Herald has details of complaint
June 5th, 2009 at 7:16 am by David FarrarThe NZ Herald has talked to the complainant.
With a police investigation underway, I’m not going to speculate too much on what happened. However what I will say is that it is clear that it was appropriate for Worth to be sacked as a Minister, regardless of whether there is a criminal element.
Tags: Richard Worth
June 5th, 2009 at 7:32 am
Not only sacked but told you have no political future. Worth needs to move on and focus on his business interests which he had such trouble juggling while he was an MP. He got one thing from being an MP -a PhD!!! And he was a useful straw man to put up against Rodney Hide. Indeed that is about his only use as a candidate and MP.
Vote:June 5th, 2009 at 7:37 am
I agree with Key that the conduct Worth has admitted to is adequate reason to sack him but after listening to the manner the PM was interrogated by Mike Hosking this morning you can only ask yourself how the media have managed to grow testicles since Clark was voted out.
I certainly don’t recall anything like that for Philip Fields, Dover Samuels, David Benson Pope and certainly nothing for Winston “I accept the Ministers word” Peters
Were they that scared of Clark – or does Key need some better media training?
Vote:June 5th, 2009 at 7:41 am
There have been no charges laid . So, there is no need to keep silence on this one is there?
When does it actually become illegal to talk about the case? DPF, you know the police have been investigating this since Tuesday so what has changed today that you suddenly cannot comment?
[DPF: Not illegal to talk about it. Up until now I have talked about the political side, and still will. But I don't want to start speculating on whether there was consent or not etc etc]
Vote:June 5th, 2009 at 7:41 am
Key doesn’t control, personally, the NZ on Air funding.
Vote:June 5th, 2009 at 7:50 am
Dr Worthless gone. Goodbye useless.
Vote:June 5th, 2009 at 7:56 am
Generally ministers etc should just hire hookers. Wellington like all western capitals is has it fair share of high class sex for money. All that govt & foreign govt money & corp HQs. Best hookers in Australia for eg are in Canberra.
Vote:June 5th, 2009 at 7:56 am
Patrick, I heard that, (and flicked to radio left wing to hear plunkett interrogating the pm as well) and came to the same conclusion. I actually thought that Hosking was very discourteous as well.
Vote:as an aside I’d like to know which of thee two broadcasters was using a recording for their live interview.
June 5th, 2009 at 7:58 am
Like the rumoured brothel scandal a few years ago in WGN where the back entrance was used by numerous great and good to avoid ‘entry’, that was hushed up when the place was busted and the client list became too hot?
Like that?
Vote:June 5th, 2009 at 7:59 am
OK – As more info comes out the whole thing gets more complicated, or uncomplicated I guess, depending on your view.
He met a woman at a function, went to a hotel with her and spent the night, presumably engaged in sexual activity. My God! I am sure that has never happened before anywhere in the Western World. Worth may well be right – he did not do anything illegal. The woman presumably didn’t have her arm twisted up her back and voluntarily went to a hotel room that he arranged for them. Sounds suss to me.
Vote:June 5th, 2009 at 8:12 am
Patrick Starr (2454) Vote: 1 1 Says:
June 5th, 2009 at 7:37 am
I agree with Key that the conduct Worth has admitted to is adequate reason to sack him but after listening to the manner the PM was interrogated by Mike Hosking this morning you can only ask yourself how the media have managed to grow testicles since Clark was voted out.
I certainly don’t recall anything like that for Philip Fields, Dover Samuels, David Benson Pope and certainly nothing for Winston “I accept the Ministers word” Peters
Selective memory Patrick. Hosking has in my view, always been an abrasive interviewer, lacking manners. He tried it on Peters on many occasions, but Peters was at least his equal in abrasiveness. Helen Clark bit back too, and didn’t put up with crap from Hosking.
I think it is greatly to John Key’s credit that he does not respond to rudeness by descending to the gutter with his interviewer. Nor does he roll over and play dead.
Vote:June 5th, 2009 at 8:18 am
Damn. I tried to edit that but it timed out on me. I think the discussion applied equally to Hosking, Plunket and Henry – not forgetting Mary Wilson. They are all abrasive interviewers who manage to seem more vicious and mannerless if they smell blood in the water. Talking over their subjects seems to be their stock in trade.
Vote:June 5th, 2009 at 8:22 am
‘rumoured brothel scandal” proves the point.
Vote:June 5th, 2009 at 8:29 am
Of course he should have been sacked. What was he thinking, cavorting with a Labour Party activist. Did he sleep with her and pass on vital information about the inner workings of the National Party?
Vote:June 5th, 2009 at 8:30 am
“… Wellington like all western capitals is has it fair share of high class sex for money. All that govt & foreign govt money & corp HQs.”
The rumour I heard was that there were too many gifted amateurs for a professional to make a good living.
Vote:June 5th, 2009 at 8:32 am
Simon, arent hookers and pot legal or at least decriminalised in Canberra? That proves a point I think, aye.
Vote:June 5th, 2009 at 8:33 am
> He met a woman at a function, went to a hotel with her and spent the night, presumably engaged in sexual activity. My God!
Yes, I now await the spouses/partners/girlfriends/boyfriends of sitting MPs coming out and telling us what they get up to in the bedroom. Who knows, maybe the PM talks dirty:)
Vote:June 5th, 2009 at 8:37 am
bharmer – see if you can find any of the above putting any heat whatsoever on Clark over Winston Peters in particular
Vote:June 5th, 2009 at 8:39 am
“Hosking, Plunket and Henry – not forgetting Mary Wilson.”
The interview techniques of these people irritate the shit out of me. I think it is because no matter what the issue, they try to spin the interview in such away, that it is an attack on the interviewee.
Also, they piously spout that the public have the right to know. But you know it has nothing to do with us, the public, but their ratings. These people almost take it as a personal affront if someone chooses not to answer a question they way they want it answered. Listening to Hosking interview Key this morning is a very good example, he kept pushing for the answer HE wanted. The one that was going to be dramatic and create a story – NOT the one that was simply telling the story.
It seems to me that these people are becoming prima donnas who believe that they are doing anyone they interview a favour. And it is about the story THEY want to create, not the story. They are disingenuous at best and scum at worst.
In fact if the media stopped calling things “Stories” would be helpful. They are supposed to be reporting “information”, “articles”, “news”. “Stories” are made up creations for mindless entertainment.
Vote:June 5th, 2009 at 8:42 am
For what its worth, I think Richard had been a bit of a dick…..
Vote:June 5th, 2009 at 8:45 am
….. or, alternatively…. Looks like Richard’s been a bit of a dick. I wonder if it was worth it…?
Vote:June 5th, 2009 at 8:48 am
Patrick Starr (2456) Vote: 0 0 Says:
June 5th, 2009 at 8:37 am
bharmer – see if you can find any of the above putting any heat whatsoever on Clark over Winston Peters in particular
I have clear memories of Sean Plunket and Mary Wilson both trying pretty hard, on that and other issues. I don’t usually watch Breakfast TV or listen to Hosking if I can avoid it.
Vote:June 5th, 2009 at 8:50 am
“Hosking, Plunket and Henry – not forgetting Mary Wilson.”
The interview techniques of these people irritate the shit out of me. I think it is because no matter what the issue, they try to spin the interview in such away, that it is an attack on the interviewee.
And to aggravate the problem, Plunket said this morning that an answer by Jon Key was “not good enough, Prime Minister. The people of new Zealand want to know …”
Well count me out Sean, you don’t speak for me when you go after the dirt as if it were your divine right to get it.
Vote:June 5th, 2009 at 9:02 am
Key is this mild center barely right polli and media go after him like he wants to open Camp Gitmo in Orewa for Blackwater. National might as well start building Nuke power plants the media interviews will stay exactly the same.
Vote:June 5th, 2009 at 9:16 am
Worth needed to go. Previously, he looked like someone with no judgment and now he looks sleazy. I’m glad that the standards for Key’s ministers are far higher than they were for Clark’s.
But… What Worth is accused of sounds just like what Bill Clinton got away with for 8 years. If Worth was a lefty US President, then the left would be trying to tell us that the people working to expose Worth’s sleaze (and possible crimes) were the bad guys.
Vote:June 5th, 2009 at 9:37 am
“And to aggravate the problem, Plunket said this morning that an answer by Jon Key was “not good enough, Prime Minister. The people of new Zealand want to know …””
Exactly, he as a reporter wants to know.
When these people start reporting on the “growing criticism” of a situation – increasingly it appears that they are only reporting the growth of their OWN criticism. It usually is not the criticism of the public. Generally the opinion of the public does not feature in their thinking.
Please note that when I say “these people” I am talking about most of the current crop of interviewers. And is written with great disdain.
Vote:June 5th, 2009 at 10:09 am
According to the Herald story, the woman spent the night with Worth, had breakfast with him and then laid a complaint two months later.
Fat chance of a conviction on that evidence I should say.
Vote:June 5th, 2009 at 11:58 am
This is New Zealand Alan, a woman can change her mind up to 30 years post event and counting.
No man should drop his pants without an air tight signed contract these days… or since the 70′s by the look of it.
Vote:June 5th, 2009 at 1:15 pm
The complainant went to the Police about two weeks agoafter sitting on it for two months. How strange that GOFF after sitting on the lightweight complaint to him for 72 days enlightened John KEY just a few days later. …Worth may be a sleaze and unsuitable to be an MP but to me it all smells of ‘Setup’.
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