Island Life by David Slack

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Island Life: The resignation of Captain Worth

355 Responses

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  • Gareth Ward,

    So Computerworld is saying police have started an investigation into someone stealing DNA from the National Databank.
    Coincidence?
    Or has Worth been secretly cloning an army on an alien world to overthrow the Government whilst still maintaining a face as Govt Minister? YOU tell me there's no similarity there

    Auckland, NZ • Since Mar 2007 • 1727 posts Report Reply

  • Tom Beard,

    Investment in capacity is another.

    Unless it's motorway capacity.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1040 posts Report Reply

  • andrew llewellyn,

    But doesn't improving IT infrastructure help productivity?

    Not so I've noticed. Employees spend all their days on Facebook and other online fora :)

    Since Nov 2006 • 2075 posts Report Reply

  • Eddie Clark,

    Why is Whaleoil on TVNZ commenting on this??? Seriously, they're that desperate for comment? Phil Goff (quite rightly) refused to be in the same studio.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 273 posts Report Reply

  • Gordon Paynter,

    I notice some functions like eGovt being transferred from SSC to DIA. Anyone know more about the reasoning or the implications?

    I believe the reasoning was that SSC should not be carrying out operational activities, and these have been transferred to DIA. SSC would then focus on a policy/advisory role. However, I believe many (most?) remaining positions at SSC have been "disestablished", as Andrew E notes.

    Wellington • Since Dec 2007 • 21 posts Report Reply

  • George Darroch,

    Why is Whaleoil on TVNZ commenting on this??? Seriously, they're that desperate for comment? Phil Goff (quite rightly) refused to be in the same studio.

    Perhaps TVNZ have decided that a mix of current and former talk-back hosts is too high-brow.

    WLG • Since Nov 2006 • 2264 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    Because Paul Henry has really lowered the bar.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • tussock,

    Slater was introduced there as a national party spokesman, wasn't he? I'm sure they'll love that becoming official.

    ...

    But these people aren't so clever that they could engineer the viral explosion of that first video.

    You reckon? I'd think it was a natural to get a fairly good number, 100k or so, quirky look, nice story, sounds good, and they've been supported by their own news programs and affiliated stations, and just pushed the story cheaply 'round all the international media to make a story of the story to boost ratings, until the tabloids tore down the facade to flex their own muscle. I mean, the thing didn't get 200m views from blog links, there's not that many people read blogs.

    Since Nov 2006 • 611 posts Report Reply

  • Tom Semmens,

    Why is Whaleoil on TVNZ commenting on this??

    I switched channels immediately. I'm not having that son of a bitch in my living room.

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

  • Sacha,

    Slater was captioned as "right wing blogger" and alternated between relaying what the Nats were saying and owning up to knowing nothing despite Sainsbury's best efforts to make like Whaleboy is plugged into the pulse of guvmint.

    Boyle's story fits a lot of deep cultural stereotypes really well. Resonates widely. Easy soft story for news media to push. YouTube traffic driven from commercial radio, print and telly as well as good old word o mouth, viral email, social media, etc. Still a surprise, as Russell noted.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • James Liddell,

    Slater was captioned as "right wing blogger" and alternated between relaying what the Nats were saying and owning up to knowing nothing despite Sainsbury's best efforts to make like Whaleboy is plugged into the pulse of guvmint.

    What really pisses me off about having that slanderous and libelous man on television is that he automatically gains some legitimacy in the eyes of a large proportion of Close Up's viewers. I must admit that I turned over to TV3. Did Sainsbury happen to mention that this same blogger, not 9 months ago, was claiming he had incontrovertible evidence that a previous Government Minister raped a woman and covered it up?

    Wellington • Since Jul 2007 • 102 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    Must have missed that bit..

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • James Liddell,

    I just hope that Mr Slater doesn't become one of TVNZ's new "go to" people on politics.

    Wellington • Since Jul 2007 • 102 posts Report Reply

  • LegBreak,

    Key was to slow on this, but he won't be the main loser in it all.

    1. Labour. How much they must have looked forward to having 3 years of Worth in a Minister's position. A complete UK-like parody of a Tory toff.

    Kind of like revenge for the Benson-Pope situation.

    2.ACT. There goes the guaranteed electorate seat.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1162 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    Hmm.

    Labour leader Phil Goff took an allegation of Richard Worth's inappropriate behaviour towards a woman to Prime Minister John Key about a month ago, it emerged tonight.

    It appears that Key has been boxed into officially losing confidence in his Minister some time between Goff's question a week ago and the same one today. Politics, eh.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    2.ACT. There goes the guaranteed electorate seat.

    All hope is not lost. There are many other talented candidates, as we're seeing in Mt Albert.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Campbell,

    heh - apparently Goff refused to appear on TV opposite Slater - not surprising

    Dunedin • Since Nov 2006 • 2623 posts Report Reply

  • Matthew Poole,

    Having heard the same rumours as others, I imagine, I do have to say I'm not in the least bit surprised nobody was going "rabid dog" at Key over it in the House. Nobody wants to be the one who brings that dead rat (what Worth's alleged to have done, not Worth) into the House, if the rumours are actually true. The KB comments (I know, I know. It was a temporary moment of insanity, y'ronner, honest!), on the other hand... They obviously missed the bit where Helen booted Field as soon as he was actually being charged with something, which is as much as any PM should be expected to do.
    I don't envy the moderators their job over the next few days, I have to say. Speculation will be rife, and there's bound to be someone who steps over the line.

    As for Boscowan, while I was at St Lukes on Monday I heard someone yelling something through a loud speaker. Couldn't hear it clearly, but the name is sufficiently unusual that it didn't take much effort to work out who was being a public nuisance.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2007 • 4097 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    I didn't get why Goff's office would have been so keen for him to do Close Up (I think they may even have called to say he was available), but the fact of his previous heads-up to Key explains that.

    In truth, I think his understandable refusal to appear alongside Slater may have done him a favour.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes,

    What really pisses me off about having that slanderous and libelous man on television is that he automatically gains some legitimacy in the eyes of a large proportion of Close Up's viewers

    It makes you wonder just how close up they want to get and to what?. If the 'Mainstream" puts this guy up as representive of their point of view then .............. erm
    My brains are made of poo.

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • Just thinking,

    It seems Richard Worth is more a Liberal than Tory by the UK definition.

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10576305&pnum=0

    Putaringamotu • Since Apr 2009 • 1158 posts Report Reply

  • Danyl Mclauchlan,

    I just hope that Mr Slater doesn't become one of TVNZ's new "go to" people on politics.

    Slater wasn't terrible but he wasn't any good either and more importantly he didn't seem to know anything. His reputation on the blogosphere aside, he's not very good TV talent - it was a bad call on their producers part and I doubt he'll be back.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 927 posts Report Reply

  • ScottY,

    The Slater interview was a low point in the history of Close Up.

    Not only because of his sordid reputation, but because he had nothing to add to the matter. Couldn't they have interviewed someone with a clue?

    Kudos to Goff for refusing to be part of it.

    West • Since Feb 2009 • 794 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    I suspect anyone with a clue had less shame, some moral standards and more fear of defamation lawyers.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Danyl Mclauchlan,

    Kudos to Goff for refusing to be part of it.

    By convention the opposition leader generally only debates the PM, senior cabinet ministers and other party leaders. You have to wonder what kind of half-wit producer ever thought he'd go on live TV to debate a blogger no matter what their reputation.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 927 posts Report Reply

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