Is the Dominion Post also a liar?
Winston Peters labelled the NZ Herald Political Editor a liar, and is still calling on her and the Editor to resign. No-one can quite work out what for, but he is insistsing they should apologise to him and resign, despite the fact their work exposed the secret $100,000 donation to pay off Winston’s legal bills.
Now it seems they are also calling the Dominion Post liars. Today the Dom Post reveals:
The Dominion Post can reveal Mr Henry also received at least $45,000 for legal services – paid for by Parliamentary Service funds last year.
They seem very certain of their claim.
Asked to comment on whether taxpayer funds were used to pay Mr Henry, Mr Peters said through a spokesman: “That is a lie.”
Well who is telling the truth?
Incidentally it can be quite legitimate for parliamentary funds to include legal expenses – if they are tied to their parliamentary duties. But NZ First has not claimed that any payments to Henry were for legitimate parliamentary purposes. They have claimed there was never any payment at all.
It would be very unfortunate for them if the Dominion Post has proof to back up their claim!
July 22nd, 2008 at 10:14 am
So, do Parliamentary Services just pay out on any invoice that’s handed to them, up to the limit of funding available?
And, no, this is not another leftie silent on Peters’ misdeeds. I am on record as saying that I hope that the voters put an electoral stake though his heart this election, after all. It’s just that in their haste to nail Peters, so many people, including yourself, overlook the finer points of many of these issues. Until we know whose accounts Owen’s money went into, we can’t be certain which laws were broken by either or both of Peters and his Party.
[DPF: I actually said the invoice might be 100% legit as a parliamentary expense. However what is not legit is to lie about whether or not it was paid from Parliament]
July 22nd, 2008 at 10:16 am
I just love the timing of these releases.
Mr Peter’s is meeting with the leaders of the Asian economies and then Ms Condoleza Rice, one of the most powerful people in the world and then the issues raised first by the NZ Herald and now the Dominion appear!
He will not be a happy camper.
July 22nd, 2008 at 10:23 am
JP, and what chance do you give us being able to force Winston into disclosing where this river of money flowed? None I would guess.
Surf N Turf Peters is facing a career ending crisis now. Glenn sprays his money around like a Mad Ladies Piss and gets plenty in return. The racing industry gets a big wad after the velas shower him in cash and now parliamentary services paying the lawyers bills as well.
Clark would probably get a lift in the polls if she cut his head off now. I wonder if she has the stones? If she does they will float it on the ninth floor blog first… A salaried blog that has not uttered a single word on the biggest political story of the month so far.
July 22nd, 2008 at 10:29 am
jafapete: I agree that those involved should move slowly and carefully – it is important that he not wriggle off the hook this time. But I think what DPF is doing is an important part of this – asking questions, collating information, providing a place for people to comment on areas that may be issues. That is something the blogosphere is very good at.
On what exact laws Winston may have broken – I don’t think there is any doubt that what he has done stinks to high heaven. Winston has quite a record in pursuing those who are eventually found to have not broken any laws – he continues to complain about how they are getting off and their behaviour is immoral etc, despite them having no case to answer. I’m afraid he is hoist on his own petard here – really there is no conclusion that you can draw other than something wrong has gone on…the question now is as to exactly what it was that was wrong, and how soon somebody with the teeth to get the rest of the information will get involved.
It seems to me that Winston pisses a lot of people off along the way – I’m pretty sure there will be enough people who are prepared to provide enough leads that someone with a bit of investigative power could follow the trail. I also suspect that Owen Glenn might like to play the aggrieved victim for his own reasons – “What, you mean that money didn’t go directly to the party, but instead was used to enrich Winston personally? Well, I never.” I suspect that he doesn’t perceive that he is getting value for money from his investment in the current NZ Government, and that he might like to switch horses. A gift like this is worth more to the National party than money alone…and if he could come out of it squeaky clean then maybe the incoming National govt would give him that consul position in Monaco? Food for thought, no?
July 22nd, 2008 at 10:31 am
Curious. The ninth floor is obviously not exerting its usual thrall over the media regarding its important coalition partners. I wonder when the DomPost will throw its caution to the winds over H1 herself, or her inner circle…….if they ever do…..
July 22nd, 2008 at 10:32 am
Bill, It does look like it’s unravelling at last. Here’s hoping.
I like your point about Clark getting the kudos if she should cut him adrift. Note that last night she was saying that she had no option but to accept that an honourable members’ word is true. We know from past experience that that is how she positions herself before swinging the axe.
Maybe we’ve already reached that point — with the axe — with the Velas’ donations. But once again, it’s a complicated matter, and it is not enough to say that it looks like corruption. But any more revelations like this and I think she has to. Not sure she’d get many votes for it though. Most people would just say, “‘Bout time too.” And they’d be right.
July 22nd, 2008 at 10:34 am
While the Brethren skulked around in secret in a manner which would be an anathema to Jesus Christ in whose name they presumably would be acting, they just wrote and printed pamphlets which by their nature were useless until they were out in public view, where obviously they could ignored, or worried about until their source was established.
Compare that to the deceit of Winston promising his party would stay on the cross benches and then doing the exact opposite, railing about clarity and then at the very least not knowing what his own party accounts entail, or more likely, hushing up donations from Owen Glenn who seems to have supported Labour into office, and now indebted Winston to gain his Monaco consulship and further tie Winston to Labour.
Typical of Winston and Helen’s honesty and integrity is the example of third party Vela with their cheque, in this morning’s Dominion Post, for $ 9995.00 – technically it is within the law, and five bucks outside morality.
And Winston, all this current krap, has not allowed us to forget we’d still like to know when the Man of Great Moral Integrity is going to pay back the $ 158,000 to Parliamentary Services – or has Glenn, the man really running Parliament, not allowed you off that hook yet with a suitable loan / donation?
July 22nd, 2008 at 10:36 am
Liar Liar pants on fire – Condees coming – is Winston Going? It will interesting to see Darth Vaders (Margaret Wilsons) response to Rodney Hides request to refer the matter to the privelidges committee. If she refuses would National put up a vote of no confidence in the speaker which even if lost would end her career as the worst speaker in NZ history and one of the most intelligently incompetent MPs and Ministers in living memory – a truly fitting epitaph.
July 22nd, 2008 at 10:42 am
According to our Foreign Minister, New Zealand is heading towards a major democratic crisis – all the newspapers are fabricating news stories and telling lies to undermine the democratically-elected Government of New Zealand. Perhaps he will need to appeal to the UN for assistance?
July 22nd, 2008 at 11:05 am
and the house is sitting today – let the game begin.
July 22nd, 2008 at 1:18 pm
The internet in the form of bloggs is the equivalent of the Wagons Circling the Indians(Politicians), the circle was complete some time ago, the sides are raised and the guns are loaded. Now let the shooting begin, should be like shooting ducks in a row.
July 22nd, 2008 at 1:31 pm
Ahh freethinker I almost wet my pants reading your post yes Yes YEs let it happen. these aresholes and arseholeeses have caused us so much grief and suffering over so many years that anything less than termination with extreme prejudice is much less than they deserve.
July 22nd, 2008 at 2:07 pm
I would hazard a guess that the Dom-Post editorial AND management teams were very confident in the veracity of Phil Kitchin’s sources before they went to press today. If the allegations are true, Peters, surely is finished this time.
July 22nd, 2008 at 2:21 pm
freethinker: I’m not sure I even understand your analogy. Are the bloggers the Indians or the settlers in the wagons? Are all the politicians in the wagons, or only those on the left? Is one side of the circle shooting at the other?
Reminds me of something I read somewhere about teachers – can’t remember the exact context but it was something about how they keep shooting themselves in the foot – the quote was “they’re the only group of people I know who’d circle the wagons and then start shooting inwards”
July 22nd, 2008 at 3:04 pm
Quite clearly a lie in the world of Winston. Taxpayer funds were not paid to Mr Henry to collect money from Owen Glenn to place in a secret account and not tell Winston. Clear? Good.
July 22nd, 2008 at 3:08 pm
Btw – has anyone heard any rumblings of a coup out of the NZF caucus? I know they are fairly heavily hen (Winston) pecked but I can not imagine that this is going down particularly well. With Winston looking hopeless in Tauranga and 5% fading the only hope for Marks et al is to roll Winston?
July 22nd, 2008 at 3:10 pm
Er blast, and no edit, my 3.04pm – Quite clear NOT a lie in the world of Winston…