Winston in Las Vegas
September 14th, 2008 at 7:54 am by David FarrarThe Herald on Sunday reports on questions around a trip to Las Vegas by our Foreign Minister.
Act leader Rodney Hide has raised what he says are “serious questions” over the trip in May last year, claiming several “very credible” sources had told him that Peters’ airfares, accommodation and tickets to the Oscar de la Hoya-Floyd Mayweather fight were paid for by wealthy businessman George Calvert.
But Peters said yesterday that Hide’s claims were a “pile of crap” and challenged him to put up, or shut up. Peters had been in Europe on official Foreign Affairs business at the time and made a private trip from Berlin to Las Vegas to attend the title fight before heading on to Singapore.
Peters says he paid for his airfares and accommodation in Las Vegas and later reimbursed “an acquaintance” who had supplied him with the boxing tickets.
A one-way flight from Berlin to Las Vegas costs about $3500 and fight tickets can vary from anything between $100 and $2500. Laws state MPs should declare all gifts and donations over the value of $500.
Peters can clear all this up by showing receipts for the flights and details of the claimed reimbursement for the boxing tickets.
I don’t know anything about these allegations first hand, but what I have heard suggests the reimbursements only occurred a year later once questions were asked. There has also been some suggestion that the airfares may not have been directly paid for by the Minister and again only reimbursed a year or so later. But this may be quite wrong. This is why this can all be solved by showing receipts for the reimbursements.
If the reimbursements did occur after 31 January 2008, then the 2007 Register of Pecuniary Interests may be incorrect.
I am sure the Prime Minister is concerned about ensuring the Cabinet Manual has been complied with, and will ask someone to verify everything is in order.
Tags: George Calvert, Helen Clark, Las Vegas, MPs Register of Pecuniary Interests, Winston First
September 14th, 2008 at 8:00 am
It’s the bright lights, big city for Winston.
What was Hels going to make the election all about? “Trust” I believe.
What is it with Labour, their supporters and misadventures in the US?
Vote:September 14th, 2008 at 8:11 am
Watch the prick bluster – blame everyone and then Clark say the Minister’s word must be taken at face value. ( Peters the Minister – ha ha – that is funny in itself)
Vote:September 14th, 2008 at 8:12 am
Look when is somebody going to expose Clark for what she really is? Come on enough is enough.
Vote:September 14th, 2008 at 8:20 am
But were the cheques ever presented to Winston’s bank?
I must say, when I read this in the Herald, a lovely old Peggy Lee tune went through my head.
“Is that all there is?”
Unless there is more detail about who paid for what and what governmental favours were later dispensed to the payor, then the whole episode looks like a blog orchestrated beat up. Highly counterproductive.
Vote:September 14th, 2008 at 8:39 am
Give Winston a break. He’s having a hard time. His funds are short and debts are high, and he had this $158k that he had to repay, even though he thinks he shouldn’t have to.
Maybe he tried to raise funds for NZ First at the roulette wheel? Is that why we can’t seem to find any charities that have some of that money?
Or is Winston about to find out for the second time, if you put it all on red, you’re likely to get burnt!
Vote:September 14th, 2008 at 8:48 am
“I am sure the Prime Minister is concerned about ensuring the Cabinet Manual has been complied with, and will ask someone to verify everything is in order”… ROFLOL …oh David you kill me!!!
Vote:September 14th, 2008 at 9:10 am
Look, the Dictators Footstools Union (of which Winston is a member) will be very concerned by this attack by Hide. If Winston wants to go to Vegas and lay down some State money – and *ahem* God knows what else – then as long as he has the approval of Madam Dictator then it’s all fine. Nothing to see here. Move along.
Vote:September 14th, 2008 at 9:19 am
Adolf Fiinkinsein said:
I agree 100%. Let the left come across as negative like Clark did on TV last night. There would have to be a lot more to this story before it’s a goer. Undue wallowing in the mud with Helen and Winston isn’t going to get the job done.
Vote:September 14th, 2008 at 9:36 am
If Helen Clark is comfortable about the NZ taxpayer paying for David Benson-Pope to fly to Timaru for his sodomy sessions, she is hardly likely to complain about someone else paying for Winston Peters to fly to Los Vegas for a boxing match.
[DPF: 20 demerits - thanks to you I now need alcohol]
Vote:September 14th, 2008 at 9:37 am
Further to my last, Benson-Pope and Peters have something in common in this regard.
In both cases, someone ended up being battered around the ring.
Vote:September 14th, 2008 at 10:15 am
Duxton, you owe me a keyboard.. I just sprayed coffee (hot I might add) through my nostrils all over the IBM.
Vote:September 14th, 2008 at 10:15 am
I tend to agree with Adolf Fiinkensein and Lindsay Addie on this. If it turns out to be a Rodney beat-up then there is a chance the ‘cry wolf’ syndrome will come into play to Winston’s advantage.
That aside. Loved the TV1 election round-up last night when they ended the segment by inviting viewers wanting more to go to the TV1 website using the KEY word NATIONAL … priceless and they didn’t know what they were saying.
And Helen looked and came across as a petulant old frump. She just couldn’t handle the thought of Key electioneering in South Auckland and made a snide comment that he would be more at home in the Northern Club. Hells bells Helen, JK grew up in a state house suburb; you grew up in rather privileged circumstances and probably spent your teen years driving through South Auckland at a great rate of knots on the way to your boarding school.
So JK chooses to campaign in Mangere with Mita Harris. I guess the point is that nothing is off limits to him whereas I suspect you won’t be going within a bulls roar of Remuera or North Shore or Tamaki or Pakuranga or Ohariru or Ilam or even Tauranga …. because they’re inhabited by Rich Pricks and we know you don’t like Rich Prinks until they fund your election campaign and then you dump on them.
Vote:September 14th, 2008 at 10:19 am
Well done again Rodney, but stick to the illegal stuff (the sh*t that will put Peters in prison) rather than this.
Vote:September 14th, 2008 at 10:29 am
Good post Ross M.
The other point about Key’s walkabout and comparing it to Helen yesterday was that Key isn’t afraid to go and and have a lively debate with Labour supporters about issues. He didn’t make snide remarks about them like Clark did about Key. I cannot imagine Clark going into enemy territory and having a lively debate with anyone from the National Party.
Vote:September 14th, 2008 at 10:56 am
I agree with Adolf and Lindsay about this being counterproductive. After all the teasing and titillation by Matthew Hooten, Roarprawn, The Hive and Whale Oil yesterday, this story was rather like a damp squid…
Vote:September 14th, 2008 at 3:33 pm
Entirely unconnected with the above and especially unconnected with anyone who may be referred to above, comes this hitherto unreleased version of an Elvis classic:
Bright light city gonna sell my soul
Gonna sell my soul to a buyer
Got a whole lot of money that I haven’t earned,
So get those stakes up higher
There’s a not-so-pretty woman a’waitin back there
But whatever I do, she don’ care
So I’m just a pollie with bribes to spare
Viva las vegas, viva las vegas
How I wish that there were more
billionaires and business types a’willin to pay
cause even if there were forty more
I wouldn’t let a single bribe get away
Oh, there’s Owen and Vela boys and a scampi meal
A fortune won and lost on evry deal
All you need’s an albi and nerves of steel
Viva las vegas, viva las vegas
Viva las vegas with police lights flashin’
And suddenly your lies they all come a’crashin’
All those polls down the drain
Viva las vegas turnin old folks agin me
They think takin’ bribes is a crime
If they see through me
I’ll never be the same again
Im gonna keep on the run
Vote:Till this investigatin’s done
If it costs me your very last dime
If I wind up broke up well
Least Helen’ll make sure I don’t do any time
Im gonna give it evrything I’ve got
Tell the SFO and Privileges things that are not
Let me shout my innocence, it’s my very last shot
Viva las vegas, viva las vegas,
Viva, viva las vegas
September 14th, 2008 at 3:33 pm
I hope Rodney is right. This could back fire but I doubt it because Winston has the blessing from the Prime Minister who is even more of a liar than he is.
Vote:September 16th, 2008 at 11:34 am
Winston Peters (Mr Baubangles) is a charlatan. All his political career he has used people, sucked them dry and moved on. He makes promises to these people and doesnt deliver. Why would George Calvert pay for his trip from Berlin to Las Vegas. Lets analyse that. Does he have any interest in one of the racing codes or fishing or is he a diplomat. I have found a man of the same name in the racing game. Now what could he want or already have delivered. Maybe an appointment by the Minister of Racing to the Board in charge of the codes. Hey George, join the club of suckers. What did the leech offer you in return for a Las Vegas freebee?
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