Hard News: Metiria's Problem
333 Responses
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izogi, in reply to
I really hope that's the case.
If I read it right, Metiria also never ruled out potentially being a Minister in future. She merely ruled out seeking it.
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mark taslov, in reply to
Sorry, I misunderstood your reference to a “Pakeha morality play”. And my point was precisely that a range of views have been expressed by Māori. I took in what Kiri Allan said at the time, when it certainly wasn’t the perspective du jour. Even though I didn’t entirely agree with it.
All good Russell. I never doubt your good faith. I’m glad that’s resolved. I agree.
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Rosemary McDonald, in reply to
...blackmailed somehow...
I would certainly not use that expression. I am hopelessly and irrevocably cynical about politics and politicians, but I do try to keep up.
I've watched the GP morph from sandalled, herbalist activists with a refreshing 'I'll dress how I damn well please." attitude, to the smooth, polished, scripted product that graced the cover of this glossy glam mag.
Assuming that any speech delivered in public by candidates is thoroughly vetted by the 'comms' team, discussed in depth with the party's tacticians...how on earth did they think this would play out...especially for Metiria?
Undoubtedly, Metiria revealing her past indiscretions while struggling on the DPB will have helped the GP to reconnect somewhat with those that might have felt alienated by the sophisticates in the N&S tableaux...it has not made Metiria's position more secure.
The more I think about it...the whole thing smacks of an attempt to deflect a possible shit storm.
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Neil,
I don’t think I can go along with the youthful indiscretion line.
She was an adult, a parent and was studying law. She deliberately set out to circumvent our electoral system to advantage a party she was standing for.
That’s not just some minor whoopsie by someone a bit disorganised.
We have this restriction so that party members can’t game the system and switching their votes to electorates where they might carry more weight.
Her one vote might be of little significance but if a large number people felt they could get away with it then that would undermine public confidence in the process.
And someone studying law with political ambitions really should be aware of that.
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simon g, in reply to
As others have pointed out, Neil, the current Prime Minister committed the same "offence" - as an MP.
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John Farrell, in reply to
The party vote determines the number of seats gained.....and it doesn't depend on which electorate you vote in.
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Neil, in reply to
I take it you would discourage people from voting for the PM on that basis.
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simon g, in reply to
It would rank about number 998 on my list of "one thousand reasons not to vote National".
Let's face it, we have been here so many times before. So often that we can barely remember all the previous times we took up our pitchforks and cried outrage (real or feigned). But it was all hugely important at the time, and hugely irrelevant to history.
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Neil, in reply to
I agree there's often to much outrage.
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Nail on head. Pitchforks.
NZ public discourse is prone to pile-ons. NZ's political cadres seem - especially on the left - to be willing to capitulate to narratives advanced by the other side.
Take the Barclay debacle. Did the Nats break ranks and start calling for English to apologise/open up on the subject.
In this case there seems to be in plain sight evidence that the Minister of Social.Welfare herself is similarly compromised. Certainly she has been taking legal action left right and center to shut down inquiry - which looks more than suspicious.
As pointed out above being registered at the wrong address for electoral.purposes happens all the time when young. Students can elect where they vote and overseas voters get to vote where they last lived even though they don't livee there.
Under MMP it matters not a jot in any event and under FPP it arguably mattered even less. That leaves the mother being the flatmate.... since when did having your mother living with you as a flatmate make any difference to DPB eligibility.
This is yet another example of self-righteousness in the context of a political sideshow getting the better of the larger picture. Unfortunately in NZ'S tiny pond there are always a bunch of people who would like to see anyone who sticks their head above the parapet taken down a peg or two. Tis a shame, but what is done is done.
As for Gower. Seems to me it is his natural tendency towards moral certitude for the sake of heaflines that often sets the pitchfork battalions marching.
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Russell Brown, in reply to
I don’t think I can go along with the youthful indiscretion line.
She was an adult, a parent and was studying law. She deliberately set out to circumvent our electoral system to advantage a party she was standing for.
To be fair, she did so at the expense of voting for herself in the adjacent electorate where she was standing for the same party.
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Russell Brown, in reply to
As for Gower. Seems to me it is his natural tendency towards moral certitude for the sake of heaflines that often sets the pitchfork battalions marching.
The Left can't really complain about it this time though. He's bowled over by Jacinda and praised Metiria. If anything it's the certitude of the gallery, which is basically governed by where it smells blood.
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Alastair Thompson, in reply to
Well yes. Group think.
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Mikaere Curtis, in reply to
I really hope that's the case.
I would be most obliged if you could, in your capacity as an electorate constituent, raise this very possibility the next time you see Jacinda.
In any government, there is usually a limited supply of intelligent, articulate and principled potential ministers. Metiria meets that criteria, and actually shares many/all of the key principles to which Jacinda espouses. Win/win.
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Russell, this isn't a direct chip at you more a general comment.
I keep hearing "This is politics, and Metiria can't cry foul about that."
Well, I don't remember anyone hereabouts having a bar of that when to put it crudely, Mark Richardson, Mike Hosking et. al. couldn't shut the fuck up about Jacinda Ardern's uterus. And his "but she's OK talking about it!" attempt at damage control just inspired another round of mockery. Rightly so.
When you say "it's just politics" remember there's a lot of people out there - and I'm one of them -- for who this isn't a game of Election Season Stratego. (And, Tom, please don't bother talking at me. This is one topic where I'm not playing our usual game.)
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A lot of people get victimised by those operating our social welfare system. She's volunteered to represent these victims in parliament and deserves credit for doing so. Can you name any other parliamentarian who has declared their intention to do so?
Some are personally victimised by welfare nazis pretending to be public servants. Others inadvertently become victims of the system via ignorance of how to use it to their advantage, lack of good advice, etc. It would improve our society if this sector of the electorate had a parliamentary representative to advocate their class interests. Do they even have a lobby group? It's an unfortunate consequence of victim psychology that they tend not to organise in common cause (too busy trying to survive). Seems to be what motivated Metiria to use the policy launch to explain her intent to improve the system.
Unfortunately she lost control of the narrative because the media wanted to make it all about her instead, and she did provide them with the basis to do so. Poor political judgment? Perhaps, but doesn't it only seem that way because the media aren't reporting anyone supporting her in her stance. Sue Bradford? Laila Harre? Any sign of feminist solidarity? What about prominent male bleeding-heart liberals out there? What happened to balanced reporting? I acknowledge those supporting her here, but looks like our media pros now are too young to know that Bolger's govt deliberately set out to rig the rules to screw beneficiaries.
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I am beyond sickened by the self-righteousness of Metiria's critics. We need to change the system, and not just the welfare system. This National government has had an unending stream of conflicts-of-interest and potential corruption. Bill English falsely claimed a housing allowance as an MP, and he gets to be PM? He's lied to the public just this week about his involvement with the Todd Barclay affair. But we're not being judgemental about that? The Attorney-General just had to resign, and the public still isn't allowed to know why.
The hypocrisy just breaks my heart.
Here's a link to a story about poverty and choices. Y'all should read it.
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Gerrit, in reply to
To be fair, the Greens were not without blame when Parliamentary Services had mistakenly advised MP's the rules on claiming accommodation allowances.
The continual reference to Bill English and his claiming allowances is easily countermanded by the fact ALL parties we ill advised and MP's were ALL claiming the accommodation supplement wrongly.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/2930084/Greens-give-back-6000-in-housing-mistake .
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Sacha, in reply to
ALL parties we ill advised and MP's were ALL claiming the accommodation supplement wrongly
Yet nobody else requested more cleaning of their home on the public purse when on a handsome family income. That smaller expense offended me more at the time. Talk about troughing.
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kiwiwolf, in reply to
Strange, especially round election time that many people can not accept an honest person telling the truth.
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kiwiwolf, in reply to
You sound delighted
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izogi, in reply to
Under MMP it matters not a jot in any event and under FPP it arguably mattered even less.
Wouldn't it often matter more under FPP? A dissenting FPP vote in a safe electorate is virtually worthless, but shift it to an electorate that might go multiple ways and that vote suddenly becomes more valuable. Given the circumstances it seems unlikely that would have had anything to do with Turei's reason, though.
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I doubt the electoral act breach was the crucial issue in Metiria being under pressure to walk the plank today.
Winz would never look kindly on living with your mother without declaring it - given their prevailing ethos now, let alone in the 90s. That's a breach they may still choose to prosecute and it should have been mentioned during the planned confession on stage.
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kiwiwolf, in reply to
Might have guest that you would have to put the boot in as usual. No one can be more forgiving than a National voter lets face it they are all squeaky clean. Nothing to see in his old electorate?.
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kiwiwolf, in reply to
National party so he must be squeaky clean in most peoples eyes. That's the problem in this country people prepared to pull some politicians to pieces while turning a blind eye to far worse crimes in others.
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