Williams offers his resignation
February 21st, 2008 at 3:14 pm by David FarrarLabour Party President has offered his resignation, according to Stuff.
To be fair to Williams I don’t think what he did, while wrong, is at the level of resignation needed. But that is on the basis of currently known info. What sort of role he played in trying to get Owen Glenn made a Consul could change that view.
And to be fair to Williams, offering his resignation (even if he knows unlikely to be accepted) is an honourable thing to do. He did stuff up with his comments denying any Glenn donation since 2005 – and this is him accepting accountability for it.
No tag for this post.
February 21st, 2008 at 3:17 pm
Great. Couldn’t happen to a nicer bloke
Vote:February 21st, 2008 at 3:20 pm
This just give the thing “legs” again. What a strange move – there must be more to it
Vote:February 21st, 2008 at 3:22 pm
DPF
If offering his resignation is the honourable thing to do (the words honour and Labour do not belong in the same sentence) then surly dear leader should do the honourable thing and accept it.
Hollow offer from a hollow party.
Vote:February 21st, 2008 at 3:23 pm
If this is a positive start to election year, imagine what it would be like if things went negative!
Vote:February 21st, 2008 at 3:30 pm
He should have resigned back in 2005 over the pledge card fiasco.
Vote:February 21st, 2008 at 3:31 pm
big bruv is absolutely right. I’m prepared to give Williams the benefit of the doubt and accept that he made the offer without first making sure it wouldn’t be accepted. But having received it, Clark should have accepted it.
While I also agree with DPF that what Williams has done (or at least what we know to date) doesn’t really warrant it, the proper action for Clark would be to offer complete disclosure of all documents, file notes, correspondence and other relevant information. That may well prove Williams’s resignation isn’t justified.
But clearly he has no intention of so doing, hoping to darken the already murky waters with more obfuscation and “I don’t recalls”.
Thus a few people falling on their swords would at least indicate an acknowledgement of wrongdoing on the part of someone, somewhere – a symbolic gesture, admittedly – but equally clearly she’s not even prepared to go that far.
Vote:February 21st, 2008 at 3:32 pm
Sorry that should be “she clearly has no intention of so doing…” in the 4th par.
Vote:February 21st, 2008 at 3:33 pm
Helen Clark is in no position to turn down his resignation unless she has unilateraly changed the constitution of the Labour Party it is not her role to either appoint the president or accept his resignation. But then it should show you the power this woman assumes.
Vote:February 21st, 2008 at 3:33 pm
A hollow attempt by a hollow party to appear as if they still have some principals.
I’m not buying it – how pathetic.
Vote:February 21st, 2008 at 3:36 pm
What would have been an appropriate moment for him to resign?
Not 2008, not 2005 over the pledge card, not 2000 over the winter of discontent, but when he first became party President. He should have resigned immediately when he discovered the disgusting policies his party was pushing.
Vote:February 21st, 2008 at 3:36 pm
cullen ripped into national over their secret donors today in parliament..
“i know iam..but what are you..?..”
http://whoar.co.nz/2008/questiontime21207-2/
phil(whoar.co.nz)
Vote:February 21st, 2008 at 3:40 pm
Dear Leader declined his fake ‘resignation’ on the basis that it was an honest error on Mike Williams part”
I didn’t hear her giving Don Brash the benefit of the doubt over the EB pamphlets, and whether he had met with them or not.
Mike – you pretend to resign and that will put an end to the speculation, nothing to see here – move along..
Give me a break Prime Minister – how gullible do you really think the NZ public are?
Vote:February 21st, 2008 at 3:42 pm
Si this is how it is done in the Labour Party. You give some money to the President and then the President lobbies directly on your behalf for Government favours. That is why the National Party has the blind trusts so that the political wing can be kept apart from fund rising so the two are NOT linked. The National party has always had a policy of a chinese wall between the politicians and fund raising from individuals and companies.
Vote:February 21st, 2008 at 3:46 pm
Listen people, she has no power to either appoint or dismiss the president of the party. If I was on the governing board right now I would be asking where these people are taking the party and will it recover if this carries on much longer. You might also ask some questions on the legal aspect of Clark assuming such power within a political party when I would have thought it’s constitution would be linked saomehow to electoral law etc etc
Vote:February 21st, 2008 at 3:48 pm
Resigning because he knows what other skeletons there are following this one out of the closet?
Vote:February 21st, 2008 at 3:48 pm
This was a strategic decision collectively arrived at before the event, and basically a piece of theatre to make Labour look like they are being ‘victimised’ by those nasty National-types. Now watch Helen come out fughting like a lioness defending her cubs as she seeks to regain the moral high ground.
Vote:February 21st, 2008 at 3:50 pm
PaulHelen – good point
Here’s a link to Teh Party’s constitution
http://staging.labour.org.nz/labour_team/nz_council/ASTFIL80739.pdf
As you say, the parliamentary labour party is subservient to the party rules.
I guess it just shows who wears the pants in the relationship between Clark and Williams
Vote:February 21st, 2008 at 3:53 pm
I didn’t think resignations needed to be “accepted”.
He should simply resign, accepted or not.
sounds like just another crock to me.
Vote:February 21st, 2008 at 4:04 pm
Probably was a conversation more like this
“ey hellN, wd we B btr off n d polls f I rsgnd”
“dnt B silE, JK wd wipe d fl%r W us”
Vote:February 21st, 2008 at 4:09 pm
I am not a fan of these so called principled resignations. If someone felt they had to offer their resignation to me then I would accept it and I would make that very very clear in advance. The problem is if it is rejected then the person who offered it then uses that fact to greatly enhance their power as Roger Douglas did after the budget fiasco.
Vote:February 21st, 2008 at 4:11 pm
Since when is Klark in a position to accept or decline or say “don’t be a silly boy Mike”? It is not her role in the party to say whose President or not!! This is nothing more than a bullshit beat up from Cullen!
Vote:February 21st, 2008 at 4:13 pm
Then obviously a pre-rehearsed, cynically staged charade to inocculate this embarassment to the extent it could be. Labour used to be a lot slicker.
Vote:February 21st, 2008 at 4:16 pm
Bloody hell. That’s a big call. This has been untidy for Labour but compared to some of the stuff they have weathered it is small fry.
Yes it is honourable but given the corrupt practices by Labour in winning the election it is all a bit late for noble sacrifice.
Vote:February 21st, 2008 at 4:18 pm
why is he offering his resignation to the leader?
Vote:surely he should offer it to Labour’s NZ council?
or is labour just a personality cult for klark now?
February 21st, 2008 at 4:20 pm
Now watch Helen come out fughting like a lioness defending her cubs as she seeks to regain the moral high ground.
Too bloody late for that now. All the nats have to do is respond with the phrases: hypocrite, two faced scum, dictator!
Vote:February 21st, 2008 at 4:21 pm
If he had slit his wrists in shame, i might have been convinced, but its liarbor and WEASLE WORDS spring to mind, Who gives a shit in the REAL world to a weasle talker ,if it smells like dog crap,its could under your shoes or could be a liarbor /helen press statement
Vote:February 21st, 2008 at 4:22 pm
Now you see why it is called Helengrad. Of course the whole thing was a charade. Pathetic.
Vote:February 21st, 2008 at 4:26 pm
Ah ha- good old Mugabism at its best.
She runs the country and she runs the party.
Chairman Moa se Klark has total control.
The two mickeys (cullen and williams) are good little lap dogs
So we have got the public sussed we,ve got …….
The EFB to shut up critics,
The Charities Commission to spy on groups not favourable to the motherland.
The Police to prosecute any one that we want.
The Serious Fraud Office (ouch they could hurt) sack them
The Green Party to back us (we tell them what to do anyway).
The Winston first party to stack the scrum with mates(Provided they pay us something)
Old Fidel old chap look at us !!!!
Vote:February 21st, 2008 at 4:30 pm
Recall, it was ‘loans’ plural. Not just one. Freudian slip.
Great spectator sport, this. Better than the cricket, any day. Almost up to Big Bruvva standard.
Vote:February 21st, 2008 at 4:31 pm
george said “why is he offering his resignation to the leader?
surely he should offer it to Labour’s NZ council?
or is labour just a personality cult for klark now?”
I think you’re opretty close to the mark george – I thought there was separation between the Labour Party and its political wing. I mean, how often does the PM use the excuse to dodge questions that she has “no responsibility” for the Labour Party?
Vote:February 21st, 2008 at 4:32 pm
I still think there are some rules that are supposed to seperate the government from the party?
Vote:February 21st, 2008 at 4:33 pm
tim said..
“.The National party has always had a policy of a chinese wall between the politicians and fund raising from individuals and companies..”
thanks for the belly-laugh there..tim..
how are you on the tooth fairy..?
the national party always have the shingle out..
“political party for sale/hire..”
phil(whoar.co.nz)
Vote:February 21st, 2008 at 4:38 pm
philu, the keystones obviously missed your crop again and I see this years harvest has really dealt the killer blow to your neuron transmitters.
Spot the brain cell Mr Whoar.
Vote:February 21st, 2008 at 5:10 pm
My organisation has a branch in Zimbabwe that works to try and improve the standard of governance there My counterpart there has just emailed me and asked if I want some assistance as they have been reading press reports and are concerned And Im not kidding This is straight up this is how the NZ Gumint is being observed from outside.
Vote:February 21st, 2008 at 5:16 pm
Hehe luphi with a silent “F”, the guillotines going to be busy this year, Mike Williams heads on the spike, who’s next eh!!
Vote:February 21st, 2008 at 5:17 pm
paulhelen has rather made the point clear.
Clark is not able to decline or accept his resignation. Its not her call.
Apology acepted Admiral Williams.
Vote:February 21st, 2008 at 5:18 pm
philu why do you think the blind trusts were set up. But no matter the Labour Party have found some fool to give them large dollops of money. They even amended the Electoral Finance Act to permit Owen a NZ citizen but NOT tax resident to keep on giving to the Labour Party. The President does deals with Ministers on his behalf, gongs and honary consuls here and there. Now Williams offeres his resignation to Clark of all people. What a big fat joke. Of course this clown has been given job after job from the Government – Directorship after Directorship. I do not think we will be hearing much more from Mr Williams after the election.
Vote:February 21st, 2008 at 5:23 pm
We wont be hearing fuck all from any of them tim, except the high pitched whinging about how stupid the kiwi voters are and how national baught the election with “big money from shady bagmen”.
But then that noise will be drowned out by everyone laughing at them anyway.
Vote:February 21st, 2008 at 5:25 pm
Don’t worry Mike, as you can always audition for a slot in the Sopranos and give big Tony a hand.
Vote:February 21st, 2008 at 5:30 pm
Who’s polemic? It’s like they’re philu’s evil twin (or at least opposite twin).
Vote:February 21st, 2008 at 5:33 pm
philu
When it comes to receiving anonymous donations if not a question of how much each party got. If a party receives any then we need to consider that they are effected by it in the same way as any other party that receives anonymous donations.
I’ve made this comment to you before but it’s not getting through is it. Labour kept the provision for anonymous donations in the EFB, clearly they still wanted them as they had the chance to stop them completely but they (they = Labour) did not.
When you look at a woman who is perhaps 3 months pregnant to you think she is only slightly pregnant compared to a woman who is 8 months pregnant?
Vote:February 21st, 2008 at 5:34 pm
ooops
When you look at a woman who is perhaps 3 months pregnant do you think she is only slightly pregnant compared to a woman who is 8 months pregnant?
Vote:February 21st, 2008 at 5:35 pm
Sorry David, but Williams is not an honourable man.
No-one – and particularly, no non-elected official – has the right to ‘offer’ gongs or honorary counselships in exchange for a monetary donation to a political.
It is illegal, pure and simple.
Vote:February 21st, 2008 at 5:38 pm
…counsulship…..
Vote:February 21st, 2008 at 5:38 pm
Duxton
Have you been out of NZ for the last 9 years. WTF has legal vs illegal got to do with the Labour parties actions ?
Vote:February 21st, 2008 at 5:39 pm
Sorry David, but Williams is not an honourable man.
No-one – and particularly, no non-elected official – has the right to ‘offer’ gongs or honorary counselships in exchange for a monetary donation to a political.
It is illegal, pure and simple.
Doesn’t that mean you can lodge a complaint with the police?
Vote:February 21st, 2008 at 5:41 pm
Ryan Sproull
One would need to think very carefully about doing that if they ever thought they might want to be employed by the govt. Well they would need to think carefully about if they wanted to be employed by the govt before Nov 2008 !
Vote:February 21st, 2008 at 5:54 pm
Funny how so many people have needed to fall on their swords to keep the “teflon lady” clean, eh? Presumably they’ll all be very well looked after in some way in the future.
Vote:February 21st, 2008 at 5:58 pm
One would need to think very carefully about doing that if they ever thought they might want to be employed by the govt. Well they would need to think carefully about if they wanted to be employed by the govt before Nov 2008 !
Surely there is someone in this thread who thinks it’s illegal and doesn’t want to get into government one day.
Wait a minute.
Is Kiwiblog filled with wannabe politicians?
Vote:February 21st, 2008 at 5:59 pm
OMG!!! just going through parliaments transcripts and you’ll never guess what Cullen said on behalf of the Prime Minister.
http://www.whaleoil.co.nz/?q=content/cullen-thinks-indigenous-peoples-has-no-meaning
Unbelievable!
Vote:February 21st, 2008 at 6:25 pm
Cullen has been caught out in a rare moment of honesty. He’s right you know. Parekura has no meaning. He’s utterly indecipherable. Do we have a comment from Pita and Tariana and Hone and Sir Howard?
Vote:February 21st, 2008 at 6:33 pm
NEWS FLASH. Immediate publication
It has just been announced by the Deputy leader of the Opposition that he will not accept the resignation of Mr John Key, leader of the Opposition.
Vote:The resignation was offered after the latest in a long string of clueless comments by Key.
Mr English said everyone knows that Key would be a pile of dust without him providing his talking points. The present arrangement suits him down to the ground said Mr English, with a quick lick of his lips.
Mr English said Mr Keys natural instinct to totally copy every thing the labour party offers has had its bounce for the polls but of course wont be a problem after the election as Mr Key has room up top for dancing when it comes to policy.
Ends
February 21st, 2008 at 6:38 pm
Oh Ghostie, thats so funny.
Tell me, what are polls saying right now?
Vote:February 21st, 2008 at 7:01 pm
Ghost you will find that National has not copied any Labour policies just decided to keep some of the very few that make sense or would be suicidal to dump.
On the other hand Labour has actually been taking Nationals policies and implementing them with urgency to try and make them look like their own.
In effect Labour is helping National by getting some of the policy changes they want introduced before the election to give more time after the election to roll out the “secret agenda”.
Also how is your left wing poodle Winnie blantently lying to the public about “having to wait for a term deposit”, getting stuck into National for “secret donations” and “having rich donors expect favours” all the while doing the same things himself?
Vote:February 21st, 2008 at 7:55 pm
tangent re above Cullen comment “indigenous peoples, has no meaning”.
I have often wondered why the indigenous peoples of europe, such as the germans and british and dutch and italians etc never get asked along to indigenous conferences, indigenous sports tournaments, indigenous everything. is it because they have white skin.
Anyone know?
Vote:February 21st, 2008 at 7:58 pm
vto
While we are on the subject I’d like to know how come every island in the Pacific that is inhabited by Polynesian people had no previous inhabitants before the Polynesian people we find on them today. Not one single place is there a history of previous settlers, Polynesians were always the “first people”…. Perhaps Indigenous has it roots in an old language and means “we are the ones who wrote the history”.
Vote:February 21st, 2008 at 8:09 pm
Indigenous is an old word stolen by the pc pricks to create a new industry of guilt and compensation.
Vote:February 21st, 2008 at 8:13 pm
and if anyone thinks that Williams apology was anything other than a bloody sham then they have just entered that marvellous place that philu calls reality.
Vote:February 21st, 2008 at 8:13 pm
I found a reference to old Spanish words some years back. It was interesting that there were two words that have a similar sound to some local NZ words. I have searched for the reference since but cannot find it again.
Fonga – (This word has a new meaning now in Spanish) but the reference said it was “large and dirty”
Nui – Water.
Fonga-Nui – Large dirty water…. But of course the stories of Spanish settlers pre Maori times is not true, the Maori people tell us they were the first settlers in this country.
Vote:February 21st, 2008 at 8:14 pm
burt
The reason there appears to be no evidence of earlier habitation may be due to the searching for that evidence not having been going on for very long. (thats terribly written). Give the search a few more centuries and I’m sure we will discover evidence. Or new evidence to confirm that already available.
Vote:February 21st, 2008 at 9:03 pm
What about this http://www.celticnz.co.nz/embargo_saga.html then?.
Vote:February 21st, 2008 at 9:36 pm
Fred you little rippa
I cut the news paper clipping out about that in the mid 90′s. I lost the clipping. I wrote to the Archives and they claimed no knowledge of that.
Vote:February 21st, 2008 at 10:49 pm
It seems the Labour Party is being controlled from Parliament now. Their party website bears the Parliamentary Crest and there is no mention of any party office holders, branches, committees etc on the website. Only details of MPs in Parliament and Government policy.
Vote:February 21st, 2008 at 11:30 pm
battler – it’s the Helen Clark is Labour Party now!
http://keepingstock.blogspot.com/2008/02/is-labour-now-clark-party.html
Vote:February 21st, 2008 at 11:35 pm
Fred
For the record, my stand on this is;
a) Finalise the treaty settlements. We have a massive govt surplus, strong tax takings from the last 9 years should be very helpful for the bucks that are required. Chip in some dosh from the Cullen fund and get all the claims sorted to the negotiated satisfaction of the Iwi and the crown. Borrow more money if there are insufficient current capital reserves to settle grievances. Interest will be cheaper than elongating the process arguing over a few billion dollars.
b) Unseal the documents. Let the information socialise for a while and see what happens next.
Grievances under a treaty are one thing, the Treaty exists and it must be honoured. History is an entirely different matter. The descendants of the people that may have been here have a right to know under the same reasoning that it would be criminal to deny that Maori people occupied NZ a few hundred years ago.
Vote:February 21st, 2008 at 11:40 pm
I2
I think it’s just the Helen Clark party. There is nothing particularly “Labour” about it anymore.
Vote:February 22nd, 2008 at 6:51 am
Yup it’s theatre, pure and simple:
Vote:http://monkeyswithtypewriter.blogspot.com/2008/02/politics-as-theatre_21.html
February 22nd, 2008 at 8:09 am
Agreed Burt, National were doing a much better job on settling claims as the issue is viewed as one of property rights whereas Labour injects it’s socialist agenda. Settle the claims as it will release untapped economic potential.
Vote:February 22nd, 2008 at 8:26 am
Burt and Fred
The subject of earlier habitation of not just NZ but many parts of the world is an area that I think will expand hugely in the next decades. Its on my list of things to do. Research it as objectively as poss etc – just gotta get the biz and family sorted to free up some time. How far back does recorded history go? Not very far.
Vote: