A nice suspension
August 30th, 2008 at 8:46 am by David FarrarAs I understand it, Helen Clark has suspended Winston Peters only from his portfolios, but not as a Minister. In other words he still gets his normal pay, his housing and transport allowances, his office, his ministerial funding and most importantly of all his staff, except the portfolio specific ones.
This means he gets to run his election campaign with full Ministerial resources, and they don’t even have any Ministerial duties to attend to.
John Key makes clear that his ruling out Winston is not tied to the SFO investigation:
Mr Key said questions still remained around the 2003 parliamentary inquiry into the scampi fisheries quota and whether Mr Peters had misled the public in relation to the Glenn donation.
He also questioned Mr Peters’ assertion today that Sir Robert’s donation had found its way to NZ First. If that was the case then why was it not declared, he said.
Mr Peters’ credibility had been severely dented and he would now find it hard to trust his word.
“We’ve had so many instances now where Winston Peters’ version of events just doesn’t stack up with the version of events presented by others.
“Really the call we made on Wednesday to effectively cut Winston Peters and New Zealand First loose wasn’t a call we made easily or lightly. We did it with the full knowledge it may well cost National an opportunity to be in government,” he said.
“I would find it enormously difficult trusting the word of Winston Peters.”
Key picks up a point I have made previously. The Herald today says:
The statement, several pages long, was generated by the trust and showed incomings and outgoings. It showed money from the Vela brothers and Sir Robert Jones going in, then being paid to New Zealand First.
If this is true, then NZ First have filed false donation returns for years on end. As Winston Peters was railing against secret trusts, he had one which was funding NZ First. If what Peter WIlliams says is true, then how did the Auditor for NZ First ever sign off the donation returns? Or is there some explanation as to how Bob Jones gave $25,000 to the Spencer Trust, the Spencer Trust gave it to NZ First and NZ First does not declare a donation from the Spencer Trust?
Key again makes his stance clear in another Herald story:
“From our point of view,” he said, “the appointment of a minister to Cabinet has to be done on the basis that as Prime Minister I can look that person in the eye and have confidence that I can rely on their word.
“In the case of Winston Peters, I’m just not confident I can do that.”
Yet Helen is. How can anyone in NZ really think Peters was telling the truth when he said in July 2008 that he only first knew of the Glenn donation that day? I mean Helen Clark told him about it in February 2008, even if he didn’t actually know about it since it was solicited in 2005.
Tags: anonymous donations, Electoral Commission, Helen Clark, John Key, Owen Glenn, SFO, Spencer Trust, Winston First
August 30th, 2008 at 8:52 am
“Those who will lie to you, are the same that will steal from you!”
Old Arab Saying.
Not knowing how WRP leads his life. Does anyone think that he possibly lives above the likely income streams he has?
Just got this feeling that he may also be a strain on his own Party.
Vote:August 30th, 2008 at 8:56 am
SO now he is a Minister without Portfolio or principles!
Vote:August 30th, 2008 at 8:58 am
I wonder if the game plan at the moment is just one of buying Winston time…
He (and Helen) know if he can just get through the election (and Helen knows when that is)
he might be able to convince 5% of the voters that the mean media are just out to get him.
If so, then Helen can use him again to gain another term and then god only knows, Absolute Power!
As John Key pointed out last night, both the Privileges Committee and the SFO investigations are very narrow
so it is not inconceivable that he may still not be proven to be guilty as a result.
Two results such as this may just bounce him over the 5% threshold.
Buying him time in this manner, also ensures that Helen retains his vote for the ETS and the upcoming election.
The rest of NZ may know that he is lying, and can’t be trusted but under MMP as long as 5% don’t know, or don’t care he can get back into parliament.
The only thing we can hope for is that Labour will take a big hit in the polls, after Helen’s secret admission this week, which I predict may deal her a death blow, and that Owen Glenn fronts up to the PC and kicks them destroys both of them.
The scary thing is, what would the state of NZ politics be, if Owen Glenn hadn’t come through with his letter?
Vote:August 30th, 2008 at 8:58 am
I just cannot understand why everybody is happy about this “suspension”. Peters should have been sacked. He’s clearly mislead parliament on many occasions. I could just imagine NZ’s mainstream media being content to see a Nat merely stood down under such circumstances. The fact that Peters is merely suspended is a damn disgrace, and Klark too should be forced to resign on the basis of her obvious collaboration with Peters in misleading the house.
Vote:August 30th, 2008 at 9:01 am
Likewise, David, I applaud Key’s stance on this. dare I say that it suggests a degree of integrity that has been missing from our politics for………hmmmmmm……nine years or so.
What he also needs to do is demand that Helen Clark remove the uncertainty about the election date. It is absolutely unacceptable that we haven’t been told.
Her new responsibility for Foreign Affairs provides an opportunity to make the point, and expose her hyposcrisy.
Q. John Key to Rt Hon Helen Clark: Is the Minister of Foreign Affairs aware of any Pacific governments that are due to hold elections, but have refused to name the date; and if so, does she regard this as acceptable?
Vote:August 30th, 2008 at 9:04 am
i reckon it’s (group) natty-sphincter-tightening-time..
http://whoar.co.nz/2008/peters-gone-but-could-be-back-a-headline-that-should-cause-the-sphincters-of-john-keynattys-everywhere-to-snap-shut-like-rat-trapseh/
and wasn’t key hilarious on telly the other day..?
saying he is ‘sickened by the smell of money..and secret donations’..(!)
(whoar..!..eh..?..
um..!..waitemata trust..?..anyone..?
phil(whoar.co.nz)
Vote:August 30th, 2008 at 9:11 am
Groan …
Vote:August 30th, 2008 at 9:13 am
Peters will wriggle around and if the Spencer Trust is all ok ( which is what Williams QC is saying) then he will have justified himself to his constituency and some others so will be in with a chance of 5%.
But, we still have the Summinovich deal which smells like rotten fish. That will hang about and Rodney is the person stirring that up so while Parliament remains sitting it will remain an issue. So lots of support for Rodney. I would point out that anytime Rodney has tackled issues in Parliament he has been right so we have no reason to think that this is different.
Clark will wriggle until the end of the passing of the ETS this week and then go to the Governor General and dissolve Parliament. This will stop the Privileges Committee having its say and will make her appear decisive and she will win back a lot of her constituency because they will reckon that she was under Winstons influence and shouldn’t be punished for it.
The Nats. despite Key saying they won’t work with Peters haven’t done anything to earn their right to govern.
So the balance of power will be either Maori or ACT.
Vote:Take your pick.
Two ticks for ACT.
August 30th, 2008 at 9:13 am
He also questioned Mr Peters’ assertion today that Sir Robert’s donation had found its way to NZ First. If that was the case then why was it not declared, he said.
Because what we will find David, and this is probably the reason Winston has been so cocky, is that there will be a shit load of $9,999.00 donations from the Spencer Trust.
Vote:And of course if this is the case, and he gets off to fight another day, National need to make this a BIG election issue.
Now if the media (or Whale) will just go through the many interviews of him calling the kettle black.
August 30th, 2008 at 9:14 am
democracymum – that’s it in a nutshell. MMP is delivering us a corrupt government held together by a suspected mexican standoff between Clark and Peters. as has become the custom to ask: banana’s anyone?
Vote:August 30th, 2008 at 9:16 am
The Dominion Post | Friday, 29 August 2008
POLITICS RINGSIDE by Bob Jones
Humdrum lists enough to make one go nuclear.
Shortly before the 1978 election Rob Muldoon was at my home for a dinner party. “Rob,” I teased, “I’m voting Labour. You can’t expect me to support this goose,” and I handed him a leaflet from the local National candidate.
It portrayed a smirking accountant, standing with his family beneath a church entrance.
Rob gazed at it glumly then eventually said, “We actually need people like this in Parliament. That’s why it’s called a House of Representatives. Probably he’ll be a good workhorse local MP,” and then, grinning, he added, “At least he won’t pester me to be in Cabinet.”
It didn’t matter for Labour won the seat and despite having God on his side, the accountant went to prison for theft, which is where mine should be for the fees they charge my company.
Nevertheless, Muldoon had a point. But MMP has stretched his observation to a ridiculous degree. Since its inception far too many nondescript no-hopers have become list MPs, who far from ever being electable, would be stoned to death had the public any say.
Which is why it’s so pitiful that National’s list placed Stephen Franks at number 60. Of the 59 ahead of him, few would match Franks’ intellectual fire- power and common sense.
He was an asset to Parliament as an ACT MP yet has been treated contemptuously with diverse humdrum aspirants ranked above him, whose principal credentials appear to be their ethnicity, gender or locality.
Recently in a speech Franks observed that Auckland’s electricity could easily be supplied by the most environmentally friendly method of all, namely a small nuclear power plant on the edge of the city. No more fossil fuel burning, ugly overhead cables or power shortages; a strategy now being pursued in Britain and the Continent.
INDEED, asked recently what his legacy would be, Tony Blair conceded he would be forever tarred by Iraq but offsetting that, he claimed, was his launching Britain into the nuclear power age. Following Franks’ address Gerry Brownlee was quick to stress these views were not National’s policy. It’s odds on they’re probably Gerry’s but it’s not in the National tradition to innovate, but instead to imitate.
It will be over to the Greens to eventually follow their brighter brethren abroad who now actively embrace the nuclear option, solely on environmental grounds. Nuclear power is probably mankind’s greatest achievement and New Zealand can boast a role in its development which is why we honour Lord Rutherford on our highest denomination banknote.
In one sense the issue is academic for such is the worldwide demand, the waiting time for nuclear plants now exceeds 10 years. Then again it is all the more reason why we should get our name on the order book.
If the Greens don’t lead the way then despite the fact that it was David Lange who promoted this absurd fear- mongering, unique to New Zealand, in time-honoured fashion it will probably fall on a future Labour government to do so, just as they did in introducing the welfare state in 1935, then the market economy in 1984.
Franks should win Wellington Central and consolidate his hold on it in future. He left a top professional career for public life and was drawn to ACT for philosophic reasons but subsequently opted for National as a more pragmatic route to achieve change. But National has never been a party of change but instead of conservative careerists and Stephen will be treated as a leper for his crime of innovative thinking.
The amusing irony is that in one sense his natural home is Labour, which if often wrong-headed and foolish, is at least a hotbed of ideas.
Vote:August 30th, 2008 at 9:16 am
philu (2753) –6 Says:
August 30th, 2008 at 9:04 am
Who actually did PHILU full of crap?
um…eh?
Anyway welcome back. We are going to have so much fun with you now, as you have to watch all your political dreams and hopes turn to custard.
Magic….Eh?
Vote:August 30th, 2008 at 9:17 am
Phule – 2 things.
First – have you apologised to DPF yet for your smear of him about the false comment on your site? A public apology here will suffice.
Secondly – normally when you make a phule of yourself you stay away for at least a couple of months, why not this time?
xxxx
C Little.
Vote:August 30th, 2008 at 9:19 am
If this is true, then NZ First have filed false donation returns for years on end. As Winston Peters was railing against secret trusts, he had one which was funding NZ First. If what Peter WIlliams says is true, then how did the Auditor for NZ First ever sign off the donation returns? Or is there some explanation as to how Bob Jones gave $25,000 to the Spencer Trust, the Spencer Trust gave it to NZ First and NZ First does not declare a donation from the Spencer Trust?
The problem is, none of these crimes are the concern of the Serious Fraud Office. If the Spencer Trust has been paying its donations to NZFirst then I wouldn’t be surprised to see the SFO drop the case early next week.
[DPF: That is possible and they can not be prosecuted anymore for false electoral returns. But it will be useful for the public to know that what NZ First declare has no connection to what they receive]
Vote:August 30th, 2008 at 9:20 am
This letter to the Dom Post seems relevant here…
Vote:“I was amused to see a recent letter on the Emissions Trading Scheme rejected because it was not relevant and topical. And this a day before the second reading of the ETS. Well there can be no current topic more relevant than the Winston Peters debacle. The question I put to your newspaper as well as other media is why when it was Rodney Hide who displayed the integrity and bravery to expose the disgraceful Mr Peters, why is it John Key that we see repeatedly quoted on the matter and not Rodney Hide? Are you not aware that Key dragged his heels on the matter and is as guilty as Helen in letting the matter ride? It was only after Rodney Hide had done all the hard work that Key stepped in and scored political points off Labour. Is it not ironic that what started off as a matter of integrity versus duplicity has been allowed to dissolve into cheap vote garnering? And for this your publication must take some responsibility. Let us hope that you too have the ‘guts to do what’s right’ and publish this letter.”
August 30th, 2008 at 9:27 am
no glutey..
..it is actually your we-will-rule-again-hopes that have turned to dust..
..peters will be back..
..and key has closed him off as an option..
..that leaves act and the maori party..
..with the maori party you’ve got little chance..and none..
(your policy promises to ‘deal to’ benificiaries have taken care of that option..eh..?..)
..so that leaves act..(heh-heh..!..)..oh..and dunny..!..(you’re welcome to him..eh..?..)
..your ruling..dreams are now clearly shown to be just that..
..and if you were wanting some historical/polling evidence to convince you of how much key has just blown it..?
here you go..
http://whoar.co.nz/2008/nationals-inevitable-victory-bender-is-deconstructedmore-sphincter-tightening-news-for-key/
..so..all that..
..and that 50% of people who believe your pockets are stuffed with secret political agendas..
..pretty much means you are knackered..eh..?
phil(whoar.co.nz)
Vote:August 30th, 2008 at 9:34 am
Danyl Mclauchlan has an excellent point. Peters is cleverly attempting to recast the issue as being whether or not he has done anything illegal. Hypocrisy and lying are not illegal. So it is quite possible that both the Privileges Committee and the SFO will clear him. He will then claim vindication, demand apologies, and win public sympathy.
Vote:August 30th, 2008 at 9:36 am
Well once a Phule, always a Phule.
Key has done exactly the Right Thing.
Peters is going to burn, and take Helun with him.
Only one Party has ever gone to 4 terms. The circumstances were exceptional. Despite what Cullen said 3 months ago, he now admits the economy is crap.
Just great circumstances. Winston being on Gardening leave, should be able to turn his allotment into the Hanging Gardens of Babylon
Vote:August 30th, 2008 at 9:46 am
Philu.
This whole issue with the SFO came to a head because the donations made did not appear in the returns that NZ first were required to submit. Donations from the Waitemata Trust to National are so declared as has been illustrated on this blog.
Now after all this time Peters and co conveiniently supply documents showing disbursements to NZ first from the spencer trust. (I have my doubts about the veracity of these documents but that is my opinion) Now even if these documents are true, and these payments to the spencer trust were disbursed to NZ first, why are these payments not declared in the returns of NZ First as required by law!
Game set and Match!
Vote:August 30th, 2008 at 9:47 am
Remember Luigis election slogan in 2005
Can we do it Yes we can
His supporters thought he was talking about winning Tauranga
Luigi was talking about Bribery and Corruption
Vote:August 30th, 2008 at 9:52 am
no..glutey..key has..(on a political science/tactical level)..has done exactly the wrong thing..
..he has closed off an option..and fulminate all you like..
..that is the reality..
..peters is not ‘going to burn’..
..he will be cleared by both the s.f.o..and the privileges committee..
..and will have his campaigning-gift-from-the-electoral-gods..
..as the persecuted ‘little guy’..
..and key/the nattys will have the coming months to contemplate the errors of keys’ ways..
..’the gambler’ punted..
..and lost..
..as for your 4 term contention..?
..you are talking apples and oranges..
..that was f.p.p..
..this is m.m.p..
so those guidelines you are relying on..
..no longer apply..
..and yes..cullen/clark/labour will campaign on being the safest hands for these upcoming economic ‘crap-times’..
..i mean..in these uncertain times..
..much better them..
..than ‘the gambler’..
..eh..?
phil(whoar.co.nz)
Vote:August 30th, 2008 at 9:52 am
What draws the idiot Phule to Kiwiblog is that there are posters here who will play in his sand pit.
Vote:August 30th, 2008 at 9:56 am
Getting through Absolute Power and this reminds me about Parkergate.
Yes the Spencer Trust may be legit, but its all the things that go around it that stink and there is more deep down that the SFO wont investigate.
It was distressing to see H2 hanging around the wings of the press conference last night. If H2 is involved you can be guaranteed there is some real dirt to cover up.
My view is the SFO were told by H1/H2 to investigate this and you can keep your department. The investigation has been conspired by H1/H2 & WP as they know the SFO won’t find any fraud and this will therefore “clear” WP in the minds of the elderly who are too old and stupid to understand what is really going on. All the rest will be white washed and the media will pull back.
Vote:August 30th, 2008 at 10:00 am
Herald; “Winston Peters’ lawyer friend Peter Williams, QC, says Prime Minister Helen Clark has seen the documentation that he predicts will clear him of wrongdoing within minutes today.”
Well if it were so easy why would Peters engage a QC?
Vote:August 30th, 2008 at 10:01 am
He may be a completely deluded Wassack, but it is always better to have your enemies close. To see how they think and Justify things.
This all goes back to NRU for analysis.
Phule is actually really helping our cause without realising. Probable 3-5 basis points in Phules efforts alone. H2 will be very unhappy.
Magic.
Vote:August 30th, 2008 at 10:03 am
Very suspect the SFO are interviewing Peters this morning. Can’t it wait until Monday?
Vote:August 30th, 2008 at 10:03 am
What is it about the grey power? WP is no different to the snake oil salesmen at the finance companies that lost all there money and yet the adore him.
Vote:August 30th, 2008 at 10:09 am
You can’t get away with a lot of $9995 donations from the same group or person. If donated within 1 year, such donations must be aggregated, which is why both Labour and National declare donations from their “secret” (which is why every knows about them) trusts. If the Spenser trust has donated mnore than $10,000 in one year, it must be declared.
So nice to see peoples true colours revealed, and to see that Philu is a Winston supporter. Proud that you are in “bed” with the old fraud are you, proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with Winston the truthless are you ? If you had any shreds of ethics (doubtful at best) you’d agree with a principled stand against the corruption that Winston so ably represents.
Funny that Winston knew that the documentation would clear him, as he has stated publicly that he knew nothing about the Spenser trust including even knowledge of its existence a mere few months ago. For something he knew nothing about he is remarkably well informed. Key is right, you couldn’t trust a single word Winstons said, if he said it was sunny you’d be wise to take an umbrella.
Vote:August 30th, 2008 at 10:14 am
“..# Redbaiter (3423) Add karma Subtract karma +1 Says:
August 30th, 2008 at 9:52 am
What draws the idiot Phule to Kiwiblog is that there are posters here who will play in his sand pit..”
no reddy..i am here to counter the bullshit/dissembling/propaganda of ‘idiots’ such as yourself..
and coge..it is this morning because peters’ lawyer insisted on it..
..and think about this coge..
..peters and peter williams have shown their evidence to clark..
..do you really think she would be just ‘caretaking’ his ministerial posts..
..if she thinks he won’t be back..?
..(can you feel your sphincter tightening..?..)
..phil(whoar.co.nz)
Vote:August 30th, 2008 at 10:19 am
To cut to the chase. Clark has left WP with all his baubles intact and free to campaign for the return of Labour 24/7 thru to the election. On the face of it a smart move but the reality is that she has now firmly allied herself with him. Where he goes she goes and vice versa. A vote for NZF is a proxy vote for Labour and that is going to make for an interesting relationship between the Labour and the Greens who NZF have previously derided as ‘lefty loonies’ and you will recall, forced Labour to sideline as the price for their Supply and Confidence agreement.
Winston will now go feral on National (he has no other choice). National’s respose will be to push the line that a vote for NZF is a vote for Labour is a vote for corruption (was even before this started).
Interesting times.
Vote:August 30th, 2008 at 10:19 am
Well Ed, if that’s the case……. he’s fucked I’d think
$25,000 (sir bob) $50,000 (vela’s) = $75,000.
$75,000 divided (can’t find a proper divide key) $10,000 = 7.5 years.
So children, when did Sir bob donate and when did the Vela’s donate AND has anyone else?
Vote:August 30th, 2008 at 10:22 am
How CORRUPT can Helen Clark get?
Next she’ll be offering Owen Glenn the portfolio of Minister of Transport.
What’s that you say, she already did? Things that make you go hmmm……
Vote:August 30th, 2008 at 10:25 am
“..Winston will now go feral on National..”
oh indeed..!..
that promises to be interesting..eh..?
..i dare say peters has vats full of natty-dirt he can (and will) start flinging at you..
(i thnk everthing just got very ‘personal’ for peters..
..and shortly after he is cleared by the s.f.o/privileges committee..
..it’ll be a case of ‘incoming!’..
..eh..?
..can’t wait..!..
phil(whoar.co.nz)
Vote:August 30th, 2008 at 10:25 am
Got a job yet Philu? Or are you still bludging off the taxpayer?
Vote:If so, your defence of Labour is a conflict of interest, surely?
August 30th, 2008 at 10:30 am
do try and stay on-message/topic there..kg1..
(mr farrar gives demerit points for that..eh..?..)
phil(whoar.co.nz)
Vote:August 30th, 2008 at 10:34 am
and i am not ‘defending labour’..
..i am attempting an analysis of what is going down..
..and free of the ideological lenses/cant most of you prefer..
..phil(whoar.co.nz)
Vote:August 30th, 2008 at 10:40 am
That’s no answer, then Phil? Why am I not surprised…..
Vote:August 30th, 2008 at 10:40 am
But Phil, the point is now that for Labour read NZF and for NZF read Labour.
You Greenies are I think entitled to be a trifle miffed.
You have been sidelined.
Vote:August 30th, 2008 at 10:41 am
You guys have missed the timetable. Sir Helen Davis won’t let Winnie get to the Privilages committee later in the week. She will pass the ETS with their help on Tuesday under urgency and then scrap the lot for the election. She is as cunning as a ____Dog and more cunning than Winnie.
Vote:August 30th, 2008 at 10:47 am
How can Winston take the accounts of the Spencer Trust down to the SFO this morning?
Last week he told us he knew nothing about the trust, his brother ran it apparently.
What has changed between now and then, other than the fact that he has been sacked, sorry, stood down?
Vote:August 30th, 2008 at 11:21 am
Well there goes DPF’s comments section untill its next (real not imagined) banning.
I’m going to need longer gumboots to wade through this level of verbal diarrhea.
Vote:August 30th, 2008 at 11:33 am
“All warfare is based on deception” (Sun Tzu)
“Hold out baits to entice the enemy. Feign disorder, and crush him” ( also Sun Tzu)
Is Hellun the almighty feigning disorder??
Vote:Is the pooh bait?
Or can we just smell shite??
August 30th, 2008 at 3:26 pm
I would like to think that the SFO will decide what records they want to see, not what Williams Q.C. likes to deliver to them.
Vote:I also agree 100% with Jones concerning Stephen FRANKS he should be much higher than 60. It will be very difficult for him to win Wellington Central its a long time since National held it (Dan Riddiford I think} The student and queer vote is very strong in that electorate.
August 30th, 2008 at 3:56 pm
What happened to the 150 grand that the NZFirst Poodles owe the taxpayer?
I guess that is another of Peters’ lies………..
Vote:August 30th, 2008 at 4:22 pm
baxter – Pauline Gardiner in 1990 rings a bell – wasn’t that Welly Central?
Vote: