Shameful to see how English basically abused te Heu heu, and has now been caught out. The whole thing smacks of the worst sort of cronyism.

the Pacific Economic Economic Development Agency Ltd

PEEDA sounds even worse than PEDA. True dat on the credit card spending comparison. You can buy a lot of pies for that kind of cash.

PEEDA sounds even worse than PEDA

D'oh! Fixed now.

I will await further developments in this story with interest, but the Herald's lack of reportage smacks of political bias. Admittedly, I would support Labour over the?

1.?

They better deliver better than what we presently receive

And there's a story there too if media can be bothered.

PEEDA sounds even worse than PEDA.

As long as no-one finds a file, I'll be happy.

I'm also totally over the pathetic holier than thou media beat ups on credit card spending, where there were measures in place to make sure that if inappropriate spending occurred, it was re-payed.

Frankly this looks very much like National lining up their?

Granny's MO has been plain to see for years now, only more pronounced as time goes on and as it loses subscribers. To those who argue otherwise, I'll introduce myself as?

I'm also totally over the pathetic holier than thou media beat ups on credit card spending, where there were measures in place to make sure that if inappropriate spending occurred, it was re-payed.

It's impressive that in one short post you've managed one palpable untruth, one potentially defamatory allegation Russell?

the PI audience is comfortable with this behaviour and wouldn't appreciate their "leaders" coming under scrutiny.

I believe that only applies to those of established standing doesn't it?

To be fair to the Herald, it's doubtful that a Minister or Press Sec would brief them on this and there's nothing about it on Kiwiblog or WhaleOil – how would you expect them to find out about it?

ooh burn!

Absolutely right Sacha...

I don't think I'd go that far — as i noted, they didn't break that story either, the Star Times did

Indeed, and I've got to wonder (again) if the Herald would have gone so hot and heavy on Brown's response if it didn't have the added spice of slating?

PEEDA sounds even worse than PEDA.

As long as no-one finds a file, I'll be happy.

Ha. Graeme beat me to it. I was at lunch (not paid for by taxpayers). As soon as I saw this discussion thread and the PEEDA, I remembered an episode of the IT Crowd?

The matter has the odour of favours paid to set up a "thang" for which part of its purpose is, in the short and mid term, take a significant portion of the Pacific Vote from Labour.

The lack of process is?

PEEDA sounds even worse than PEDA.

As long as no-one finds a file, I'll be happy.

Perhaps the reason for the lack of reporting at The Herald is because they're all PEDA-philes.

Coat, getting.

EDIT: Although, to be fair, Tapu Misa gives a summary of the issues a reasonable airing

Something, need I add, that Fairfax isn't beyond doing itself.

Actually, I should also have noted that the Star Times has tiptoed quietly away from its original allegation against Brown, in Marshall's story — that officials requested a false invoice from the restaurant to cover up spending on booze.

You cannot take a genuine (in their words "scientific") political opinion poll and compare it with the "survey" you've ginned up from a self-selected group of Your Views readers.

...

A commenter at The Standard saw the "survey" text and said it didn't mention Banks at all, and the questions?

Post amended accordingly.

More likely this is about English (who has Pacific connections through his wife) being well aware of the need to get some runs on the board, and allowing himself to be persuaded that J.R. Pereira and colleagues were?

Actually, I should also have noted that the Star Times has tiptoed quietly away from its original allegation against Brown, in Marshall's story — that officials requested a false invoice from the restaurant to cover up spending on booze.

Fair enough too — but as my Nana used to say:?

Are journalists trying to establish detail about how Mary English fits into this story?

They may indeed be.Her husband alluded to it in an answer to an oral question last week :

I resent that implication. [Interruption] If the member really wants to know, the only Pereira I knew before?

Why, because those Islanders hang together in their exotically clannish way?

Uh no, because it seems that meetings took place with English rather than Te Heuheu and any connections which might shed light on that seem pretty relevant. How did the matter reach his desk?

Uh no, because it seems that meetings took place with English rather than Te Heuheu and any connections which might shed light on that seem pretty relevant. How did the matter reach his desk?

So how exactly does anyone presume Mary English tie into that, without getting into Insinuate Magazine?

So how exactly does Mary English tie into that?

I don't know, do you? Maybe she doesn't and it got to her husband some other way. That's why some "investigation" might be called for. From "journalists".

I don't know, do you? Maybe she doesn't and it got to her husband some other way. That's why some "investigation" might be called for. From "journalists".

Oh, I'm sure Ian Wishart is on the job, and The Herald will once more sock-puppet his revelations of what a pussy-whipped tool?

"Richard Gage suddenly went all Wishartian..." Yep, that works.

I'm relieved to see the existing Pacific Business Trust funding also survived, though I'm sure they might have?

I don't know, do you? Maybe she doesn't and it got to her husband some other way. That's why some "investigation" might be called for. From "journalists".

Those sound like reasonable questions. I just don't see how raising them here advances anything.

I am much more fascinated in seeing how initiatives like this might work.

Same, so the faster we resolve the dodginess about the process, the better.

Nothing there for Steve Barnes?s: And then there's The PACIFIC ECONOMIC INVESTMENT GROUP LIMITED also tied up with J. R. Pereira and Mose Saitala. I ain't no journalist and don't really have the time but I pointed?

I don't think it would be Wishartian to simply ask whether Bill English's "community connections" played any role.

No it isn't, but it would be a very Wishartian form of post hoc ergo propter hoc reasoning to insinuate that Mary English abused her relationship with a Minister of the Crown?

In which case, the Budget should have mentioned a sum of money for such a project and then the Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs could have run the usual contestable tender process.

Oh shit, Hillary, we're going to have to stop meeting like this. :) The point of a robust?

Thanks for an enlightening post Russell. But is someone fooling with the links?

No, just coincidence.

Steve fell afoul of the weirdness of the Companies Office website. This should work.

And I've fixed the link to Craig's broadcast.

PEEDA sounds even worse than PEDA.

As long as no-one finds a file, I'll be happy.

Too late, Trevor beat that path last week

turning into a socialist?

So someone has to ask the questions
I do think this looks dodgy but how is it different from the last Government giving money for"education" to the Unions while hitting the same unions for money for re-election and baubles
Oh that's right hopefully some Pacific?

Are you turning into a socialist?

Nah, just one of those Tories for whom a disorderly balance sheet just misses the cut for the Horsemen of The Apocalypse.

I do think this looks dodgy but how is it different from the last Government giving money for"education" to the Unions while hitting the same unions for money for re-election and baubles

I take it you're referring to the Employment Relations Education Contestable Fund, which continues to operate much?

Craig is

turning into a socialist?

So someone has to ask the questions

Excuse me, darling? I'm asking the same questions I'd be asking of any Labour-lead government under the same circumstances. FFS, I've been a member of the National Party for twenty years, an office holder for five of?

Anywaaay ... thing's I've learned since yesterday morning:

1. Richard Pamatatau didn't get his documents through OIA, but via a leak, which shows the value of a good contacts book and trusted relationships.

2. The Herald did have OIA requests in with?

Because, y'know, that's the problem.

After all, it's important to follow proper process with this kind of thing.

2. The Herald did have OIA requests in with the offices of English and Te heuheu, but have been stalled for weeks

It's also interesting to note that te Heu Heu hasn't answered any of the parliamentary written questions about this issue:
http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Business/QWA/Default.htm?p=1&search=1599859301

The answers are way overdue and she's?

Did the radio just say they are now investigating the leak?

Yup. Witch-hunt officially on.

Hole. Digging.

Yup. Witch-hunt officially on.

Hole. Digging.

The smilers & wavers say, don't you worry about that!

10190 (2010). Su'a William Sio to the Minister of Pacific Island Affairs (04 Jun 2010): What, if anything, did Pacifc Economic Development Agency Limited say it could deliver for youth training in return for the $4.8 million dollars of taxpayer money that?

Hon BILL ENGLISH: That kind of advice is not unusual?

Hon Members: Ha, ha!

I am afraid I read that in the voice of Nelson Munz.

Hon BILL ENGLISH: That kind of advice is not unusual?

Hon Members: Ha, ha!

Got a song stuck in my head now...