Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Incomplete, inaccurate and misleading

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  • Matthew Hooton, in reply to Idiot Savant,

    Sorry to be a bit Graeme Edgeler about this, but I'm not sure Ede has personally done anything legally wrong. He worked for the Office of the Leader of the National Party, which is the same constitutionally as the Office of the Leader of the Labour Party etc so makes him a private citizen with a political job rather than an official.

    The official information was given to him by the Deputy Chief of Staff in the Prime Minister's Office and then he used it politically, by giving it to Whaleoil. I don't see this is any different from an official leaking information to, say, Matt McCarten, and the McCarten using it politically.

    I know this is splitting hairs but we have de facto state funding of political parties, through parliamentary services, and that is where Jason Ede worked and he did what any political staffer would do if they received official information that would damage their opponents. The fault lies with De Joux (and his bosses) who should at least have said to Tucker: "you know this is illegal under 4AA(1)(c), pull your head in".

    Auckland • Since Aug 2007 • 195 posts Report

  • BenWilson, in reply to Matthew Hooton,

    The fault lies with De Joux (and his bosses) who should at least have said to Tucker: “you know this is illegal under 4AA(1)(c), pull your head in”

    Or with a political culture that makes doing illegal things something that people are prepared to do their utmost to excuse when it's someone very close to the PM, not to even mention things that are highly unethical.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report

  • Katharine Moody, in reply to Seriatim,

    SHeesh!! Anyone watching Little going into orbit in the House??

    Missed it - will be interesting to see what we get on 6 o'clock news..

    Wellington • Since Sep 2014 • 798 posts Report

  • Chrys Berryman,

    ..the reality is that nobody cares……John is above all this political stuff,he's the man you want to invite round for a bbq,and discuss NZ history with…….The truth is Nats think they have a divine right to rule... ..something I experienced in Sth Auckland at opening of their 2014 election campaign….it was the height of the dirty politics revelations…I had a small sign with the word "Liar" on it ….I stood by the entrance to the carpark as a cavalcade of very very high end vehicles passed me…….the responses of the drivers were a revelation……men who looked like salaried medical staff and/or,silver foxes {no offence intended}called me a wanker a loser,a fuckwit etc…..I got numerous two fingered salutes…their wives either kept staring ahead or looked embarrassed…..the clincher however was when one of Johns disciples mounted the footpath, aimed his national think tank at me and tried to run me over……he missed ……the cops got involved ….i think he got a warning letter ……..the air stunk of arrogance..

    Pt Chevalier • Since Sep 2014 • 16 posts Report

  • Rosemary McDonald, in reply to Katharine Moody,

    Our Leader being put on the rack by Scary Mary....

    http://podcast.radionz.co.nz/ckpt/ckpt-20141125-1708-direct_link_between_pms_office_and_blogger-00.ogg

    more denial, with a chorus of "I was out of the country...".

    PS. Key was on the brink of being ejected from the House, English nearly broke his larynx and Norman softened 'em up for Little's rather impressive rant.

    Sheeesh...first time ever for us watching Parliament telly....we have been missing out on the action....not.

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

  • Sofie Bribiesca, in reply to Chrys Berryman,

    …the cops got involved ….i think he got a warning letter ……..the air stunk of arrogance..

    As is the Blonde short haired pr prat that stands behind him like the nodding dog on the dashboard. When protests in Rotorua interfered with the carefully orchestrated carefully chosen mall, the microphone caught her saying something derogatory and she rolled her eyes as she ponsed through. The arrogance is rife amongst those who think they should be obeyed. What happened to you was disgusting. Appalling. I remember John Key being annoyed in the House one day when he was interrupted by a man trying to commit suicide by jumping over the balcony. His look was pure selfish annoyance and he stormed out of the House. Everyone else showed concern. More appalling behaviour from our lying cheating thief of a PM. Just as his behaviour was in the House today. The guy is an idiot.

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report

  • Ron Davis, in reply to Sofie Bribiesca,

    lying cheating thief of a PM

    Hey. Easy on, Fair's fair. Where's the evidence he's a thief?

    Auckland • Since Nov 2014 • 25 posts Report

  • Katharine Moody,

    Andrea Vance: "For National, Slater was a useful Mr Hyde to Key's Dr Jekyll."

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/opinion/63523163/Dirty-Politics-Keeping-Keys-hands-clean

    Wellington • Since Sep 2014 • 798 posts Report

  • Sofie Bribiesca, in reply to Ron Davis,

    He sold our assets, claimed he had a mandate that majority of New Zealanders didn’t want then proceeded to lie that he had a mandate. That’s stealing our state owned assets. It’s theft from all of us.
    Ron, if you go digging back through the years one can find interesting trades that go to the heart of NZ in his days at Merrill Lynch but that's another time. Same person tho'

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report

  • Sofie Bribiesca, in reply to Matthew Hooton,

    I thought he changed jobs the day after the book came out and then was seen in Parliament. There was concern as to why he still had his staff access card which the PM couldn't explain.

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report

  • Seriatim, in reply to Rosemary McDonald,

    Sheesh - then you missed the good bit.

    Wellington • Since Dec 2010 • 57 posts Report

  • Alfie,

    Jeez... Key has some nerve. On RNZ he basically called the SIS report inaccurate, claiming some facts were "disputed". The man can't lie straight in bed these days.

    And once again Andrea Vance sums up Key's reaction perfectly.

    Still, Key continues to insist his staff acted professionally at all times. Perhaps that is because Ede and de Joux were doing exactly what they were paid for: the dirty work while keeping the boss' hands clean.

    More power to Vance!

    Dunedin • Since May 2014 • 1440 posts Report

  • Paul Campbell,

    OK the scariest thing I saw on TV tonight is that Judith Collins has a clone who follows her around ....

    Dunedin • Since Nov 2006 • 2623 posts Report

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    Another thing Ron. Fair? You want fair? The guy wouldn't know fair if it bit him on the arse. He only wants fear. I have never trusted the man for years. I'm not prepared to start giving the twit the benefit of the doubt over any information I have found over the years. The last thing I'm prepared to do is care about him. I know his type and it aint pretty.

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report

  • Steve Curtis, in reply to Ron Davis,

    Hey. Easy on, Fair’s fair. Where’s the evidence he’s a thief?

    "Six banks have been collectively fined £2.6bn by UK and US regulators over their traders' attempted manipulation of foreign exchange rates.

    HSBC, Royal Bank of Scotland, Swiss bank UBS and US banks JP Morgan Chase, Citibank and Bank of America have all been fined."
    http://www.bbc.com/news/business-30016007

    Bank of America bought Merrill Lynch to save it from bankruptcy. Key was the head of Foreign exchange for ML in New York- London. Along with the Libor manipulation, the exchange rate manipulation was to benfits the banks position at the expense of counterparties.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 314 posts Report

  • nzlemming, in reply to Matthew Hooton,

    Sorry to be a bit Graeme Edgeler about this, but I’m not sure Ede has personally done anything legally wrong. He worked for the Office of the Leader of the National Party, which is the same constitutionally as the Office of the Leader of the Labour Party etc so makes him a private citizen with a political job rather than an official.

    Actually, I think he was paid by Ministerial Services, which is part of DIA, which is subject to both the OIA and PRA. He was de facto and de jure , as your little friend Farrar is wont to say, a bona fide public servant at the time these events occurred, and bound by the Code of Conduct as well as legislation. Not that I expect Lapdog Rennie to follow that up.

    Waikanae • Since Nov 2006 • 2937 posts Report

  • Matthew Hooton, in reply to nzlemming,

    No, I think Ede was parliamentary services - but, you're right, this is what it turns on.

    Auckland • Since Aug 2007 • 195 posts Report

  • NSA,

    Attachment

    When the smile opts to run.

    Fort Meade, MD • Since Sep 2014 • 34 posts Report

  • Keir Leslie,

    Strictly speaking, the Leader's Office isn't private, it's legislative. If Ede works for Parliamentary Services, he's employed by Parliament not by the National Party.

    Since Jul 2008 • 1452 posts Report

  • Bill Eaton, in reply to Steve Curtis,

    counterparties

    The correct Wall Street term is muppets - still a term employed by our PM...

    Auckland • Since Sep 2014 • 15 posts Report

  • Sacha, in reply to nzlemming,

    Remember, Rawshark said he had turned the dump over to journalists...

    tits on a bull.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • nzlemming, in reply to Matthew Hooton,

    No, I think Ede was parliamentary services – but, you’re right, this is what it turns on.

    Officials in Ministerial offices are employed by Ministerial Services. They're employed by Parliamentary Services for non-Ministerial governmental MPs and opposition MPs.

    Waikanae • Since Nov 2006 • 2937 posts Report

  • Rosemary McDonald, in reply to Seriatim,

    Hah!

    We missed the first ten minutes of question time....took that long to figure out how to work the telly. (I kid ye not....its been a while)

    I concede though to have been somewhat entertained. Impressed by the righteous indignation from the right and the equally outraged comments from the left.

    I thought Our Leader did a sterling job of living down to our expectations...we would have been disappointed had he have done the sensible thing and said 'we stuffed up, lets move on.'
    But no...he just has to keep banging away on the same drum.

    We missed the bit when OL left the House and poor old Bill had to take up the fight.
    I thought he was going to have a stroke...seriously.

    When Little had the floor....okay, even this cynical old bat felt a wee stirring of admiration. I think even his own side were a tad surprised at his oratory, his eloquence and his passion. He sounded really outraged and totally pissed.

    At one point I thought those seated behind him were going to leap to their feet and break into either applause, or a chorus of 'hallelujahs!". He would have deserved it.

    I am now feeling guilty. I have backslid, and not only watched telly...but telly in the afternoon. Shame on me.

    Back to Natrad...where one has to only listen to their voices not contend with the smug, arrogant looks on some of their faces.

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

  • Keir Leslie, in reply to nzlemming,

    I don't think that's right - Key and National will have staff who are employed by Parliamentary Services - the National Party Research Unit, for instance, is Parliamentary Services. Only staff who are employed by Ministers as Ministers are part of the Executive, and the claim is that Ede was employed to do parliamentary work not executive work.

    Since Jul 2008 • 1452 posts Report

  • Teej, in reply to BenWilson,

    The PRA in a nutshell boils down to three key things: 1. Public agencies are required to create and maintain full and accurate records. 2. They have to maintain these in accessible form for as long as required, and 3. That those records can only be disposed (either via destruction or transfer to Archives NZ) with the approval of the Chief Archivist. The question in this case though, as Mathew Hooten indicates, is whether the Act is in play. If it is, then prima facie it's a pretty obvious breach. Incidentally, for my 2 cents, the PRA and OIA are two sides of the whole. In an ideal world, Archives NZ should be extricated from DIA, and report to Parliament to preserve its independence and ability to investigate, a la Office of the Ombudsman and Privacy Commissioner.

    Christchurch • Since Sep 2014 • 3 posts Report

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