Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Metiria's Problem

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  • izogi, in reply to Russell Brown,

    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.

    Wellington • Since Jan 2007 • 1142 posts Report Reply

  • mark taslov, in reply to Russell Brown,

    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.

    Te Ika-a-Māui • Since Mar 2008 • 2281 posts Report Reply

  • Rosemary McDonald, in reply to izogi,

    ...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.

    Waikato, or on the road • Since Apr 2014 • 1346 posts Report Reply

  • 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.

    Since Nov 2016 • 382 posts Report Reply

  • simon g, in reply to Neil,

    As others have pointed out, Neil, the current Prime Minister committed the same "offence" - as an MP.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1333 posts Report Reply

  • John Farrell, in reply to simon g,

    The party vote determines the number of seats gained.....and it doesn't depend on which electorate you vote in.

    Dunedin • Since Nov 2006 • 499 posts Report Reply

  • Neil, in reply to simon g,

    I take it you would discourage people from voting for the PM on that basis.

    Since Nov 2016 • 382 posts Report Reply

  • simon g, in reply to Neil,

    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.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1333 posts Report Reply

  • Neil, in reply to simon g,

    I agree there's often to much outrage.

    Since Nov 2016 • 382 posts Report Reply

  • Alastair Thompson,

    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.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 220 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to 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.

    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.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Alastair Thompson,

    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.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Alastair Thompson, in reply to Russell Brown,

    Well yes. Group think.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 220 posts Report Reply

  • Mikaere Curtis, in reply to Russell Brown,

    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.

    Tamaki Makaurau • Since Nov 2006 • 528 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    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.)

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

  • Dennis Frank,

    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.

    New Zealand • Since Jun 2016 • 292 posts Report Reply

  • Lilith __,

    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.

    Dunedin • Since Jul 2010 • 3895 posts Report Reply

  • Gerrit, in reply to Lilith __,

    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 .

    Manukau • Since Apr 2017 • 5 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Gerrit,

    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.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • kiwiwolf, in reply to julie may,

    Strange, especially round election time that many people can not accept an honest person telling the truth.

    Whangaparaoa • Since Sep 2014 • 30 posts Report Reply

  • kiwiwolf, in reply to Nick Russell,

    You sound delighted

    Whangaparaoa • Since Sep 2014 • 30 posts Report Reply

  • izogi, in reply to Alastair Thompson,

    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.

    Wellington • Since Jan 2007 • 1142 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    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.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • kiwiwolf, in reply to Matthew Hooton,

    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?.

    Whangaparaoa • Since Sep 2014 • 30 posts Report Reply

  • kiwiwolf, in reply to Simon Sjorn,

    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.

    Whangaparaoa • Since Sep 2014 • 30 posts Report Reply

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