Richard Worth has resigned as an MP
Details to follow.
First reaction – Cam Calder effectively becomes a Member of Parliament tomorrow – as he would have if Melissa wins the by-election. So how is that for gettign there through the unlikely route?
Martin Kay at the Dom Post has the story.
This is a very good outcome for both Richard and National. Richard would have been miserable on the backbenches, and it allows National to avoid having to deal with the issue.
I have been e-mailed his statement:
Friday, June 12, 2009
Statement by Dr Richard Worth
“Since I resigned as a Cabinet Minister earlier this month, I have been considering my personal options, and also the welfare of the National Party – a party which I love and have served to the best of my ability for the past nine years.
“As a result, I have today also resigned as a list Member of Parliament with immediate effect.
“It would be easy for me to be bitter about the avalanche of rumour and innuendo that has led me into making this decision which I regard as being in the best interests of my party.
“I wish only to restate that I have not committed any crime, and I remain confident that when the true facts are established I will be cleared of any and all allegations of criminal conduct. I will steadfastly defend myself in respect of those allegations.
But it is impossible to defend oneself in the public and political arena against hearsay, character assassination and scuttlebutt.
“Like most of us, if we are honest, I may at times during my life have said and done things which, when analysed in the cold light of day, may seem to have been unwise. As I said last week, like any other citizen I am entitled to the presumption of innocence until proven guilty.
“I could spend the future bemoaning the unfairness of a campaign which has Labour’s fingerprints all over it. But that is not my nature. The campaign has been run against me by people who are unable or unwilling to back their claims with credible evidence of criminal activity.
“I went into politics to make a contribution to New Zealand. I can see that it is no longer possible for me to do that through politics, so I am now choosing to follow another positive path.
“Helping New Zealand win international trade will be the focus of my future activities. I believe I may make a greater contribution through my business activities than by attempting to remain in politics in what would clearly be an untenable position, and hoping to be forgiven for things of which I am innocent.
“My conscience is clear. Those who have chosen to try to ruin my reputation should perhaps now examine theirs.
“My wife and family stand behind me in this decision, as they have stood by me, together with our friends, in the past difficult weeks. Their loyalty and love has been a timely reminder for me about what is truly important in life.
This whole episode has taken a toll on me personally, and this is why I have made myself unavailable to the media and will continue to do so. I would ask that media now respect my right to privacy and allow me to get on with my life.
“That is all I wish to say. I am moving forward on a new path”.
Richard will get a lot of kudos for his decision, which is well timed, and for his loyalty. Also his apparent lack of rancour.
Having known Richard for a decade, somewhat sad at his leaving in this fashion, but it was the right decision. Also my thoughts are with his family, for which this must have been very tough.
John Key has now commented:
Prime Minister John Key says Dr Richard Worth’s resignation from Caucus and Parliament is a sensible course of action in the circumstances.
“I was notified this afternoon of Dr Worth’s intention to resign from Parliament. I believe this to be a sensible course of action,” says Mr Key.
“The decision gives the country an opportunity to move forward and focus on the issues that matter. There are important challenges facing New Zealand, and they will continue to have the Government’s full attention.
“Auckland’s Cam Calder is next on the party list. We look forward to welcoming him as a new Member of Parliament for National.”
The next candidate on the list after Cam Calder is Conway Powell. I hope he won’t be called up for a while 
June 12th, 2009 at 4:14 pm
One of the constant refrains here is “Blogs provide the news the MSM can’t/won’t/doesn’t. And yet, a cursory look through kiwiblog shows most content is in response to something in the MSM, not original reporting. And here we go again.
All this post is is a rehash of the NZHerald. Where is the breaking news from the blogs?
June 12th, 2009 at 4:14 pm
I hope you didn’t get too burnt. http://www.kiwiblog.co.nz/2009/06/ipredict_on_richard_worth.html#comments
[DPF: In this case I did not invest myself as all my funds are locked up until the by-election result is known]
June 12th, 2009 at 4:21 pm
the day b4 the byelection ? There is your ready made excuse
June 12th, 2009 at 4:22 pm
MNIJ
Theres no way to be nice about this. You are a total fucken idiot.
Tuija is a close contender
June 12th, 2009 at 4:22 pm
About time !
Must be time for a beverage and then get the rain dance going tonight to get Mt Albert washed out tomorrow.
June 12th, 2009 at 4:23 pm
This is a very good outcome for both Richard and National.
I’d say its an even better result for Goff – a nice scalp on his belt, tomorrow he’ll get the gender balancing scalp of MelLee.
June 12th, 2009 at 4:24 pm
Oh good. Now hopefully we can start talking about something else.
June 12th, 2009 at 4:25 pm
“Where is the breaking news from the blogs?”
Jack(ass), for breaking news, thrilling first class commentary and unbiased opinions of the highest order, you need to visit The (Sub) Standard.
The writers there are a perfect match for an intellect like yours.
June 12th, 2009 at 4:25 pm
DBF Are you blogging from the blog mobile?
And do you have to stop at midnight ?
June 12th, 2009 at 4:25 pm
MNIJ – ?? Are you saying that if DPF doesn’t get the news first, he should just ignore it? Shit, even the best newspaper would probably get only 5% of the stuff as a scoop or exclusive.
I’m glad he has resigned, and I suspect it shows the smiling assassin at work – some were predicting that Worth might hang on and that Key could do nothing about it. I think this might show that he can.
June 12th, 2009 at 4:26 pm
whoops wrong thread
sorry can’t edit
June 12th, 2009 at 4:27 pm
Minger Don’t you like me ?
June 12th, 2009 at 4:32 pm
“whoops wrong thread
sorry can’t edit”
Just proving my point…..
June 12th, 2009 at 4:33 pm
Do you think Richard Worth and David Bain will be invited to Dance with the Stars next year?
June 12th, 2009 at 4:35 pm
Just as we expect from a first class gentleman.
Surely , in light of what has happened in the last few days, John Key has promised him to be Ambassador to India.
June 12th, 2009 at 4:37 pm
“Richard will get a lot of kudos for his decision”
wtf? Who are you trying to fool?
June 12th, 2009 at 4:39 pm
I think this is all a bit sad really. Poor Richard Worth has been railroaded by a Prime Minister who is so afraid of guilt by association that he felt compelled to get rid of the guy before anything had been proven. What evidence is there that he has done anything wrong? He hasn’t been charged with anything or found guilty of anything. It’s a sad day for democracy. I’m no fan of Richard Worth but all of this is a disgrace, on both Labour and National.
June 12th, 2009 at 4:40 pm
MNIJ said “I’d say its an even better result for Goff – a nice scalp on his belt, tomorrow he’ll get the gender balancing scalp of MelLee.”
Jack, I’m normally polite to a fault, but for you, I’m prepared to make an exception. You are a complete and utter Grade One fuckwit. You’re doubtless too obtuse to note the significance of these words from Worth’s statement:
“My conscience is clear. Those who have chosen to try to ruin my reputation should perhaps now examine theirs.”
Are you listening Phil?
June 12th, 2009 at 4:40 pm
So Worth seems to be suggesting that he has done nothing wrong whatsoever, but is resigning because
“I believe I may make a greater contribution through my business activities than by attempting to remain in politics in what would clearly be an untenable position, and hoping to be forgiven for things of which I am innocent.
That is gibberish, And to think he is supposedly a lawyer.
June 12th, 2009 at 4:41 pm
A well worded statement – given the overall situation
June 12th, 2009 at 4:42 pm
god isnt liarbor and the dags hanging of the dying parties collective arse pathetic MNIJ and the other cretins who think they make a differance raise a smile YES a smile on my face , um if i wanted to bonk a female as a NATIONAL MP POWER BONKER/whatever/ a toady list member ,i would not get a indian takeaway from liarbor GOOD WHERE WAS THIS FUCKWITS BRAINS(worthless),worth needs to be buried under Nationals history as his dick ruled his (little pea brain), WHAT A COMPLETE DAMN IDIOT.FUCK as a voter i sigh at the collective fuckers who rule and dominate us and ruin our loverly country (FROM BOTH SIDES ,a goup of total idiots./
June 12th, 2009 at 4:43 pm
Well said Mr. Worth and thank you.
June 12th, 2009 at 4:44 pm
Sorry babe you put yourself in a public position I paid your wages whilst you swanned off to India and probably your hotel bills when you were hitting on anything that moved.You are fair game, you prick
June 12th, 2009 at 4:44 pm
He can’t even tell the truth in his press release – “Since I resigned as a Cabinet Minister ” – wasn’t he a minister outside cabinet?
June 12th, 2009 at 4:45 pm
Good riddance, one useless piece of shit gone
So the next question is, when is Phil Goff going to resign too?
June 12th, 2009 at 4:47 pm
Tuija said “Sorry babe you put yourself in a public position I paid your wages whilst you swanned off to India and probably your hotel bills when you were hitting on anything that moved.You are fair game, you prick”
Tuija shows the soft, caring face of the Greens!
June 12th, 2009 at 4:47 pm
Sorry that should have read Pompous prick
June 12th, 2009 at 4:48 pm
Tuija shows the soft, caring face of the Greens!
Inventory… When in Rome
June 12th, 2009 at 4:52 pm
So when Melissa Lee wins the by-election, who is the other new MP?
June 12th, 2009 at 4:53 pm
Tuija – I thought the “party of principle” was above that kind of stuff
June 12th, 2009 at 4:55 pm
Compare this to Taito Field, Winston Peters & others under the previous administration. Worth actually does deserve some credit for this.
[DPF: Yep - compare to DBP especially - a real contrast, both in PM's handling and MP's reaction]
June 12th, 2009 at 4:56 pm
[DPF: In this case I did not invest myself as all my funds are locked up until the by-election result is known]
Interesting….you’re tipping National for second? I feel slightly uneasy about it.
[DPF: I have had money invested on Labour winning since the day the stock opened - before any of the problems]
June 12th, 2009 at 4:57 pm
Well that’s a very good development. Now the journalistic fraternity will have more time to pursue Mr Goff over his sordid role in this affair. Much more to come, I expect.
June 12th, 2009 at 4:58 pm
“I believe I may make a greater contribution through my business activities than by attempting to remain in politics in what would clearly be an untenable position, and hoping to be forgiven for things of which I am innocent.”
Says it all really. Parliament is a viper’s den full of lies, innuendo, childish rants, and general egotistical circle jerks on all sides. It dosen’t matter if your guilty or not, perception is everything.
June 12th, 2009 at 5:02 pm
I don’t understand the lefties here.
First of all they are baying for Worths blood. When he actually does go, they are claiming that he hadn’t been proven to do anything wrong, so why was he resigning?
Honestly, can’t please some people.
June 12th, 2009 at 5:03 pm
Tuija – I thought the “party of principle” was above that kind of stuff
Yes they are…. But this is “kiwiblog” wouldn’t know a principle if it stood up and sent a text message
June 12th, 2009 at 5:07 pm
So Worth seems to be suggesting that he has done nothing wrong whatsoever, but is resigning because
If he is found to be innocent of all the accusations, will you apologise to him?
June 12th, 2009 at 5:13 pm
Sonic, you are getting into a real state by trying to back the real culprit in this media fest.
Goff is looking very exposed at the moment, and Mummy isn’t in country to help him.
I want Goff to remain leader of the Party of Corruption and Innuendo.
Labour have taken a number of torpedoes below the water line in the UK.
Brown has the self same empathy that Helen had.
Goff kind of reminds me of Mandy somehow.
As for Mallard, this is going to be a hard situation to stop taking advantage of a very badly wounded leader.
Et tu Brutus? Seems so apt a name for a Duck.
June 12th, 2009 at 5:31 pm
Glutaemus Maximus sorry to be rude but you talk shit
June 12th, 2009 at 5:34 pm
Tuija said “Glutaemus Maximus sorry to be rude but you talk shit”
I’ve said it before, but I’ll say it again …
Pot; meet kettle!
June 12th, 2009 at 5:47 pm
Sacking Worth on the basis of unproven allegations would indeed have been an injustice. The appropriate action would have been suspension, as Helen Clark did to Dover Samuels.
BUT, Worth was not sacked (or encouraged to resign) for his (alleged) silly old goat antics. What pushed his case from a suspension to a sacking was that he (apparently) lied to Key about it all, or at the very least failed to inform him of stuff he needed to know. It showed he could not be trusted. That is why he had go, rather than merely be suspended.
June 12th, 2009 at 5:51 pm
Tuija, had to chime in, what comes after talking shit?
Am starting to wonder if you breath, eat and think shit 24 / 7
It is amusing watching these lefty red peeps trying with the notion that attack is the best form of defense…. At least know when to STFU.
Philin Goof is a gone burger, mummy Mrzzzzzz Hulun is not here to tuck him into bed and read him stories tonight…
June 12th, 2009 at 5:52 pm
Slightly off topic but another positive is its one step closer before we can get Stephen Franks back.
June 12th, 2009 at 5:53 pm
Tuija. Fuck off, and you to I2!
June 12th, 2009 at 5:59 pm
Glut – I was sticking up for you mate!
June 12th, 2009 at 6:01 pm
John Key seems a bit hasty to me in hustling Worth out of Parliament before the final facts are established.
Contrast this with Key’s support for Heinous Helen’s job hunting at the United Nations.
If it turns out that Worth has been horny, rude, and failed to meet accepted standards of inter-gender etiquette but did not break any law, then driving him out of Parliament may prove to be harsh.
Cabinet membership is Key’s prerogative, but membership of the House? Or under MMP is every list MP’s presence at the whim of the relevant party leader?
The other possibility is that Key has an efficient intelligence network and already knows details of the Worth imbroglio. If so why doesn’t Key use this network to sort out the Brash emails injustice?
June 12th, 2009 at 6:09 pm
jack5 – some valid points, but to be honest, Key has done the correct thing here, in the end that hay seed Worth resigned himself did he not?
Am hoping that Philin Goof will too, but I guess when you boil it down, having Philin Goof as leader of the opposition is a good thing….
June 12th, 2009 at 6:14 pm
Sorry babe you put yourself in a public position I paid your wages whilst you swanned off to India and probably your hotel bills when you were hitting on anything that moved.You are fair game, you prick
So Tuija, you wont mind if we hold the same contempt for Labour and green MP’s? Considering We paid their wages – and I doubt you pay anywhere near enough for an hour of one MP’s wages, let alone nine years of Richard Worths – and they are fair game, the pompous priks.
I doubt there would be anyone left in Labour…..
June 12th, 2009 at 6:15 pm
” it is impossible to defend oneself in the public and political arena against hearsay, character assassination and scuttlebutt.”
Apart from saying, “I didn’t do anything wrong.” What Worth has admitted is; “I may at times during my life have said and done things which, when analysed in the cold light of day, may seem to have been unwise. ”
““My conscience is clear.”
Your statement is not.
June 12th, 2009 at 6:15 pm
whos phil cough??????????????????????????????????, oh hes the leader of a dying party with some fuckwit supporters on this blog, like sonic jackoff and other lossers and tossers etc as a skilled manual tradesman worker, opps not a brain surgeon like most of kiwibog posters (yer right )as i have said it before sorry in my eyes , the total fuckers called the liarbor party,(YES,YES) will struggle to get my vote
June 12th, 2009 at 6:33 pm
Sonic, he’s saying it wasn’t real smart to send the text messages, make the phone calls, sleep with the Korean lady. In a legal sense, they weren’t wrong. But it was unwise.
BTW, any likelihood you’ll back up your claims that DPF is a misogynist? Or are you planning to admit that you were wrong?
June 12th, 2009 at 6:48 pm
Richard Worth is an example that a high achiever is not necessarily best suited for politics. I fear Melissa Lee another high achiever is in the same boat. But now it is welcome to Cam Calder and we look forward to his contribution.
June 12th, 2009 at 6:49 pm
Does a national supporter write the teleprompter for one news? I ask because they described Worth’s resignation as ‘falling on his sword’ Which makes it sound like a noble gesture… I would have said it was more like hari kari or ‘ritual suicide due to loss of face.’ Humiliating. The irony here is that in his texts to the ladies Richard suggested a similar thing…’fall on my sword baby.’ Or so I hear and we all know there is no defence against hearsay…or satire…
June 12th, 2009 at 6:53 pm
Sonic, why not just go back to your lovely cosy little left blog area?
Suppose you will when the by – election is all over. Going to love your reaction should your Mercenary not do as well as expected.
Just maybe, it will all go badly wrong for the failed social experiment that is Labour. 15% in the Euro elections, and being beaten by UKIP, LIB DEM and the Greens ii the worst election results in 99 years takes some doing.
Labour are looking very wobbly here right now. Keep an open mind Sonic, you run the risk of being converted to a normal outlook if you spend too much time here.
Don’t forget if you keep just visiting a barbers, eventually you will end up with a haircut. Prick
June 12th, 2009 at 6:54 pm
This was inevitable and Dr Worth has shown far more honour and accountability than DBP. Goff on the other hand looks like a total idiot, ( and voted for him in the last two elections shit what does that make me ? ) he has been inept in his management of this and if Labour do not see some improvement in the polls then “WE” ( I say that as a supporter usually, not a member ) can look forward to another Palmer / Moore / Clark like leadership debacle and 9 years in opposition. Mr Key has won this scrap and sent a message to Labour suports such as me. Sorry John I don’t live in Mt. Albert but if I did Melissa Lee would get my vote. I can only say on the Melissa screwed up issue it was a joke !! $2.00 an hour well no but probably around $40.00 per hour at say 80 hours a week shit I wouldn’t want to do 80 hour weeks at $40.00 / hour but I bet she does, political naivety no cultural naivety yes. She just hasn’t figured out that working and providing for yourself is not part of NZ Culture and it is something we could learn from her
June 12th, 2009 at 7:00 pm
A huge difference between the handling from Key and Clark just in this statement:
“I wish only to restate that I have not committed any crime, and I remain confident that when the true facts are established I will be cleared of any and all allegations of criminal conduct”
Not only was Clark herself involved in activities of a criminal nature (such as art fraud) she also had a minister who assaulted Tau Henare (cowardly attacked him from behind I believe) who yet remained a minister. Glad we threw that lot out. We saw clear evidence of their criminal conduct and yet no accountability.
June 12th, 2009 at 7:15 pm
Slightly off topic but another positive is its one step closer before we can get Stephen Franks back.
Stephen Franks? Oh please please please pretty please
June 12th, 2009 at 7:26 pm
I’m with Tuija. I’d love to see Franks back. I suspect my reasons are different from his though.
June 12th, 2009 at 7:32 pm
I suspect my reasons are different from his though
Her
June 12th, 2009 at 7:40 pm
I agree it would be fantastic to see Franks back. He made many great contributions whilst in Parliament.
June 12th, 2009 at 8:04 pm
OK I’ve missed a few things while I was away;
Where was the inquiry set by the PM with narrow terms that exonerated him?
Where were his denials that went on long after any reasonable person had stopped believing him?
Where were the police saying there was a prima facie case but a prosecution was not in the public interest?
Where was natural justice appointing him to his old position once the police decided not to act?
Hell I was only away for a few hours but it feels like 2 years have gone by and Worth said he might stand as an independent!
June 12th, 2009 at 8:13 pm
Hey wingnuts
This is an endorsement of Ms Choudrey’s complaint and confirmation that it is true. Worth said “I wish only to restate that I have not committed any crime …”
Obviously he could not acknowledge that he has acted unethically and immorally.
Will you now all apologise?
June 12th, 2009 at 8:17 pm
mickysavage
The last lot in govt had “did not commit a crime” as the ‘acceptable in parliament’ standard. Thankfully the current lot actually have some standards other than base line limits under the law. Take a chill pill micky, your lot will be back in power stealing money and ruining the economy ready for National all too soon. Patience lover of corruption, your team will be back one day.
June 12th, 2009 at 8:22 pm
mickysavage
Actually edit that, the standard under Labour was not “did not commit a crime” it was actually “was not charged”.
June 12th, 2009 at 8:22 pm
Burt
The “oh but you did it too” defence. You railed against Helen and co because of “corruption”. When it actually is committed by one of yours you attack the victim.
You should try some humility.
Try saying this:
Richard Worth behaved poorly
Neelam Choudrey and Phil Goff you were right and we are sorry for attacking you.
Go on, try it …
June 12th, 2009 at 8:26 pm
Mickydipstick why would we apologise to some wannabe political fucking whore whose husband is soon to be a convicted felon. Immigration scams are pretty close to the lowest of the low. Taking advantage of the very people your lot pretend to protect. We should deport the pair of them.
[DPF: 20 demerits for whore]
June 12th, 2009 at 8:27 pm
mickysavage
Read back through some of the stuff I have posted. You will find plenty of support for the “victim” if there was actually one. What I don’t get however was how Goff can sleep at night knowing that he has used a victim of sexual harassment for political point scoring. As the leader of the opposition I can’t think a person with more conflicts of interest in dealing with this matter. If Goff was serious about concern for the “victim” he would have handed it to someone to less conflicted than himself and a discrete inquiry would have been conducted. We would not have seen this circus of insisting on meeting the PM played out in the media and the ‘victim’ would not have continued to meet with Worth long after the complaint had been registered with Goff.
Your team has some explaining to do micky – and you have been along for the ride getting mileage out of this as well – shame on you.
June 12th, 2009 at 8:28 pm
Murray M
Well said.
June 12th, 2009 at 8:30 pm
Murray
“why would we apologise to some wannabe political fucking whore whose husband is soon to be a convicted felon”
Because she is not and he has already been convicted and your guy must have done what she said he did or worse otherwise he would not have resigned?
June 12th, 2009 at 8:34 pm
mickysavage
You missed the change of govt in Nov. This lot appear to think that a high standard of conduct is not defined by police deciding to not lay charges even when they acknowledge a case exists. Keep up lefty boy. The game has changed.
June 12th, 2009 at 8:42 pm
He resigned because he feels he has brought the National party into disrepute. Obviously none of your lot ever thought much about the reputation of the Labour party. Dr Worth has shown some honour, something we didn’t witness with the previous government. Pigs trough.
June 12th, 2009 at 8:44 pm
Richard can go back to be a private citizen, he can be as lecherous as he likes. Yesterday’s news. He looked very good on paper, but the warning signs were there that he is not suited to 21st cent politics. Maybe in the old gentlemens club days where they played billiards, pinched ladies bottoms, swilled brandy, but Richard is about 50+ years too late for all that stuff.
June 12th, 2009 at 8:45 pm
Burt
I do not know how many times I have typed this recently but …
1. Goff went to Key privately to tell him what Worth was up to. This is unprecedented as far as I am aware.
2. Key did nothing about the complaint
3. Goff did nothing about the complaint further
4. Key blurted out on the day that Worth resigned that there had been other complaints of harassment
5. It all spiralled from there.
6. Worth only denied “criminal” behaviour
7. Neelam stuck to her story
8. Key said Goff was wrong and he was on a plane at the time that the phone call happened
9. Goff proved the call happened at the time he said it did.
So why beat up on Goff?
Worth is a creep.
Key has shown very poor judgment.
[DPF: So many things wrong.2 is wrong - Key did have it investigated. 4 is totally wrong - Goff's office leaked to the press gallery to ask Key if there had been other complaints. They also leaked that it had come from Goff. Goff also totally misrepresented the complainant. He also had his staff write her statement, which is different to her writing it herself. He told her to refuse to meet the PM's Chief of Staff. He also told her to bring him to any meeting with Key. He also described Choudary in such a way that her identity became public. He also was advising her before her very first coffee with Richard Worth. How much more do you need?]
June 12th, 2009 at 8:47 pm
micky, I don’t see a lot of people defending Worth. Most of us wanted him gone before these latest allegations came out. If you’re thinking we’re claiming he did nothing wrong, then you’re stupider than you look. (I don’t know what you look like, but you have to look pretty stupid to beat your current bar)
As for whether he must have done what she said or else he wouldn’t have resigned….well, that is the point where we’re saying the defence isn’t “oh but you did it too.” He is gone because the things he has admitted to, whilst not illegal, didn’t meet the standard to remain an MP in the National party. That doesn’t mean he did everything she said he did, it just means that what he did do was enough to be gone. And that is the large difference between what National are doing and what Labour used to do.
That doesn’t mean that Goff hasn’t been a complete idiot about this. He clearly has had involvement in setting this up, he has handled it poorly with a poor result for the woman concerned, and he has shown that he is more concerned with political point scoring than whether this is handled properly. Key, by comparison, has fired Worth, then made sure he resigns from parliament. I’m not sure exactly what more anyone would want from him – he has no powers beyond that.
June 12th, 2009 at 8:52 pm
Mickydipstick, do you agree with me that immigration scams are pretty much the lowest of the low, and should be grounds for deportation? Why wasn’t deportation considered, is it because the wannabe political pure lovely sweet lady was friends with the establishment?
June 12th, 2009 at 9:10 pm
“The next candidate on the list after Cam Calder is Conway Powell. I hope he won’t be called up for a while”
I’m curious to know what you are trying to imply here, David
June 12th, 2009 at 9:20 pm
MS, Think Goff is taking large quantities of Delusional pills as supplied by UK Labour to their siblings in NZ.
Gordon Brown thinks he can now change to PR system of voting, without a Referendum, and re-write all the boundaries.
Mandelson has stated that the UK will be adopting the Euro soon.
All with 5% of the possible elidgible vote, and 15% of the actual vote in the Euro elections.
Breathtaking, or Pisstaking?
Bit like retrospective legislation to annul Grand Larceny of Tax Payer funds to steal an election.
Check out http://www.order-order.com
As for Worth resigning, magic! As tired and as useless as Mark Burton on the other side.
June 12th, 2009 at 9:24 pm
DPF
“Goff’s office leaked to the press gallery to ask Key if there had been other complaints”
Any proof?
I actually accept that it may have happened, not through some master plan but through the normal discussion of scandal that happens in any group of human beings. Scandal does spread. But do you have any proof?
“Goff’s staff typed the statement.”
It was dictated by Neelam and read back to her and she agreed with it.
Any proof that Goff told Neelam not to talk to Key’s chief of staff?
I agree it all did go political in the end but until Key blurted it out it does appear that Key and Goff did want to keep it quiet.
Goff did not out Neelam, Brian Rudman may have gone some of the way, but this is surprising because he is quite sound. Whaleoil and co did.
And I keep thinking “so what?”
This really is a case of attacking the victim. Neelam v Worth looks like a real mismatch.
June 12th, 2009 at 9:27 pm
My comment duplicated itself …
What can this mean?
June 12th, 2009 at 9:30 pm
3rd time, wtf?
June 12th, 2009 at 9:38 pm
.
June 12th, 2009 at 9:44 pm
Damn my first demerits, fair enough David
June 12th, 2009 at 9:46 pm
Mickysavage began by saying “Hey wingnuts”
micky – you’re in the wrong place – this is Kiwiblog, not the Exceptionally Sub-Standard
June 12th, 2009 at 10:24 pm
I like the quote from MS re Rudman; ‘because he is quite sound’. Does this mean he is a paid up party member and not a free thinker? Does he become ‘unsound’ if he dares disagree with folk of a leftist persuasion?
June 12th, 2009 at 11:12 pm
Agreed Dr Worth and rather slickly said, but left unsaid I note is the complete idiocy you succumbed to in allowing yourself to become subject to this position in the first place. Surprising really since it’s rather elementary. All you need to do is keep your affairs in order and really, that’s the minimum standard one requires in MP.
I mean, FFS, it’s not rocket science, is it?
1) Decide to enter politics
2) Recognise and deal with past skeletons
3) Since this is now your field, act accordingly
Apparently, Step 3 escaped you. Elementary mistake, I would have thought. Punishment therefore deserved.
I just wish we weren’t required by law to subsidise idiots like you for the rest of your life in various ways. The least you could do is to publicly eschew those travel privileges. I won’t hold my breath.
June 12th, 2009 at 11:23 pm
Er, shouldn’t you be hoping that Conway Powell is called upon very soon!?!
June 12th, 2009 at 11:36 pm
Mr Goff and the Immigration Fraudster’s wife
A NZ Herald report by Audrey Young and Partrick Gower on Thursday 11 June 2009 states:
“Last night, Mr Goff said he had met Kumar Choudary only once.
“He would not say whether he knew he had been found guilty of immigration fraud, but said that did not affect the credibility of the complainant [made by Mrs Neelam Choudary against Dr Richard Worth]”.
However, today on Radio Live with Willie and John Tamahere at 2.55 pm, Mr Phil Goff told a caller he did NOT know anything about the charges Neelan Choudary’s husband Kumar Choudary – faced at the time he (Goff) advised her she should take a support person along to her first meeting with Dr Richard Worth on 26 November 2008 at a Sylvia Park cafe.
And yet at that time he MUST have known that Neelan Choudary had missed out on the Labour Party nomination in 2008 for the Botany electorate – due in large part to the fact that serious multiple charges involving immigration fraud had been laid by police against her husband – (see NZ Herald story 8/12/08 where Neelam and her husband are named).
She was required to disclose this ‘skeleton in her cupboard’ to Labour Party hierarchy who vetted her nomination. Her husband was facing criminal charges to be heard in the Auckland District Court the week after he accompanied her to meet Dr Worth at Sylvia Park. In the end Kumar chose to remain in the car while she met Dr Richard Worth.
And we are supposed to believe that on 26 November 2008 – the day of the meeting – that Neelan Choudary’s friend and confident – the Hon. Phil Goff – knew “nothing” about the criminal charges her husband faced !!!! Yeah RIGHT!!
What is Mr Goff hiding? When and in what context did he first meet the now convicted immigration scammer Kumar Choudary? Why did he not come clean and tell the NZ Herald journalists whether he knew about Mr Choudary’s convictions for immigration fraud? Why is the NZ Herald and MSM not pursuing these matters?
June 12th, 2009 at 11:44 pm
I think there is one integrity barrier National still has to cross over this matter. If the police conclude that there is sufficient evidence to put a case but it’s not in the public interest to prosecute then where will National stand on that?
During the rule of Helengrad there was a lot of this BS going on and National were very vocal in opposition about it. There may be some sting left in the tail of this one yet.
June 13th, 2009 at 12:01 am
burt, I’m surprised you need even to ask.
National has demonstratively demonstrated that, IT’S NOT LIARBORE.
Shame the MSM hasn’t picked up on this OBVIOUS FACT BUT I GUESS THIS IS JUST FURTHER EVIDENCE THE MSM ARE JUST MOSTLY POPULATED WITH LEFTY fuckheads.
I would have thought that LOCKWOOOD’S ACTIONS since elected Speaker, would have given THOSE WITHOUT AN AXE TO GRIND (i.e. those media who are neutral) A FREAKING CLUE into adopting a more balanced approach.
But apparently not.
June 13th, 2009 at 8:27 am
From jarbury right up the top:
“Oh good. Now hopefully we can start talking about something else.”
If only that were the case. In the cesspool of NZ politics (including commentators to a large extent, DPF not included), it’s all about talking about SOMEONE else, their predilicitions, comments, private lives. Nothing to do with the issues, we’ve become a lamentable shallow society of hypocritcial ad hominem attacks, feigning shock and dismay at the news some politician once passed by a grandmother on the street without helping her cross the road, while at the same time, that very same politician helps ram through several laws that actually have a direct impact on our lives and we’d struggle to even name one, let alone have a organized thought about it that didn’t involve starting the sentence with “That ageist granny-ignorer….”
We are a Womans’ Day, New Idea society. It’s kind of sad.
June 13th, 2009 at 8:38 am
With your Indulgence David here is my take on the Labour Party as a result of this – http://monkeyswithtypewriter.blogspot.com/2009/06/ambitious.html
Lee – MWT
June 13th, 2009 at 9:12 am
Lee C – well written take on this Labour Circus
June 13th, 2009 at 9:17 am
It is very convenient that Philin Goof will now drop the issue as Richard Worth as resigned………. Philin Goof, you are still an absolute pathetic individual.
June 13th, 2009 at 9:20 am
How mnay scalps dod Key claim as opposition leader?
How many scalps will Goff claim as opposition leader.
Key has been a total failure as PM; no morals, no leadership and no plan.
Still waiting for the fucking cycleway jonkey.
June 13th, 2009 at 9:25 am
billydorker,
John Key may be many things, but a magician he is not. He can’t just click his fingers and make a cycleway appear you gormless idiot.
About the only scalp that Goff is likely to claim is his own based current performance.
June 13th, 2009 at 9:27 am
borker – you are misanthropic. either pick up a shovel and help build your cycleway, or pick up a one-way plane ticket and take your customised brand of bile and hatred someplace else.
June 13th, 2009 at 9:30 am
Amen to that getstaffed – in spades
June 13th, 2009 at 9:33 am
getstaffed – jonkey PROMISED a cycleway, Dill English says there’s $50 million “allocated” to it. I want to see some action. What is wrong with demanding accountability from our government?
tk – I KNOW he’s no magician, but he’s no PM either. He doesn’t need to “click his fingers”, he simply needs to drive some action.
In case you hadn’t noticed,since jonkey has been PM the economy is going backwards, jobs are being destroyed daily and the BEST jonkey has offered his his jobs picnic lunch.
Not good enough!
June 13th, 2009 at 9:34 am
Elected late 06 so two, Billy. DB-P and Peters.
What a ridiculous question anyway. Here’s a list, lest we forget the lies, corruption and out-and-out incompetence of the party you so vehemently support. Fuck you must be really stupid, billy, or really evil. Which one is is it?
Hat-tip to All About Hawkes Bay.
June 13th, 2009 at 9:35 am
‘How Many Scalps did Key claim as Opposition Leader?’ You got us there, I suppose. Still, see post above).
Mind you, techinically, he was Prime Minister when Helen Clark, Michael Cullen, Winston Peters, Heather Simpson, and the rest of the previous government either resigned, got booted out, or went to ground. Did it with the old fashioned way using the voters’ blessing too, as opposed to trying to slime his way in by using sex-scandals and pathetic puppet-shows.
And then let us quantify the calibre of scalps – I’d say one ‘Helen Clark’ would be worth twenty ‘Dr. Worths’, wouldn’t you?
June 13th, 2009 at 9:38 am
billyborker – your life will be far more fruitful when you sit back and take stock of how shocking the state of the country was when National took over. To use tknorriss’s words, Key is not a magician……
Heavens to morgatroid, when you leftie hay seeds realise that any Tom, Dick or Harry could have run the show in the past decade, the world has vastly changed in case you hadnt noticed…… This next decade is the one that will be remembered….
June 13th, 2009 at 9:42 am
billy your post of 9.33 in the AM once aqain shows that your driveway obviously does not go all the way to your house….. If your dream woMan Hulun was still in power (LOL) do you think the economy would be going forward…. Seriously billy. Look outside the square.
June 13th, 2009 at 9:44 am
FFS billy,
The cycleway will probably be tied up for the next 30 years in the stupid, convoluted Resource Management Act that was Labour’s monster. It will probably be delayed indefinitely due to cultural sensitivity over some mythical taniwha if things stay as Labour had left them.
National probably needs to overhaul the Resource Management Act FIRST so they can even get the cycleway off square one. The first 50m is probably pegged to untangling the ungodly Resource Management Mess that was Labour’s wet dream before they can even get the cycleway off square one.
June 13th, 2009 at 9:48 am
whafe, that was then, this is now. I don’t give a tinker’s cuss about the next decade, I am concerned with the here and now and I see a government flailing and failing. Job destruction to the left, job destruction to the right, and nothing about new job creation.
What is jonkey’s record on job creation?
A nine day fortnight?
Overseeing the mass export of jobs to China, and a major stake in F&P now in Chinese hands.
Wholesale destruction of jobs in the greater Auckland region when the Minister for Yellow Jackets get his anti-democratic way.
Destruction of jobs in Adult Community Education, plus reducing job opportunities for people who complete ACE courses.
Key is a failure. His party is bereft of workable policy.
June 13th, 2009 at 9:50 am
tk – you’re making excuses again. Why hasn’t national overhauled the RMA already if it is such an impediment? It is NOT about what Labour did for the last 9 years, or waht National did for the decade before that. It is about what National is failing to do NOW!
[DPF: The bill is before a select committee. You are not suggesting such changes should be made without allowing for public input I hope]
June 13th, 2009 at 9:56 am
BTW, let’s compare what the Nats did vs what Liarbore did to those on the list above.
Today’s Herald says:
So the Nats acted honourably. As did ACT with Kopu.
How about Liarbore?
* Dover Samuels – No – refused to resign and made Minister outside Cabinet
* Ruth Dyson. – No – reinstated after short penance
* Marian Hobbs and Phillida Bunkle (Alliance) – Yes, but she was from another Party so it doesn’t count.
* Harry Duynhoven. – No – they even passed legislation to let him keep his job
* Lianne Dalziel. – No, reinstated
* John Tamihere – Yes, but only because Hulun didn’t like being called a front-bum
* David Benson-Pope. – Absolutely not. “Mr Benson-Pope returned to his job despite fierce criticism from the Opposition over the allegations and how his story had changed as he defended them.” He only resigned over the Setchell affair cause even Hulun couldn’t justify keeping him
* Taito Phillip Field – No
* David Parker – No, reinstated
* Winston Peters – No.
Look, Billy. It’s clear Hulun used loyalty to keep her Ministers in line. It’s how she ran her Cabinet. Whether or not it was morally correct, the decisions she took to fire people were only taken in the cases where she had a personal issue against them. Cases like TPF and Peters were some of the most egregious ever. It was always about Hulun and her govt and fuck the rest of the country. That was what it was. No question. The evidence is above.
She gave the fingers to the country. How dare she. And people like you, support her still.
Fuck lefties are dumb.
June 13th, 2009 at 9:59 am
Don’t be brain-dead Billy,
National is actually putting some thought into getting the RMA RIGHT rather than rushing in with a cure that ends up being worse than the disease. I don’t think there is any doubt that a project as complex as the proposed cycle way WILL be held up indefinitely in the current RMA, so a bit of time getting this sorted out will help to fast-track the cycle-way project.
Anyway, just because you haven’t seen any bulldozers yet doesn’t mean nothing is happening. It is a complex project requiring the co-operation of councils and other interest groups around NZ. So, no doubt, all these processes are underway. This is most probably the longest part of the project.
If you want it quicker, then go and get your own bulldozer and start ramming the cycleway through somewhere and see how far you get.
June 13th, 2009 at 10:02 am
“DPF: The bill is before a select committee. You are not suggesting such changes should be made without allowing for public input I hope”
Yep. When it comes to the Super City, the left are crying foul because they claim the democratic process is not being followed. When it comes to the cycleway they are demanding it be built immediately no matter how much impact it may have on those in its path.
About as consistent as a rubber ruler.
June 13th, 2009 at 10:21 am
From the NZ Herald today
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=10578187
“Dr Worth has spent the past nine days dogged by a separate allegation from Labour that he bombarded another woman, Neelam Choudary, with sleazy texts.
Mrs Choudary was revealed as a party stalwart whose husband is a convicted immigration fraudster and has so far not produced any of the texts as evidence.
Labour leader Phil Goff, who led the attack on the basis of the texts, said the party would drop the issue now Dr Worth was no longer an MP.”
So does this mean that Phil Goff’s entire aim in this whole sordid exercise was to have Worth removed as an MP? Or does this mean that he knows that he has in fact dug a big hole for himself and knowing it might just get worse for him just wants to forget it all happened?
In regard to the first question he knew that the resignation was highly likely within the first few minutes of it’s announcement and he did not have to do anything further.
And no-one has still seen the texts.
June 13th, 2009 at 10:29 am
All the texts are now probably “deleted”.
June 13th, 2009 at 11:32 am
I see she was working as an Organiser in the Mt Albert Election campaign for Labour. Is she being paid for this? Is this the job Phil Goff arranged for her as a reward for stringing Richard Worth along?
Oh the irony if it is.
June 13th, 2009 at 12:08 pm
It is going to be fascinating to see if the MSM now turn their attention to how Goff played them and story. It appears the Labour Party have not learned not a jot from the Mike Williams debacle (although he at least fell on his sword … sort of). But dear old unctuous Phil …. the sanctimonious prick is now revealed in all his ‘glory’.
So, will the MSM< have the balls to dig a little deeper? Guess I’ll have to ask Elvis, alive and living in Timaru.
June 13th, 2009 at 12:11 pm
Richard Worth was a waste of time as an MP. Such an ignominious end to a nothing career.
Sorry to change the subject (back to what it was originally…)
June 13th, 2009 at 1:28 pm
Someone was asking about Misogyny, hows this?
“” why would we apologise to some wannabe political fucking whore”
Keep it up chaps, keep showing those true colours
June 13th, 2009 at 2:41 pm
Sonic, I got demerits for that statement and I am taking my punishment like a man.
June 13th, 2009 at 3:36 pm
tknorris – she would not have been bright enough to save them to her data card etc…… Pffffttttttttt
June 13th, 2009 at 4:27 pm
“I got demerits for that statement”
So that makes it all right, never to be mentioned again?
June 13th, 2009 at 4:32 pm
In fairness sonic, I don’t think tknorris speaks for all of us, any more than one would claim that eger ‘downes syndrome’ moron speaks up on your behalf.
June 13th, 2009 at 4:39 pm
If you look back to my original point Lee, I argued there was a section of the Right who were revealing a nasty, misogynist side to their politics over this issue. I’ve been hammered for that but I would contend the above (and many other examples) pretty much make my point.
June 13th, 2009 at 4:48 pm
Ok fair enough, sonic. Sonic for my part mysogyny is one of the least savoury aspects of KB, but the scintillating wit and erudite observations on other subjects more than compensate.
June 13th, 2009 at 5:04 pm
Murray M
Did you heat that snuffling sound? I’m sure it was just some background noise. Just ignore it.
June 13th, 2009 at 5:15 pm
I’m really puzzled here (no surprise I suppose, I’m an idiot after all)
Richard Worth is innocent of wrong-doing (he claims). Got to take his word for it, he’s a National party MP and a ‘Sir’.
John Key washed his hands of him. Why, why, why??? Why didn’t he stand by his man? Is his man lying? Is Key so shallow that he will ‘wash his hands’ of one of his team, just because Phil Goff said Worth was a bad man? We all know Goff is a liar! Why, why, why did Key dump one of his own team, without a trial of any sort? Is this good management by Key? It seems wrong in every way. National have lost an MP, for gods sake! Without a whimper!! Key joined in! Goff must be fucking laughing his head off! How easy was that!! Who’s next?? Piece of piss. Why aren’t you guys screaming at Key – WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING, JOHN???
June 13th, 2009 at 5:44 pm
See, this is why you’re an idiot, vi.
Yes we all know it’s customary practice in Liarbore to keep scum around merely because they’ll vote the right way, but there’s a thing called right and wrong that applies as well.
Worth was not only ethically wrong, he was wrong on the grounds of apparent incompetence, not having understood the Cabinet Manual.
He might have a high IQ, but that doesn’t mean someone is reliable.
Now, in a Minister, what would you prefer, if you had the choice?
Key’s ethics vs Hulun’s as publicly practiced after both have retired.
That’s an analysis I personally am looking forward to reading.
So far, it’s +1 vs -9), in Key’s favour.
Who knows what Hulun’s going to do at the UN. Expect the negative correlation to continue, is my prediction.
June 13th, 2009 at 5:46 pm
Hey sonic I got demerits, I didn’t say I was never going to mention it again. I stand by my original statement, and time will tell.