Very stupid
December 18th, 2008 at 5:13 pm by David FarrarStealing is stupid. Stealing from journalists is even more stupid. Stealing alcohol from journalists is terminally stupid.
NZPA report:
Wellington, Dec 18 NZPA – Up to four Labour Party staffers face the sack after they were allegedly caught stealing alcohol from a parliamentary Christmas function.
Police were called to Parliament in the early hours of today after the four people were seen loading surplus alcohol from the Press Gallery Christmas party into a car on the precinct.
One of the men was detained and arrested at the scene, allegedly with over $400 worth of wine in his car. He has been charged with theft.
The man’s accomplices escaped, but NZPA understands security footage shows four people were involved in the alleged theft — all of them junior Labour Party staffers.
$400 worth of wine is probably around three dozen bottles or so. Apart from the fact it is wrong, and also an abuse of the hospitality of the galley – it is also stupid considering the number of security cameras and guards around the place.
I left around 1 am and it was still going strong. I’m curious as to what time the alleged theft took occurred.
Goff will be ropeable. They will either be MPs secretaries or members of Goff’s personal office.
Labour leader Phil Goff said the staffers’ actions were “totally unacceptable”.
“I deeply regret that that action was taken. It is perhaps a message for young people at Christmas functions — watch how much you drink and remember you will be accountable for your actions afterwards.”
Mr Goff said he did not know the individuals personally.
In which case my assumption is they are secretaries/EAs – probably for new MPs. Their MPs will be very upset that their first staffing decision has blown up in their face.
UPDATE: Despite Goff saying he does not know any of them, they may actually be from his office, not MPs Secretaries. Not that I met everyone there last night, but there were not a lot of secretaries there.
December 18th, 2008 at 5:40 pm
To be fair to the thieves, they were indoctrinated through the Miss Klark Absolute Power regime period. She taught them well. Was is socialist champagne they stole or just a bad red?
Vote:December 18th, 2008 at 5:49 pm
They just don’t get it.
They think that NZ is still under the control of the criminal left.
Thank God KKKlarKKK is gone – and with that, all the corruption.
Wankers!
Vote:December 18th, 2008 at 5:50 pm
Oh well, I’m sure the PSA will ride into battle for them. Lifting one bottle of wine – OK, who hasn’t? But $400 worth of piss? For once I think d4j’s first sentence rings quite true…
Vote:December 18th, 2008 at 5:56 pm
While there is a prima facie case, its not in the public interest to prosecute. Helen’s still in charge isn’t she?
Vote:December 18th, 2008 at 5:57 pm
All property is theft.
Vote:December 18th, 2008 at 6:08 pm
Vote:December 18th, 2008 at 6:19 pm
Chardonnay socialists.
Vote:December 18th, 2008 at 6:22 pm
I thought they were posting unusually late at the VDS this morning – even for work-shy lightweights.
Vote:December 18th, 2008 at 6:24 pm
Goodgod, of course that will only be the case if Filk Off wrote into the individuals’ contracts a clause allowing him to dismiss them within 90 days. His days as leader are decidedly numbered. Even the suit he wore during question time made him look like something out of the Black and White Minstrel Show. Was it Maaamy? Or perhaps The Red Red Robin Came Bob Bob Bobbin along.
Vote:December 18th, 2008 at 6:32 pm
Buggerlugs (1338) Vote: 3 0 Says:
December 18th, 2008 at 5:50 pm
Oh well, I’m sure the PSA will ride into battle for them. Lifting one bottle of wine – OK, who hasn’t?
Who hasn’t? Well I have not lifted one bottle of wine or one bottle of anything!
Vote:If it is not mine, I will not take it. If is is a gift, I make sure it is not stolen.
Thieving is OK huh? NO it is not! The freeloaders need to be responsible for their own actions.
I guess the taxpayer paid for the alcahol.
Repugnant little civil servants with the nose in the trough, just as Liarbore taught them.
December 18th, 2008 at 6:33 pm
I remember a lot of those bottles were donated by the US Embassy. That’s pretty embarrassing for all involved!
I was a little surprised by who got into that party. Does anyone know who that defence nut called Victor was? It was pretty freaky how obsessed he was about John Key and how close he got to him!!!!
I think the best Press Gallery Xmas do was when it was held at the back of the library. That was a more secure facility and nicer than an alleyway.
[DPF: The lawn by the Library was great. Agreed]
Vote:December 18th, 2008 at 6:39 pm
I was just about to write that the party was still great, the journos were fantastic hosts and the new MPs are a great bunch!!! Thanks everyone for an enjoyable evening! Throw another shrimp on the barbie, Garner!
Vote:December 18th, 2008 at 6:48 pm
“Duuude, bit doesn’t matter if we get caught, Helen will make sure the prosecution doesn’t happen. How did that election go anyway, I assume we won ? OH SHIT !!!!!”
Vote:December 18th, 2008 at 7:11 pm
If its not yours, don’t touch it. Cactus Kate might not agree.
Vote:December 18th, 2008 at 7:30 pm
Go easy on them they are only doing what comes naturally, they are after all socialists and probably believe they are “entitled”.
Vote:December 18th, 2008 at 7:40 pm
They’re Labour. Nothing there. Move on. But I do understand a National MP parked his car 10 cm on a yellow line. Now that’s BIG.
Vote:December 18th, 2008 at 7:43 pm
monkey see, monkey do!
Vote:December 18th, 2008 at 8:00 pm
At least it makes it easier for National to reign in government spending – the MP’s concerned should have to go without replacements as a lesson to the rest of them.
Vote:December 18th, 2008 at 8:02 pm
Was it RED wine ?
Vote:December 18th, 2008 at 8:17 pm
Reminds me of when Paul Henry on Breakfast telly a few days ago happened to be praising HC as a politician, then out his mouth without thinking he said “even tho’ she was on the cusp of Evil.” Then he cracked up that he had actually said it!
Vote:December 18th, 2008 at 8:27 pm
dad4justice,
Vote:I have quietly thought that many of your posts were rubbish.
But today’s at 5.40 p.m. is BRILLIANT.
Keep it up!
December 18th, 2008 at 8:41 pm
Even worse, apparently it was cask wine. That’s a whole lotta wine there, and probably feral wine at that!
Stupidity exemplified
Vote:December 18th, 2008 at 8:47 pm
David you’d probably recollect better than I, but I’m almost certain this isn’t the first time the Gallery’s left over grog wasn’t stolen, wholesale, by Parliamentary staffers? I think the last instance was only a few years back. I can remember a big fuss, the perpetrators allegedly being caught on CCTV, the Speaker getting involved… or am I having a Pinot Noir flashback (like an acid flashback, only mellower).
Weren’t Labour (and maybe NZF?) staff involved then too?
Vote:December 18th, 2008 at 8:50 pm
Mara
Consensual touching is always ok, especially with a man who is married.
Vote:December 18th, 2008 at 8:55 pm
more importantly, we need to know who these fuckers are and who they work for. naming and shaming. Isn’t it great that the labour party membership get out of jail free card ain’t working anymore.
Vote:GOOD TIMES..
December 18th, 2008 at 8:59 pm
seriously….is there a dumber lot of blog commentators anywhere in the world at the moment?
Redbaiter, PhilBest, Rex Widersomeone……
Vote:December 18th, 2008 at 9:05 pm
Yes there is. Lloydois, Lloydois, Lloydois and Lloydois…………………………
Vote:December 18th, 2008 at 9:15 pm
Kate
I’m married
And she says it’s always consensual or was that a con and sensual? No, right first time!
happy daze
Vote:December 18th, 2008 at 9:17 pm
Cactus Kate replied to Mara, “Consensual touching is always ok”, which is true, but did the wine in question consent? Doubt it.
And as DPF nearly said, the first law of dealing with journalists is: never get between a hack and his/her next bottle.
Vote:December 18th, 2008 at 9:33 pm
I’ve sent plenty of wine home with the staff where it was opened and going to be no good in the morning. But if any of my staff actively lifted the wine (yes, even one bottle) there’d be a serious talking to. And if they were brand new, I’d probably be deciding that was it. If they had a track record and it was out of character, then maybe a severe warning and a second chance.
This was, frankly, just stupid. The dishonesty is amazing. The fact that they thought it a good idea even more so. Surely you’d want your staffers to have half a brain? Is being thick a reason for firing these days?
Vote:December 18th, 2008 at 9:42 pm
“Is being thick a reason for firing these days?”
Probably won’t get you through the first ninety days anymore.
Vote:December 18th, 2008 at 10:06 pm
D4J
You are sometime a nutbar and sometimes amazing.
To be fair to the thieves, they were indoctrinated through the Miss Klark Absolute Power regime period. She taught them well. Was is socialist champagne they stole or just a bad red?
Good red wine improves with age, nasty shit is just sour and will never get any better.
Give the trolls shit d4j, they deserve it
Vote:December 18th, 2008 at 10:17 pm
What’s the problem?
The Wine wasn’t owned by anyone in particular; it was everyone’s wine. Labour junior staffers are taught through such institutions as the Princes Street Branch that what’s yours is yours and what’s yours is also mine.
But actually, Socialists cannot accept that some people own property exclusively: it cannot belong to anyone else. They are full of envy, hate, jealousy and bitterness at the thought they don’t have millions but “rich pricks” do. So they steal to get what they believe is rightfully theirs.
43% of New Zealanders think that way according to official statistics of 8 November 2008.
What’s the result of this thought pattern?
This: http://www.treasury.govt.nz/budget/forecasts/eff2008/eff08.pdf
Vote:December 18th, 2008 at 10:22 pm
What to say!!
It really is dispicable.
Hopefully the perps will be named and shamed.
Still it is small beer compared to the theft of taxpayers money to pay for a knackered old train set at 6x true market value.
Especially stupid when no other organisation was likely to be ever interested.
And then the bog Station for Dear Leader.
Buys a lot of Herceptin or Plonk.
Vote:December 18th, 2008 at 10:22 pm
Phil Goff said:
“I deeply regret that that action was taken. It is perhaps a message for young people at Christmas functions — watch how much you drink and remember you will be accountable for your actions afterwards.”
He should also remember that older MPs are also accountable for their actions
Vote:December 18th, 2008 at 10:29 pm
I think what Goff is saying is that he deeply regrets that the Labour Party staffers got caught…
Vote:December 18th, 2008 at 10:39 pm
Michael Cullen’s all time record of public theft remains unchallenged by these four lightweights by Labour’s standards.
How quickly the Apprentice learns from the Master.
Vote:December 18th, 2008 at 11:21 pm
Will we see a few more names putting in extra hours at the substandard now they are unemployed?
Vote:December 18th, 2008 at 11:30 pm
The lapblog is silent on this issue and any comments that dare to mention it are immediately “disappeared”.
Vote:I wouldn’t be surprised if one or more of the scamps over there are involved.
December 18th, 2008 at 11:51 pm
Must be ‘Standard Policy’
Thieving scrawps.
What an amazing state of affairs.
I get regaled for working my knackers off, and seeing very little of my family.
Risking everything and employing 380 people at the end.
Just shows how perverse the socialist mind is!!!
Vote:December 19th, 2008 at 12:04 am
Perhaps these bright young people were actually carrying out a radical public spirited act to protect the journalists from themselves by removing as much alcoholic temptation from them as possible. I am sure these brave free thinking youngsters were planning to swiftly take the alcohol to the nearest drain or perhaps sustainable composting bin and tip the vile corporate created addictive alcoholic beverages out and then recycle the bottles.
….and if you believe that then I think some people from Nigeria will be really interested in emailing you.
Vote:December 19th, 2008 at 12:22 am
I bet one of the perpetrators is a certain obnoxious blogger from The Standard I bumped into at this very function. He was acting rather suspiciously.
All in all, I’m not at all surprised about the theft. After all, the Left believe in theft (such as taxation to prop up the welfare-bludgers industry), and have absolutely no respect for property rights.
Name and shame, I say – and hang ‘em out to dry.
[DPF: I do not believe any of the people involved are in any way associated with The Standard and would caution against defamatory suggestions. As the Police are involved I suspect names will be made public]
Vote:December 19th, 2008 at 12:38 am
That would be too funny Shawn. Let’s hope it is true.
Vote:December 19th, 2008 at 12:57 am
name pseudo names pls
Vote:December 19th, 2008 at 7:06 am
Quite right OECD. Cullen is the biggest thief of them all. They are just following his example.
Vote:December 19th, 2008 at 7:10 am
The thieves were in the process of applying for Labour Party membership.
Labour Party grommits must pass a series of initiation tests, you understand.
Sadly, for this news-headlined cadre, they signally failed their very first assessment.
Vote:December 19th, 2008 at 7:23 am
To the tune of The Internationale
“The people’s draught is deepest red
Keep the red wine flowing”
feel free to add more.
Vote:December 19th, 2008 at 7:48 am
Labour staff member works on after charge.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=10548873
Aidan Smith was still working as Labour MP Pete Hodgson’s assistant yesterday.
Vote:December 19th, 2008 at 7:49 am
See below … fascinating that he is about to start working for Labour’s Finance Spokesman – Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
Labour staff member works on after charge
4:00AM Friday Dec 19, 2008
By Patrick Gower
A Labour Party staffer was still working in Parliament yesterday despite being charged with stealing wine from the Press Gallery’s Christmas party.
Aidan Smith was arrested after allegedly being caught taking the wine to a car outside Wednesday night’s party, which was attended by Prime Minister John Key and a collection of other ministers and senior MPs.
A group of up to four people, also believed to be Labour staffers, were seen acting suspiciously as they came in and out of the party, which was held in Parliament’s Doidge room and spilled into the area outside.
Press Gallery chair Vernon Small of the Dominion-Post and deputy chair Jane Patterson say they tracked Smith to the carpark.
It is believed that the group of four were taking full bottles of wine from the bar then smuggling them individually out the gate and up to the car.
A partygoer claims to have seen one making fake phone calls as an excuse to go in and out of the party.
Smith was still working as Labour MP Pete Hodgson’s assistant yesterday. He is due to leave that role soon to work for the party’s finance spokesman, David Cunliffe. He has previously worked in the party’s research unit.
Smith said police had charged him with theft and he would be appearing in court on Monday.
A spokesman for Parliamentary Services, Smith’s employer, would not comment because it was an employment matter. The other individuals involved have not been identified, but up to three cameras were trained on the area and security staff have been reviewing the footage.
Labour leader Phil Goff said it was a serious matter and totally unacceptable. He confirmed some of those involved worked for the party.
“The matter will be dealt with through the normal channels of the justice system and Parliamentary Services. I deeply regret that the action was taken.”
Vote:December 19th, 2008 at 7:58 am
Heck, be fair! They’re probably just making up for all the spare alcohol left lying around since Winston’s now gone from Parliament!
Vote:December 19th, 2008 at 8:01 am
If these guys tried this on in private enterprise they would be charged and told not to return.
Vote:December 19th, 2008 at 8:13 am
A clear case of Entitleitis!!
http://keepingstock.blogspot.com/2008/12/entitleitis.html
Vote:December 19th, 2008 at 8:21 am
Be fair guys, these low life do work for Labour, monkey see monkey do.
Vote:December 19th, 2008 at 8:21 am
I can’t believe there was spare grog at a journalists’ party.
Vote:December 19th, 2008 at 8:28 am
Frankly I’m just suprised that there was that much booze left over. Journos are not known for holding back when there’s free alcohol.
And as its now half 8 I’d say we have about 30 minutes left before this is being called “a silly drunken prank”.
Much the same as the 48 billion dollars that the body part Cullen has managed to missmanage could be called “a silly drunken prank”. Is he apprearing in court on monday as well just out of interest?
Vote:December 19th, 2008 at 8:29 am
Ha ha..I see the scum at the Standard are rather sensitive about this.
Vote:December 19th, 2008 at 8:45 am
Didums.
Vote:December 19th, 2008 at 8:50 am
Gosh, another all roads lead to and from labour embarrasment.
Vote:December 19th, 2008 at 9:02 am
Drunken prank, or they were just borrowing it?
How much do these common thieve earn a year for what weekly hours?
Vote:December 19th, 2008 at 9:17 am
They were “redistributing” it to the intoxicationally disadvantaged.
Vote:December 19th, 2008 at 9:55 am
The Herald this morning named the one arrested as Aidan Smith, previously of the Labour Party research unit, now in Hodgson’s office, and due to move to Cunliffe’s office.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=10548873
Vote:December 19th, 2008 at 10:45 am
Thats amusing anonymouse, he was a professional dirt digger for labour. imagine what praise he would have gotten from his masters if he’d found out Key had pulled a stunt like this.
Vote: