Island Life by David Slack

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Island Life: A week in the life of that nice Mr Key

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  • Lucy Stewart,

    So given they are tools of taggers and illegal downloaders I suspect Judith Collins will be having them crushed shortly.

    I don't think I can remember the last time I used a writeable disc, let alone for something illegal. OTOH, Sharpies would work perfectly well for naming flash drives, so they're probably still at risk there.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 2105 posts Report

  • Jolisa,

    Even more Sharpie pron.

    Auckland, NZ • Since Nov 2006 • 1472 posts Report

  • James Liddell,

    Thanks James. That's very useful context.

    No worries, Russell. And thank you, very belatedly, for covering the whole sordid affair last year. It would have been highly inappropriate for me to comment on your post at that time.

    Wellington • Since Jul 2007 • 102 posts Report

  • Deborah,

    word word word word

    But next we will hear that "it was all a joke" or "she liked it" or "she was asking for it."

    Victim blaming eh. So many ways to do it.

    New Lynn • Since Nov 2006 • 1447 posts Report

  • Hilary Stace,

    Some relief for Key as central talking point, and some good news - David Bain not guilty. Verdict just out.

    Wgtn • Since Jun 2008 • 3229 posts Report

  • Tom Semmens,

    Good news? 1994 policing was put on trial in 2009 with the full benefit of hindsight and innuendo.

    David Bain's father has been smeared by his killer so he can walk free.

    Sevilla, Espana • Since Nov 2006 • 2217 posts Report

  • Andy Milne,

    Agree with you Tom. The jury must have completely ignored the judge's summation - he stopped short of saying "find Bain guilty" but only just.

    Christchurch • Since Aug 2007 • 59 posts Report

  • Sam F,

    Some relief for Key as central talking point

    Media diversions in place - please follow alternate route along Easy Street.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1611 posts Report

  • richard,

    Must admit, wading through the increasingly sordid details of the Worth affair, I am struck by the magnificent understatement of Key's "making a nuisance of himself towards women".

    According to my other 'arf, making a nuisance of yourself towards women is leaving the seat up, which -- however reprehensible it might be -- is not usually a matter for the police.

    Not looking for New Engla… • Since Nov 2006 • 268 posts Report

  • Sylvie Zlami,

    Exquisite post.
    Made my day!

    auckland • Since Dec 2007 • 31 posts Report

  • George Darroch,

    Do we need a Bain thread here? If I never hear a single word about the man it won't concern me.

    WLG • Since Nov 2006 • 2264 posts Report

  • slarty,

    That his office didn't request any further evidence from the first complainant and backed Dr Worth solely on his word is quite ridiculous, and shows an appalling political myopia and bad judgement

    I think this is spot on - it strikes me as a man who is still struggling with the transition from private to public sector.

    I have watched incidents such as the first allegation about Worth (I want clearly distinguish from the criminal one - it's a different ball game) pretty regularly thru my career. e.g. in the last year I've been the victim (not the first time) and had to discipline a staff member over a less serious matter.

    IMHExperience, most of these things a dealt with in the private sector by a Stern Talking To. I don't want that to sound like it's a let-off - personally I take it very seriously, and unless I see grovelling contrition I walk the offender to the door, damn the employment court (yes, it does sometimes go that way).

    I suspect Key didn't twig, and weighed making it a Big Deal against the risk of wider leaks. What he failed to take into account was the odd reaction of the alleged offender - to (apparently / allegedly... have I said that enough?) get pissed and do it again... only worse.

    The second event smacks of that to which Mr Slack refers... a hesitation, a pause to see what others think. He's over the Hundred Day mark now, he needs to understand that he won't get any further slack... (!)

    Since Nov 2006 • 290 posts Report

  • Islander,

    I respectfully suggest a Bain thread might be appropriate...FTR, I totally disagree with the jury's verdict.

    But really love the pseudo-Lhaws' column!

    (I was sent a copy of "Dancing With Beelzebub": it is one of only 3 books I've refused to review.)

    Big O, Mahitahi, Te Wahi … • Since Feb 2007 • 5643 posts Report

  • David Slack,

    Islander, good suggestion, here's mine, and it's pure Pollyanna: if you think he actually did it (my hand is up) then he did 15 years. If you think he didn't, or you simply believe that the cops laid an insufficient foundation, or you think that it simply wasn't proven beyond reasonable doubt, then this is your day.

    I now wait to see who wins the bidding war between Campbell and Sainsbury to hump his leg at seven.

    I've just added a new thread to cover this.

    Devonport • Since Nov 2006 • 599 posts Report

  • Rik,

    @ Idiot Savant

    I have vague recollections of having a conversation along these lines once before on here...but with regard to your comments, the point is that with Labour the needle swings one way and with National the needle swings the other way (with the needle being a useless metaphor for higher taxes for higher income earners/more benefits for the lower income earners/beneficiaries vs lower taxes for higher income earners/lower benefits for the lower income earners/neneficiaries.

    So would you rather have it all one way (because you are right and the other half of the country is wrong) or is it better that we have a bit of a yin/yang thing going on which keeps half of the people happy for half of the time rather than one half happy all the time?

    We all have different ideologies and personally I think once you have earnt a certain amount and paid a reasonable amount of tax you should be given a break and pay a lot less tax over a certain amount of income (say anything over $100k or maybe $150k). But that's just me and you may not agree. But hey - we all have a say right and just because you don't agree with the current administration there's plenty that do. And the same happens when the opposition back in to power (as they surely will one day).

    So sit back and recognise that you had it your way for a good few years and now it's slipping back more towards my way for a bit. And the balance is maintained.

    And sure I care about stuff - I just meant I don't care in particular for National or John Key per se.

    Anyway - cheers!

    Since Jun 2007 • 130 posts Report

  • slarty,

    I respectfully suggest a Bain thread might be appropriate...FTR, I totally disagree with the jury's verdict.

    I hope a thread is avoidable... hasn't it been done to death? If you'll pardon the expression?

    And don't forget, Not Guilty is not the same as 'he didn't do it'.

    I suspect the civil standard was met, but have to agree the defence raised enough reasonable doubt. It was a far less professional Police service that carried out the investigation... once Watson is released I would say that's the last of the 90's cock-ups to be sorted out.

    Since Nov 2006 • 290 posts Report

  • Tom Semmens,

    If anyone could tell what the hell Chris Trotter is on about I'd be grateful.

    Honestly, as Che Tibby said - what is it about men of a certain generation?

    Sevilla, Espana • Since Nov 2006 • 2217 posts Report

  • David Slack,

    I would say that's the last of the 90's cock-ups to be sorted out.

    In that respect, you're more Pollyanna than me, I fear.

    Devonport • Since Nov 2006 • 599 posts Report

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    Why not reinstate Worth? There's been no trial, no conviction. Naughty messages to one's girlfriend is embarrassing for leaders, but hardly a crime.

    Oh really? A married woman with two kids, who had to ask her husband to decipher the text messages because she didn't know what all the x's were at the end. NOT GIRLFRIEND! You are insulting her again. Sorry but that is just rude.

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

  • Craig Ranapia,

    Oh really? A married woman with two kids, who had to ask her husband to decipher the text messages because she didn't know what all the x's were at the end. NOT GIRLFRIEND! You are insulting her again. Sorry but that is just rude.

    I'm still trying to figure out why the matter wasn't put in the hands of Ministerial Services at the time. As I've said elsewhere, someone at the State Services Commission actually needs to sit Messers Goff and Key down and explain why workplace sexual harassment is serious shit, and not ammo in a political game.

    And while diriving back from a funeral in Wellington today, I really hope I seriously misheard Mr Goff telling the listeners of Newstalk ZB that Indians don't make a fuss about that kind of thing. Strikes me as not only rude (because those brown ladies don't make a fuss when their menfolk are douche-baggy, Phil?) but a wee bit racist.

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

  • Craig Ranapia,

    That his office didn't request any further evidence from the first complainant and backed Dr Worth solely on his word is quite ridiculous, and shows an appalling political myopia and bad judgement

    About as bad as Goff and the rest of his party accepting the word of Winston Peters, David Benson-Pope and Philip Field?

    And could I say this: I don't actually think the Prime Minister's office should be investigating claims of workplace sexual harassment.

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

  • slarty,

    Sorry, can't bring myself to look at the other thread.

    In that respect, you're more Pollyanna than me, I fear.

    Indeed... I probably should have said " big evidential cock-ups involving white 'victims' who score some well connected support a few years later".. but it didn't seem to scan so well :)

    And the perception of fairness is often more important than the substance... as Mr. (G) Brown would probably attest to at the moment... :p so I do try to look on the positive side.

    Coppering is hugely better now than ten years ago. But, rather like the best place to get sick in NZ is Auckland, the same goes for being accused of something you didn't do... Mr Worth must be gutted his case has been transferred to Wellington (odd that - usually it remains near the alleged scene or the victim... surprised a few journo's haven't picked up on the implications of that one... )


    [PS. Had to look up Pollyanna - too much time reading Heinlein when I was a kid]

    Since Nov 2006 • 290 posts Report

  • Idiot Savant,

    Rik, you have missed my point completely. I'm not arguing anything about your preference for government. It's your statement that "nothing really changes at the end of the day" that I am taking issue with.

    Things do change in and due to politics. Those changes affect people's lives significantly. YMMV on the virtues of any particular changes - that's not at issue here - but to pretend that none of it matters and that "nothing really changes" is simply the height of stupidity.

    Palmerston North • Since Nov 2006 • 1717 posts Report

  • Stewart,

    Craig, good to see you back and apparently undiminished in the 'piss&vinegar' stakes. Your barbed counterpoint to the prevailing leftism has been missed (and i am sure not just by me).

    Te Ika A Maui - Whakatane… • Since Oct 2008 • 577 posts Report

  • Rik,

    @ Idiot Savant - I'm not missing your point at all, I just see things a bit differently.

    Sure things change - but not for long as is being evidenced now. Labour does it their way for a bit then National comes along and does it their way for a bit and so on.

    If the change was permanent then yeah, things would have changed.

    But the way things have worked out historically for NZ (government-wise) it's just like shifting sands.

    So from my way of thinking nothing really changes. Call me stupid if you like. Oh - you already have!

    :)

    Since Jun 2007 • 130 posts Report

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