The Brash e-mails file
May 8th, 2009 at 2:00 pm by David FarrarThe Dom Post reports:
Police national headquarters confirmed this week that the file’s release was imminent, after fighting its disclosure for more than a year.
A Brash ally, government relations consultant Matthew Hooton, has been battling police for more than a year over their refusal to release the file. He took the case to the ombudsman.
Mr Hooton was yesterday cautious about the police about-turn. “We may be pleasantly surprised, but our understanding is that the file will be so heavily censored as to be meaningless and we expect the matter will return to the ombudsman or even end up in the courts.”
Dr Brash said police had told him they were about to release the file and had sent him a “heavily censored” version.
This is ridicolous. Why won’t they release the full version, rather than one with 90% redacted?
Hooton in NBR states:
The file will be so heavily censored it will largely be blank and will contain no new information. This pseudo-release follows an Official Information Act (OIA) request my government relations firm lodged on May 27, 2007. Under the law, PNHQ had 20 days to respond. In fact, getting to this point, two years later, has required enormous effort by my staff and pro bono assistance from Kensington Swan.
Lest anyone think police files can’t be released, the “paintergate” press conference, at which PNHQ announced Ms Clark would not face forgery charges, suggests otherwise. Then, PNHQ staff told journalists that if they scribbled down an OIA request, the file would be released, uncensored, the same day.
I think Mr Hooton and Kensington Swan need to press on – even if it means court action. Hell I can think of a lot of people who might donate to help cover the costs.
Let the truth come out.
Related posts:
- Police National HQ and the Brash E-mails
- Guyon on Police investigation into Brash e-mails
- Police reopen Brash e-mails investigation
- What are the Police hiding?
May 8th, 2009 at 2:03 pm
Someone fax the PNHQ a copy of the lection results please, they seem to have missed it.
And timing it wont save the ploice administration from hositle attention either.
Vote:May 8th, 2009 at 2:05 pm
So who are the Police really protecting Whose names dont they want the citizens to see. Why are they doing this
Where is the governance principles of disclosure and transpernacey
Answers please on a postcard Howard
Vote:May 8th, 2009 at 2:07 pm
It would not surprise me to see Key try and keep this information suppressed even if it does implicate Klark.
Vote:May 8th, 2009 at 2:08 pm
The police are playing a political game here. Appalling.
Vote:May 8th, 2009 at 2:12 pm
The Police are suspected of playing a political game. Let them show us they were not. Re-establish and demonstrate political independence, please.
Vote:May 8th, 2009 at 2:21 pm
I do have one question DPF, is there anybody inside the National party who would be shitting bricks about the release of this file?
[DPF: Nope]
Vote:May 8th, 2009 at 2:22 pm
Mudrunner (2:12pm)….don’t hold your breath.
Vote:May 8th, 2009 at 2:26 pm
Can Hooton and farrar say “beat up”?
The file is yet to be seen, buit already they know what is and isn’t in it.
Vote:May 8th, 2009 at 3:02 pm
Best delay the release as long as possible; it’s important that the offenders have settled into their roles at the UN and Kiwipost first!
Vote:May 8th, 2009 at 3:04 pm
The post by Former Plod at 2.45 in today’s General Debate string throws light on political direction of our police.
Vote:Brilliant, first-hand report.
May 8th, 2009 at 4:08 pm
MyNameIsJack: well, I thought the commentary said that Don Brash had received an advance copy. And that copy was heavily censored. Are you suggesting tat the police gave him an advance copy that was different than the one they planned to release? That is quite a serious allegation to make about our police force, I hope you have some evidence with which to support that.
Vote:May 8th, 2009 at 4:27 pm
Me for one. A token 10 bucks to reserve the right for private correspondence, particularly for parliamentarians regardless of political persuasion.
A Brash ally? A ‘brash’ ally is about right – the guy laid the daggers into Don Brash on ‘nine to noon’ while he was still leader. Hooton is pursuing this case for his own reasons.
Message to John Key – you have in the past claimed Dr Brash is your personal friend. Please get to the bottom of this. This is New Zealand’s equivalent of Watergate. Hager is a spineless twat who’s a danger to democracy.
Vote:May 8th, 2009 at 5:47 pm
Perhaps a brown envelope full of loot might do the job.
Vote:May 8th, 2009 at 5:58 pm
Combine this indefensible and apparently inexplicable behaviour with the information from Former Plod on the General Debate thread and you get some clues as to what’s been going wrong all these years.
Liarbore were always a bad govt. Pictures now emerging are indicating they were also corrupt at the deepest possible level. I know this is not surprising to some and not to me either, it’s just sad to see.
And it’s beginning to anger me that lefties are so blinded by ideology they can’t bring themselves to admit the obvious.
Vote:May 8th, 2009 at 10:32 pm
I think Helen gave Howard her still warm shredder as a farewell gift. The second half of its duty-cycle is about to commence.
Vote:May 9th, 2009 at 12:50 am
Broad has got a lot of stuff to bring out into the daylight.
Do I think that Police HQ is/was corrupt?
Do bears shit in the woods?
Vote:May 9th, 2009 at 1:37 am
Remember, Helen has these massive briefcases full to the brim which are collecting dust at the national archives until she dies… I suggest breaking in (or finding a freedom friendly accomplice) and bringing them to light ASAP. This will be pure gold and will ruin Clark and Labour for a generation…
Which was exactly the reason why she has them sealed until the new generation.
Vote:May 9th, 2009 at 7:37 am
Say again, clint? Haven’t heard about those.
Vote:May 10th, 2009 at 6:20 am
Time to crack some skulls.
Vote:May 10th, 2009 at 8:47 am
Reid – http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/politics/2308432/Exiting-Clark-buries-secrets
I bet it’s pure gold.
Vote:May 10th, 2009 at 10:49 am
Thanks Clint.
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