleading

234 Responses

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  • Martin Brown, in reply to Shaun Lott,

    Because we don't have such open systems of public inquiry or the threat of impeachment.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2013 • 137 posts Report Reply

  • Rosemary McDonald,

    " Moreover, Key’s senior political advisor Jason Ede is found to have directed Slater to make his request – "

    Slater emphatically denies this....

    http://www.radiolive.co.nz/Whale-Oil-still-thinks-Phil-Goffs-a-rat-bag/tabid/506/articleID/62755/Default.aspx

    According to the blogger (as opposed to "journalist") Ede was begging Slater NOT go make the OIA request.

    The Plot sickens.

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

  • Steve Curtis,

    Mr Ede provided a supplementary written statement to the inquiry in which he advised that the emails had been permanently deleted prior to the commencement of the inquiry and could not be recovered.

    Slater is saying that Eade wasnt interviewed and only provided a written statement.

    Thats funny because at the time the investigation was launched we were told witnesses would be compelled to appear.?

    "Mr Key told media while campaigning in Auckland today he understood his staff had received a subpoena and he would fully comply with the investigation, a spokeswoman said.
    www.3news.co.nz/politics/sis-probe-calls-witnesses-before-election-2014083117

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 314 posts Report Reply

  • Marcus Turner, in reply to simon g,

    We don't have Woodward and Bernstein, we have Hosking and Henry.

    Hmmmm....

    Since Nov 2006 • 212 posts Report Reply

  • Rob Stowell, in reply to Russell Brown,

    Aaaand … here’s the Collins SFO report.

    Looking simply at the 'conclusions' - no evidence of anything improper or even slap-on-the-wrist-worthy'.
    Whitewash or not, for at least a moment, expect this 'vindication' of Collins to eclipse the Gwyn report. Collins back triumphant, PM 'seen to be scrupulous and careful' etc etc.

    Whakaraupo • Since Nov 2006 • 2120 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson, in reply to Rob Stowell,

    She's "exonerated", but there's now a massive long public report on her relationship with Slater, rather than just a book making claims about it. I don't think it's going to be easily brushed off. This report is in the public record and freely available.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • st ephen, in reply to BenWilson,

    "I am pleased the report shows no evidence that Ms Collins acted inappropriately. I will be recommending to the Governor-General that she be granted use of the title 'The Honourable' for life."

    It's almost comical. Key is counting on everyone - including journalists - forgetting that the SFO wasn't the only target of Collins' alleged inappropriate behaviour - just the only one Key was prepared to investigate.

    dunedin • Since Jul 2008 • 254 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Curtis, in reply to Dismal Soyanz,

    But if it was web-based email then that would depend on where the server was. I also doubt, given the very large volume of mail that does get deleted, the relevant emails would still be recoverable.

    But they seemed to be able to track down an escaped parolee in Rio de Janeiro by seizing a computer from his sisters place. The trick is to have the computer used in your possesion. Likely that Eade used a laptop with a mobile broadband account to circumvent the government records ( and the security of the network that goes with it)

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 314 posts Report Reply

  • Shaun Lott, in reply to Russell Brown,

    Aaaand … here’s the Collins SFO report.

    Summary: “Whaleoil was just bullshitting”?

    Waitakere • Since Aug 2009 • 113 posts Report Reply

  • Humph Applebey, in reply to dcnbwz,

    The emails *are* available on the 5 eyes network...

    Since Sep 2014 • 5 posts Report Reply

  • Katharine Moody, in reply to Shaun Lott,

    Can someone tell me why this is not our Watergate moment?

    Yet to come is Dame Beverley's investigation around public servants being instructed to break the law in respect of OIA responsibilities.

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11327328

    And there is likely to be a snap debate called for in Parliament today on Gwyn's findings.

    Plenty yet to come.

    Wellington • Since Sep 2014 • 798 posts Report Reply

  • Matthew Poole, in reply to Humph Applebey,

    The emails *are* available on the 5 eyes network

    You're either an intelligence services employee who has just violated Top Secret classification of information, or a pundit who's making wild-ass guesses. No bets which one I consider to be the more likely.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2007 • 4097 posts Report Reply

  • Matthew Poole, in reply to Katharine Moody,

    And there is likely to be a snap debate called for in Parliament today on Gwyn’s findings.

    Bets on Carter denying the request?

    Auckland • Since Mar 2007 • 4097 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Shaun Lott,

    Summary: “Whaleoil was just bullshitting”?

    Basically, yeah: "“[Collins’] understanding was that Mr Slater had manufactured a story and he wanted to believe it.”

    It also confirms that Carrick Graham "engaged" Slater and Odgers as a paid service to Hotchin, and that that the police seem to have decided almost immediately that they wouldn't bother investigating David Parker's criminal complaint.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Kyle Matthews,

    Basically, yeah

    All good then? Sweet...

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report Reply

  • Matthew Poole, in reply to Russell Brown,

    the police seem to have decided almost immediately that they wouldn’t bother investigating David Parker’s criminal complaint.

    Shame the IPCA have no teeth with which to bite the police for that decision. With the police regularly ignoring IPCA report conclusions, it's become abundantly clear that the IPCA is useful only for killing trees. I don't doubt their independence or integrity, but without prosecuting authority they're not even as useful as mammary glands on a male bovine.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2007 • 4097 posts Report Reply

  • izogi, in reply to matthew,

    Is there really such a thing as permanently deleting an email. Surely there is at least some forensic IT capacity somewhere in our state apparatus that could recover deleted correspondence.

    My first thought on reading that was "don't most email conversations involve at least two participants?"

    Has someone else been deleting things besides Jason Ede?

    Wellington • Since Jan 2007 • 1142 posts Report Reply

  • Tom Semmens, in reply to Rosemary McDonald,

    Slater emphatically denies this….

    Slater has denied quite a lot of things, denials that later turned out to be straight lies.

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

  • Matthew Poole, in reply to izogi,

    My first thought on reading that was “don’t most email conversations involve at least two participants?”

    Has someone else been deleting things besides Jason Ede?

    You think the Oily One won't have been deleting like mad?

    Auckland • Since Mar 2007 • 4097 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Curtis, in reply to Tom Semmens,

    later emphatically denies this….

    Slater has denied quite a lot of things, denials that later turned out to be straight lies.

    Yes, his denial probably relates to 'on the phone at the time', he seems to like facebook or other instant messaging apps. Maybe even Skype ?

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 314 posts Report Reply

  • Stephen R, in reply to izogi,

    My first thought on reading that was "don't most email conversations involve at least two participants?"

    My reading of the reporting on this is that there were conversations from other people which implied Jason Ede had been sending emails that didn't show up in the official record, which is why they asked him specifically about them.

    That just means not everyone deleted everything.

    Wellington • Since Jul 2009 • 259 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    Textbook bullshitting about the Gwyn report from the PM:

    Speaking soon after the report's release this morning, Mr Key said the Inspector General's report had cleared his office of any wrongdoing and no apology was necessary.

    "The report makes it absolutely crystal clear that my office did nothing that was either unprofessional or breached any of the requirements on them."
    ...
    He did not believe the report had cast an unsavoury light on his office.

    "It doesn't at all. It says they were fully entitled to disclose any information that they did. I would strongly say it's standard practice for either political advisors or politicians to talk to the media."

    Let's see if the six o'clock news remembers as journalists they can choose to publish what the report actually says and not spread this man's lies in the name of 'balance'.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Russell Brown,

    the police seem to have decided almost immediately that they wouldn’t bother investigating

    We need a properly-separated prosecution service not run by timid muppets.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    The Chisholm report is littered with some very big holes. Note this part from Matt Nippert's original story:

    The new documents appear to show PR consultant Graham paid Slater and Odgers to write dozens of posts attacking regulators and a possible witness.

    In one email, Odgers said: "Remind him [Hotchin] he pays cam n I to f--- w FMA so he can focus on important things."

    Another email appears to discuss plans to undermine the credibility of a potential witness in the Hanover investigation, property developer Tony Gapes.

    Graham wrote in one email: "Just off ph to MH . . . Seems our friend Tony Gapes is thinking he's a bit of a star witness for the SFO against our man."

    He added that Gapes "should have some sunlight shone on him. Enough to raise questions of credibility with the SFO".

    That would be a conspiracy to intimidate a witness. Quite serious, no? Omitted from the report as outside its brief.

    Chisholm also didn't bother to interview Odgers or Hotchin. He can't even bring himself to say Slater and Odgers were being paid for their attack campaign on Feeley, only that they were "engaged" by Graham, who was providing services to Hotchin. Good grief.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson, in reply to Russell Brown,

    Good grief.

    It's quite a peculiar document. It looks long and complete, but reads like a stream of consciousness by someone trying to tell a very long and boring story to avoid answering a few simple questions.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

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