Flatt beats Pagani
The Dom Post reports:
Labour has chosen unionist Chris Flatt as its new general secretary in a move seen as a win for the party and its union wing over the parliamentary leadership. …
The other front runner was Progressive leader Jim Anderton’s long-time adviser John Pagani, who it is understood was favoured by Labour leader Phil Goff.
WIth no disrespect to Chris Flatt, I’m somewhat relieved. Pagani is a cunning sod who could have been quite dangerous in the role.
The appointment also reflects the student association backgrounds of both the Labour President and General Secretary.
Andrew Little was VUWSA President and NZUSA President in the late 1980s and Chris Flatt was involved in Waikato Students Union in the late 1990s.
He was on the WSU Executive in 1995 and 1996 and stood for WSU President in 1997 on a pro compulsory membership platform, He lost to a Student Choice candidate. I think he was also a Labour Youth President in 1997.
Anyway congratulaions to Platt on gaining the job at the young age of 36.
August 22nd, 2009 at 2:31 pm
Having “Paganini” on the Labour conductor stand instead of Flatt would spare us the appalling puns newspaper headline writers will inflict on us over the next few years.
Stand by for: Flattery, Flatt Out, Flatt still not out, Flatt to let X, Flatt nonsense, Flatt fishes for Y, Flatt bears Z, Flatt grounds for X1, No grounds for Flatt, Flatt grounds X1, Flattulence, Flatt levels on Z1, Flatt races to…. , Flatt to tired to …, Flatt note…
And so on and on and on..
August 22nd, 2009 at 2:39 pm
Well, who cares? Flat, Panini, Moriarty, Liu………….. A spent force with no direction, no ability, no talent and no morals. They still think they did nothing wrong.
Of more interest to New Zealanders is the news that the Kerepehi branch of the Womens’ Insitute has chosen Mrs Fartingdale- Lightly as its spokeswoman for indigent teenage mothers.
August 22nd, 2009 at 2:46 pm
He may as well be General Secretary of the Flatt Earth Society.
Labour has about as much relevance in this day and age.
August 22nd, 2009 at 3:12 pm
“Flatt Earth Society”
A name more appropriate to Winston Peters supporters
August 22nd, 2009 at 3:31 pm
He’ll need to be on time for all his meetings etc.
Otherwise it’ll be …….Flatt…..u…late.
August 22nd, 2009 at 3:33 pm
Next they’ll be giving Noel Hope a job.
August 22nd, 2009 at 4:06 pm
Once again a political party chooses an amateur with (presumably) the right ideological qualifications and a history of saying the right things to party bosses till he becomes one himself, over a professional who might have taken them somewhere.
No disrespect to Flatt, whom I don’t know, but a party which turns down the talents of John Pagani is one which clearly still values knowing all the words to the Internationale over knowing electoral strategy and tactics.
[DPF: As I said, I am relieved John did not get the job!]
August 22nd, 2009 at 8:39 pm
I’m glad you at least prefaced, almost, your criticisms by noting you don’t know him. I do. Little of what you’ve said Rex relates to Flatt, rather some characiture you’ve invented to suit a strawman argument.
Flatt’s had a number of years as a lawyer in the NZ legal system and then more in the Australian. He’s then applied this background to work in unions (though I think his legal work was primarily commercial). In Australia, he was counsel to the ETU. He did a lot of work on the ETU and ACTU campaigns in Australia to unseat Howard. His experience in that election was very important and very well regarded. Since he’s returned to NZ and done similar work for the EPMU. I know John too, he’s smart and very talented. However he’s only be in the party for a very short period of time.
Chris won this position because of his experience, his skills and his commitment to a party over a long time. The latter is an appropriately important factor. Quite frankly, I think Labour’s renewal compares very favourably to at least one other parliamentary party given their recent election. I’m hopeful Pagani will continue to play an significant role in Labour, he’s got a hell of a lot to offer as was in evidence in Mt Albert.
August 22nd, 2009 at 11:30 pm
Okay Paul, seems I’ve underestimated Flatt’s qualifications to run a political campaign. I’d still argue that being legal advisor to a union campaign is very different to being the primary strategist in a national party political campaign as John has done. But clearly they were more evenly matched than I first thought. However…
Why? That sounds like the public service circa the 1960s and 70s. “Yes, brilliant young newcomer, you’ve clearly got what it takes to grab this department by the lapels and shake some effectiveness into it. But Stan here has progressed from the mail room to under-manager over a 20 year career, so we’re giving him the promotion”.
August 23rd, 2009 at 11:28 am
Rex, except Flatt’s 36 and he’s the brilliant young newcomer… not other way around. Look, I’m miles from this debate and haven’t had much to do with Pagani for 10 or more years, my point was that if the rumours are correct, I’d say the party’s picked a bloke who’ll inject a lot of intelligence and experience, including from Australia. Chris’s organisational skills were very well tested though his involvement in the last federal election… I think you’re clutching at straws.