Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: The Letter

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  • Kumara Republic,

    The whole affair is getting more and more contrived by the minute. Seems the Granny is too embarrassed to issue a retraction, so now it shifts the goalposts? In this case, nothing less than the full force of a Press Council ruling will do.

    The southernmost capital … • Since Nov 2006 • 5446 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson, in reply to Sacha,

    They seem to be considering action more against Liu.

    This can of worms only opens from the inside?

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Kumara Republic,

    the full force of a Press Council ruling

    that feather tickles

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Ana Simkiss, in reply to Rich of Observationz,

    Because defamation litigation is hard, long, expensive and uncertain. A quick smack round the chops from the press council would be a better strategy, if it's an option.

    as far as it goes, I doubt they'd win a case against Liu (who made no defamatory allegations) or the Herald (qualified privilege). The only people who've done the defaming (cash for access etc) is National and particularly Key. I think going all Colin Craig on the Prime Minister is bad strategy.

    Freemans Bay • Since Nov 2006 • 141 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson, in reply to Ana Simkiss,

    It's hard to know which is the better strategy. Press council would probably work, and might work quickly. It's the low risk strategy. But the go-for-broke is to cement their negative campaign on National with actual charges of slander against the PM, who was foolish enough to make these claims outside of parliament.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • Tom Semmens,

    I would be inclined to go with a slander action against Key and the Herald, simply because I think that in an advanced democracy a major daily paper of record working hand in glove with the PM simply can't be allowed to get away with concocting complete fabrications that smear the chief opposition party just 90 days out from a general election.

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

  • Kumara Republic,

    I'd definitely use the Press Council option first, and only resort to a libel suit if all other avenues are exhausted. Meanwhile on the Fairfax web, I'm only surprised that it didn't have a dig at its biggest newspaper rival...

    David Cunliffe wants apology from Donghua Liu

    The southernmost capital … • Since Nov 2006 • 5446 posts Report Reply

  • Rich of Observationz, in reply to Ana Simkiss,

    I believe the qualified privilege would apply to the Herald reporting Key's public statements, but not to originating the story itself.

    Dragging Key and the Herald through the courts during the next National government would have certain advantages in tainting his brand. The ideal situation would involve him managing to Archer himself in the process.

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report Reply

  • simon g,

    The Herald keeps "updating" (i.e. changing) its online story. Small but significant changes in vocabulary, gradually rowing back. Last one 5 mins ago.

    I hope somebody's keeping screenshots or printing hard copies.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1333 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to simon g,

    The current version explicitly confirms that Liu counted the $60,000 he claims to have spent on the staff dinner in the “close to” $100,000 he “believes” he donated to Labour, but still says this:

    His confirmation of the total sum of $100,000 will still leave Labour with a headache as it searches records for donations and the links between senior MPs and the wealthy businessman which emerged last week.

    Fucksake. And of course the $150,000 the Herald alleged just four days ago has gone right down the memory hole.

    This really isn’t good enough.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Kumara Republic, in reply to Russell Brown,

    Fucksake. And of course the $150,000 the Herald alleged just four days ago has gone right down the memory hole.

    This really isn’t good enough.

    Sounds like they're starting to venture into Dewey Defeats Truman territory.

    The southernmost capital … • Since Nov 2006 • 5446 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel, in reply to Russell Brown,

    The current version explicitly confirms that Liu counted the...

    ...Rowing Club donation as a donation to Labour.
    How does that work?

    He says he donated

    ...in good faith and without expectation

    to both governments/parties

    How does a rowing club then equate with the Labour Party?

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • Rich of Observationz,

    It could be an English language thing. A rowing club being a club for having rows and arguments?

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Rich of Observationz,

    arguments

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Chris Waugh, in reply to Rich of Observationz,

    A rowing club being a club for having rows and arguments?

    One of those classic loony lefty things? Hawkes Bay Rowing Club vs. Rowing Club of Hawkes Bay?

    Tangential to a tangent off a tangent, but it's gifts originating in China finding their way to the South Pacific: Xinhua's Anhui branch has a partial translation* of this Washington Post article on the diplomatic stoush between NZ and Tonga over that plane China donated to Tonga. Might be worth a look for those better equipped than myself to discuss international relations and China's moves in the Pacific.

    *shhh! Don't tell John Key, but his quote was not considered important enough for the people of Anhui. Also missing is anything about less than harmonious relations between imported Chinese workers and the locals, the old chequebook diplomacy rivalry between the Mainland and Taiwan, and questions over the effect of all that debt on Tonga.... But all way off topic, sorry.

    Wellington • Since Jan 2007 • 2401 posts Report Reply

  • Kumara Republic, in reply to Ana Simkiss,

    Because defamation litigation is hard, long, expensive and uncertain. A quick smack round the chops from the press council would be a better strategy, if it's an option.

    What are we waiting for then?

    The southernmost capital … • Since Nov 2006 • 5446 posts Report Reply

  • Rich of Observationz, in reply to Chris Waugh,

    Well, the MA60 has had 9 accidents out of 80 delivered and hasn't been certified by anywhere in the developed world apart from China.

    It may a perfectly fine aircraft, but the makers can't be bothered with the paperwork to certify it and the recipients of free airliners tend not to be able to afford to train their pilots very well.

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson, in reply to simon g,

    I hope somebody’s keeping screenshots or printing hard copies

    LOL. You know there are still people around who only get printouts? These are the people who pay for the Herald.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • Kumara Republic, in reply to Kumara Republic,

    The southernmost capital … • Since Nov 2006 • 5446 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes,

    Like I have been saying all along, they just made it up.
    When real people do shit like this and do the kind of damage that the Herald and the National Party, especially John Key, have done to the Labour Party and hence Democracy they are held to account.
    I am WAITING....
    I will be waiting for a while I fear.

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca, in reply to Kumara Republic,

    Looks like at least one of us is refusing to take this laying down.

    There are so many to complain about, but I've started with Armstrong being inaccurate, unbalanced.He's the Chief Political Commentator. I'm actually just really sick of his articles always rubbishing Labour. I'll be waiting for 10 days then onto the Press Council.

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

  • Russell Brown,

    The final evolution of the “second statement” Liu story is in this morning’s paper. It contains one new element – the role of Steven Ching.

    The man who hoped to be the first Chinese MP for the Labour Party has emerged as a central figure in the donation claims of Donghua Liu.

    Steven Ching was a successful fundraiser for Labour and was No42 on the party list ahead of the 2005 election, but withdrew.

    The Herald can now reveal that the Auckland businessman, who organised dinners where guests donated $1000 to sit beside former Prime Minister Helen Clark, approached the office of David Cunliffe about Liu’s residency bid.

    Mr Ching was not home and did not return messages, but Labour sources confirmed he was the “conduit” between Liu and the party.

    When the Herald broke the news that Mr Cunliffe wrote a 2003 letter on behalf of Liu’s residency bid, the Labour leader said he did not recall having ever met the businessman.

    “To the best of my knowledge that letter came through my office and an immigration agent on his behalf.”

    Mr Cunliffe this week said “to the best of my knowledge” Mr Ching was not that agent. “However he appears to have had some contact at staff level with the New Lynn Electorate Office over the matter.”

    Labour sources said Mr Ching had links to Liu and became the “conduit” between the party and the millionaire businessman. “Ching was the ‘money man’ responsible for organising the fundraising dinners and established a good relationship with Liu,” said one.

    Keith Ng wrote about Steven Ching in 2005 and it was not complimentary.

    Then a year later, for The Listener:

    Ching, for example, has been a very successful fund-raiser for Labour, as well as being a donor. This endeared him to the party hierarchy, but his list placement caused resentment among party members, who were less than impressed by his credentials as a campaigner.

    His selection turned sour when the Herald on Sunday reported in April that he failed to disclose a guilty plea for obstructing a fisheries officer in 2001, and alleged that he asked an acquaintance to lend him $50,000 after offering the acquaintance help to become a justice of the peace. Ching stood down from the party list pending an investigation into the claim. Last week, Labour’s ruling council refused his plea for reinstatement. President Mike Williams said that nothing would change until police gave Ching the all-clear.

    Ching’s rise and rapid fall has been the cause of much chagrin within the Chinese community, but even before the scandals there was an obvious barrier to his becoming a parliamentary representative – he barely speaks English.
    Language is a sensitive issue. People who don’t speak fluent English need representation, too, maybe even more so, since they are less able to speak for themselves. But what good is a representative if they are unable to represent the views of their constituents?

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel, in reply to Russell Brown,

    Keith Ng wrote about Steven Ching in 2005

    Is the Paul Liu in that story
    any relation to Donghua Liu?

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Ian Dalziel,

    Is the Paul Liu in that story
    any relation to Donghua Liu?

    Probably not. It's a pretty common name.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel, in reply to Russell Brown,

    Funfair for the common man...

    Probably not.
    It’s a pretty common name.

    Good God man, are you trying
    to quench the very basic spark
    of the gambling urge...

    ;- )

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

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