General Debate 23 March 2011

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krazykiwi

@IV2 at 11:36 – Exactly ..!!
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March 23, 2011 12:29pm
dime

Is Hughes actually “out”? I don’t really care but if he is then I didn’t know..

Personally I can’t stand the dude. The arrogance/smugness of the guy does my head in. He’s a list MP FFS. Also not a fan of career troughers with no life experience. Like the new national guy.
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March 23, 2011 12:30pm
Oh Dear

The Darren Hughes incident took place at Annette Kings residence according to 3news. This story is getting murkier by the day.

Whale has an interesting update over at his blog.
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March 23, 2011 12:34pm
Put it away

What a wonderful time it’s been lately! Labour has a scandal, Gadaffi’s forces getting bombed to shit, Mark Lundy’s got cancer, Castro’s quit. Only way this could get better is if Weatherston got beaten to death in jail…
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March 23, 2011 12:36pm
Sarkozygroupie

“I didn’t think the complaint was relevant to him being able to carry out his job.”

But Mr. Goff. it was clearly relevant to Richard Worth being able to carry out his job – you called for his resignation – even though you set him up with a honey trap by way of a Labour moll. So why TF isn’t it now, you goddamn hypocrite?

He said to the best of his knowledge it was the first time such a complaint had been made against Hughes.

Well now, no knowledge of a formal complaint. The question really is what knowledge did Phil Goff have of the ginga’s unwanted advances with the young Act staffer a few years back, prior to this latest incident? Anything else Foot-In-Mouth doesn’t have any formal knowledge of that the public should be aware of?
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March 23, 2011 12:44pm
Oh Dear

Sarkozygroupie, The comment you make:

“He said to the best of his knowledge it was the first time such a complaint had been made against Hughes”

I love it, where did you get it? Is there a link? Because, as you say, there is the incident previous that you mention and this could come back to bite Goff in the butt.
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March 23, 2011 12:53pm
Zarchoff

This is not the first allegation I have heard against Hughes. I know of an incident at a Parliamentary Christmas party in 2009. Whilst technically not illegal it was rather sordid and not what you’d expect from an MP of his calibre.
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March 23, 2011 1:04pm
tankyman

oh Dear: http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/4798214/Police-investigate-Labour-MP-Darren-Hughes watch from about 55 secs for the quote
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March 23, 2011 1:05pm
wreck1080

Are they not going to publish this guys name?

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10714413

A well-known New Zealand comedian has pleaded guilty to a charge of performing an indecent act on a child, a lesser offence to what he was initially charged with.

Reasoning, is that identifying him will identify the child but I say rubbish. It could any child for all anyone knows.

Regardless, I know who it is – no clues though. Don’t want to get into trouble 🙂 Unfortunately all well known comedians in NZ are tarnished.
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March 23, 2011 1:05pm
tankyman

“3 News understands some items of interest have been removed from the home.”

Now I would love to know what they took.
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March 23, 2011 1:07pm
James Stephenson

Tanky – I think, on balance, I would rather not.
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March 23, 2011 1:16pm
slightlyrighty

When Phil Goff says to the best of his knowledge it was the first time such a complaint had been made against Hughes, The question was “Is this the first time he has been involved in an incident like this” That answer allows for the fact that an incident could have happened involvong the young ACT staffer in 2009, if no official complaint had been laid.

I would expect that quote to have repercussions however.
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March 23, 2011 1:17pm
Christopher Thomson

“This is not the first allegation I have heard against Hughes. I know of an incident at a Parliamentary Christmas party in 2009. Whilst technically not illegal it was rather sordid and not what you’d expect from an MP of his calibre.”

Actually this is exactly what I would expect form an MP of his calibre!
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March 23, 2011 1:21pm
Sarkozygroupie

Zarchoff

It is not that kind of behaviour you would expect from any MP regardless of calibre. I don’t think this incident actually shows Darren Hughes has calibre.

The fact that the incident with the Act staffer appears to have been premeditated by Hughes enticing the young man to his office on the pretext of a party says only one thing to me. Darren Hughes should not hold public office. In NZ unwanted sexual advances in the workplace (regardless whether during the day or at the staff party) are illegal, and he is just lucky that staffer didn’t make a formal complaint at the time. If I was to do that in my place of work I am sure I would be fired. There are not two standards at work here.

Remember what happend to Bill Clinton for his abuse of position? Impeachment.
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March 23, 2011 1:26pm
Sarkozygroupie

wreck, are you sure you can’t tell us where to look for the comedian’s name?
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March 23, 2011 1:30pm
lofty

Exactly Sarkozygroupie.
He is indeed fortunate that a formal complaint was not laid.
This is why I want the sun to shine on this and other allegations that are floating about, if indeed there is substance, the perpetrators have no place in our house of representatives.
Either way I think Hughes is a gone burger, and others may well follow.
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March 23, 2011 1:33pm
MT_Tinman

wreck1080 (1,459) Says:
March 23rd, 2011 at 1:05 pm
Unfortunately all well known comedians in NZ are tarnished.

I doubt there are any well known comedians in NZ to be so tarnished.

Nor, I suspect is this fellow well known (at least by his own name) and I question the description “comedian”.
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March 23, 2011 1:33pm
James Stephenson

It is not that kind of behaviour you would expect from any MP

Two different meanings of “expect”…
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March 23, 2011 1:35pm
Rick Rowling

Just for the record, before it was made public my wife and I guessed correctly that it was one of two – silent T and that ginga.

Speculation based solely on that they both come across smarmy, smug and incredibly self-righteous. Much more so than other high profile MPs from any party.
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March 23, 2011 1:47pm
BeaB

Sarkozyygroupie
Cherchez le cigare.
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March 23, 2011 1:49pm
SHG

Hughes was the first name that came to my mind – the instant I first heard the report.
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March 23, 2011 1:49pm
RightNow

Have the Youth MP’s for 2011 been decided yet?
List for 2010: http://www.myd.govt.nz/have-your-say/youth-parliament/list-of-youth-mps-and-mps-june.pdf
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March 23, 2011 1:59pm
Sarkozygroupie

Thanks BeaB.

James Stephenson – you have a very good point. Either way it is bad news.
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March 23, 2011 2:06pm
gravedodger

Danny Watson is very exercised about the Head Boy of Hastings Boys High who has retained his position after a road accident in January involving passengers, a higher than legal BAC and careless use and entering a guilty verdict in the Hastings Dist Court.
It just happens his Dad is on the BOT and his Mum has an office job at the school.
Two things:
Danny is gob smacked that callers are supporting the boy and his actions after pleading guilty in court,
He and the callers are ignoring the seachange in personal responsibility that has crept up over the last 50 years where it is never “my fault” and “such a minor mistake should not have repercussions on the rest of my life”.
Remember when Politicians tendered their resignation at the first whiff of trouble whether it was their fault or not. A system that was at its epogee when Kiwi Kieth was reputed to ask any person he appointed to office to write out an undated resignation letter just in case their ego got in the way when or if the excrement hit the propeller.
The actions of the boy, his parents and the school staff are entirely consistent with the modern attitude to personal responsibility that pervades our lives.
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March 23, 2011 2:08pm
davidp

>3 News understands some items of interest have been removed from the home

The NZ equivalent of Monica Lewinsky’s spunky dress?
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March 23, 2011 2:11pm
lofty

Oh jeeze davidp..erk!!
The mind boggles.
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March 23, 2011 2:16pm
davidp

It’s a pretty unpleasant thought Lofty. But we might be on the verge of having “Darren Hughes’ Spunky Underwear” enter the NZ political lexicon.

Didn’t Lewinsky claim there was something a bit deformed about Clinton’s genitals that necessitated a medical examination to see if she was correct and had actually viewed the presidential member? If so, Hughes should make sure he showers and trims before reporting to the police station for questioning.
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March 23, 2011 2:27pm
lofty

davidp to quote Dick Emery..” you are awful, but I like you”
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March 23, 2011 2:31pm
hj

Winston Peters is infuriating. I don’t like his political manouverings at all, except where his strategies disadvantage those I oppose as well. I wouldn’t trust him one iota, should he be in a position to decide the fate of the political party I support, but his recent speech has all the elements of a serious upset for the Government and I’m revelling in it’s directness.
In it he says many things and scores many hits – bull’s-eyes in fact and ones that will have Mr Key and his strategists scrambling. The Standard has the whole speech and the link is here. I especially liked this section, where Winston confirms my suspicion that he’ll play the ‘sitting on the cross-benches’ card,

” If we have to, and if that is what NZ First decides, we will be pleased to sit on the cross benches guarding the interests of ALL New Zealanders.”

and this, where he makes it clear that he understands and opposes Key’s plans to sell our most valuable assets,

“You are being softened up for cuts in social spending in the next Budget.
Every day the Prime Minister and senior cabinet ministers tell the nation how bad things are.
And every day a new figure of ten, fifteen, twenty billion is thrown about as the amount of extra money the government will need.
This is a clear signal that more state assets will be sold than the government is letting on.
Surely someone, somewhere in this government knows the folly of selling state assets.
For example, the state companies that generate electricity are going to be partially privatised.
Now why would anyone of sane mind sell off its only renewable sources of energy.
Make no mistake.
If our power stations are part of a public share float they will end up owned overseas.
Probably by China because China is one of the few countries that are in the black.”

I’ve commented on my old friend Inv2’s blog, where he and I enjoy ragging each other but as he so often sends me back here to post at ‘home’ rather than sully his with my ‘revolutionary’ comments, I’ve added that to this post, for the record 🙂

If we have to, and if that is what NZ First decides, we will be pleased to sit on the cross benches guarding the interests of ALL New Zealanders.”

Tomorrow, when you have put the sad things behind you Inv2, it’ll be time to read this speech by Winston Peters and, like so many others on the Right, quake in your boots!
National’s in trouble when there are speeches like this one of Winston’s out there – people will flock to those ideas.
Holding up a pissy little ‘no’ sign at the back of the hall when Winston is delivering this kind of thing to the many, many Censored.
March 22, 2011 11:23 AM
Posted by robertguyton at 11:39 AM
http://robertguyton.blogspot.com/2011/03/winstons-winning-ways.html
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March 23, 2011 2:36pm
DJP6-25

Lance 9:45am. One of the double entendres here in Korea is a stationery brand called ‘Morning Glory’. Then there is ‘Coolpis’, and ‘Pocari Sweat’. They’re two different soft drinks. Did I mention Toss English? It’s a chain of English language schools.

cheers

David Prosser
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March 23, 2011 2:50pm
backster

“She also refused to say whether police had executed a search warrant there. “…Annette King responding as to whether a search warrant had been executed at her address where Hughes resides.

For a search warrant to issued in respect of some-one like King’s residence there would have to be fairly substantial grounds and likely to only be presented if voluntary admission and co-operation was denied.
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March 23, 2011 2:58pm
Lance

@DJP6-25

On my travels I happened across ‘Skum’ potato chips.
Although my favourite was an American company selling raisins inviting it’s users to “Why not toss over your breakfast”
Maybe after eating their raisins that is what happens?
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March 23, 2011 3:07pm
muncha1

@Rightnow. There is no Youth Parliament in 2011, its held every three years. As a 2010 Labour Youth MP, I have my suspicions, but I’m not saying anymore than to say that list you put up is correct and if it is a Youth MP, it will be one of them.
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March 23, 2011 3:31pm
Oh Dear

Some other interesting questions are being raised from the Darren Hughes incident, not directly related to the incident in question, but the inccident has brought to light some new questions.

People are starting to ask,

“If Darren Hughes lives with Annette King, what accom¬mo¬da¬tion allowance Parliamentary Services has been paying for a bedroom in a private residence rather than an independent flat?”

Is Annette King getting paid to have Darren live there?

What board/rent rate is she charging him?

Is she getting accommodation allowance for herself and for Darren?
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March 23, 2011 3:35pm
lofty

Is it just me or is Goffs lack of action re hughes odd?

What are they afraid of?

Let the sun shine in.
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March 23, 2011 3:53pm
metcalph

Given that King was a former school dental nurse, I suggest we call the affair “Murderhouse Blue”.
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March 23, 2011 3:57pm
davidp

Oh Dear>People are starting to ask

What I am wondering:

Is Darren Hughes Annette King’s secret ginger love child?

And if so, why is Hughes still living at home with his mum?
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March 23, 2011 4:00pm
James Stephenson

I suggest we call the affair “Murderhouse Blue”.

Just so long as we can avoid anything ending in “gate” I’m happy.
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March 23, 2011 4:23pm
Chuck Bird

“It’s obviously justifiable for a politician of the left to lie, but when the PM does it”

Key has lied numerous times to the public. We would not have to worry about the foreshore & seabed legislation if he stuck tohis word.
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March 23, 2011 4:29pm
starboard

Geez dave..whyd ya delete my comment from this morn..pfft so much for free speech.

JS we can name it ginga-gate…
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March 23, 2011 4:39pm
Manolo

DPF, why did you delete my comment? It was not offensive or out of line.

I appreciate it’s your blog and you have the right to take down, erase, remove, obnoxious remarks, but mine (and others I’ve seen deleted) didn’t fall into that category.
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March 23, 2011 4:44pm
Bevan

This episode with Hughes reminds me why quite frankly I’m disgusted with Politicians as a whole. I don’t even want to touch on the allegations at all, but I have a question: why is it that MP’s are only stood down once the public find out there are allegations against them? Surely if Goff has known about this for two weeks Hughes should have been placed on leave at that time he learned about them – is Goff telling us that Hughes only warrants to be stood down because the public now know there is an investigation? Would Hughes be carrying on as usual if the public were still in the dark? And what about our so called media? Surely asking Goff why has he waited until now to place Hughes on leave would be a valid question to ask.
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March 23, 2011 4:49pm
RRM

The alleged incident happened after a debate at Victoria University on Tuesday, March 1.

Hughes was a speaker in the comedy debate, which was an event held as part of the university’s Orientation Week.

It is understood that Hughes and the 18-year-old complainant, along with dozens of others who were at the debate, carried on to Wellington’s Matterhorn bar.

The group then moved on to The Establishment bar where they carried on drinking. It is understood police are interested in looking at CCTV footage from the bar.

It is understood the complaint springs from an incident at Hughes’ home which ended in the complainant leaving the house and walking in to a passing police car.

Went home together after a boozy trawl through town and then stuff gets, allegedly, improper… If that’s all true then it’s not really the same thing as cornering the guy in the store room at the office, is it?
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March 23, 2011 5:18pm
Zarchoff

Talkback this morning were guessing that the 18 year old involved was Jevan Goulter. Here is what Jevan posted on his facebook page in response:

“So today the New Zealand media are contacting me in regards to if I am the 18 year old who has made a complaint against Darren Hughes. Sorry to dissappoint but I am not, however I am flattered you still think I look 18 ! I can also confirm he is a sleezy closet homosexual and if its of a sexual nature against a young man then I am confident it is true. 18 Again huh !!”

Nuff said really…
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March 23, 2011 5:33pm
Zarchoff

Sarkozygroupie, I agree. The incident with the ACT staffer is why Whale calls Darren Hughes “Private Dancer”
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March 23, 2011 5:34pm
expat

RRM, irrespective of whether the alleged incident took place at home or in the closet, cough, it looks like the ginga winga is a political liability given he has form, according to whaleoil, of soliciting young men.
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March 23, 2011 5:40pm
Fisiani

National to win Otaki suddenly shot up by 20% on ipredict TWO weeks ago. Labour people are obviously making money out of this incident. Do they have no shame? Are they just out to get tax free money?
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March 23, 2011 5:49pm
nasska

The electorate need to know….. is there anyone straight remaining in the Labour caucus?
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March 23, 2011 5:55pm
expat

..not many, if any…
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March 23, 2011 5:58pm
Bevan

Went home together after a boozy trawl through town and then stuff gets, allegedly, improper… If that’s all true then it’s not really the same thing as cornering the guy in the store room at the office, is it?

RRM, thats just making an excuse. Ive gone out loads of times and got plastered in the company of members of the opposite sex, even while near paralytic from intoxication I’ve still understood what the word no means. Hell even if two people are getting passionate while out at a night club does not infer consent at a later time.
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March 23, 2011 6:09pm
bhudson

Bevan,

I was reading “Ive gone out loads of times and got plastered in the company of members of the opposite sex…”

And I thought the punch line coming was “and they’ve never tried to make sexual advances to me.”
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March 23, 2011 6:15pm
nasska

Bevan @ 6.09pm

…..” in the company of members of the opposite sex”……

I hope that you realise that you have just Ko’ed any chance of a political career with the Labour Party.
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March 23, 2011 6:29pm
KH

I to would like to know about the money flow of allowances. In detail.
Parliamentry Services to Darren Hughes and to Annette King. etc etc etc
And on what basis. eg. is in fact his primary residence at Annettes or at Otaki.
Is indeed his primary residence at Annettes.
What is clained about that and is it true.
However we know it’s probably not Winton.
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March 23, 2011 6:37pm
expat

Hughes was living with full moon??
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March 23, 2011 6:39pm
Manolo

The electorate need to know….. is there anyone straight remaining in the Labour caucus?

The fingers of one hand will be enough to count them.
And these rainbow people claim to represent the typical New Zealand worker? What a bloody joke!
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March 23, 2011 6:39pm
Bevan

I hope that you realise that you have just Ko’ed any chance of a political career with the Labour Party.

OMG, how will I go on….
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March 23, 2011 6:42pm
Manolo

A true lunatic and banana-republic dictator speaks.

CARACAS (Reuters) – Capitalism may be to blame for the lack of life on the planet Mars, Venezuela’s socialist President Hugo Chavez said on Tuesday.

“I have always said, heard, that it would not be strange that there had been civilization on Mars, but maybe capitalism arrived there, imperialism arrived and finished off the planet,” Chavez said in speech to mark World Water Day.

“Careful! Here on planet Earth where hundreds of years ago or less there were great forests, now there are deserts. Where there were rivers, there are deserts,” Chavez said, sipping from a glass of water.
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March 23, 2011 6:46pm
reid

Beverley Hills 90210 apparently has the same problem we ~~had~~ have.
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March 23, 2011 6:55pm
Hurf Durf

Wow.

The study found most New Zealanders were in favour of legislation to protect the environment, even if it meant interfering with the rights of individuals and businesses to make their own decisions, Prof Gendall said.

Really?

Like I said so many times: when fascism arrives, it’ll be wearing sandals and carrying a clipboard.
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March 23, 2011 7:27pm
reid

Re: Hughes, I’m afraid two strikes is all you’re allowed as an MP and sometimes even that is one too many.

The first strike against Hughes was this one, but the fact this current investigation is now being undertaken indicates he didn’t learn anything from that. This is because the police will not investigate a trivial incident against a senior MP, because they know it is dynamite. Neither will they back away and hooray for that but the very fact the police are investigating, means I think it can’t be dismissed as something in the fantasy or the trivia realm.

Most of us manage to resist going our entire careers without committing even one action that could be easily construed as “sexual harassment.”

Darren however has already had one such incident even if no charges or investigation arose from that.

An MP’s job is not a normal one, no sirree, it’s one where they are expected to display, maintain and uphold the highest standards of integrity, self-discipline and morality. Who are MPs if not role-models for society and if we the voters entrust them with that sacred duty and grant them thereby the power they have to intimately affect our lives the way they do everyday, then in return we as the public are entitled to expect that they in return will act with utmost decorum at all times and will never abuse their position in anyway. This is not only the way democracy works it’s simple human decency.

Regrettably particularly in the recent past there have been many examples where this principle hasn’t been in evidence, on both sides. While Hughes isn’t unique, and the facts aren’t yet in, this isn’t looking good, for him. Even if he’s not guilty of a crime under the law, he may still be guilty of the crime of failing to discharge his sacred public duty.

If that proves to be the case then Darren, get stuffed mate, cause personally, my gloves will be off and I’m not going to be barring any holds. Leave and begone with you, for you, human and fallible and flawed though you are, as are we all, will thereby prove you aren’t and never were fit for the sacred duty of holding public office, with all that entails.

Personally, I’ve just about had it with people who forget they serve us and think we serve them.
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March 23, 2011 7:33pm
starboard

The liarbor party is full of sodomites , weirdos , nutjobs , lesbians , criminals..poor old Norm Kirk…he’d be spinning in his grave.
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March 23, 2011 7:35pm
Pete George

Do you like mixing with all the “normals” here starboard?
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March 23, 2011 7:38pm
starboard

better class of people here PG especially when you compare with the teapots over at the strandard and redblert
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March 23, 2011 7:44pm
reid

Wow.

Hurf, it would be interesting wouldn’t it if you asked a follow-up question of those who said nukular power was bad:

“How do nukular power stations work?”

poor old Norm Kirk…he’d be spinning in his grave.

Yes starboard, all he had to deal with was lots of commies and the odd homo. No wonder people reminisce about “the good old days.”
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March 23, 2011 7:47pm
starboard

Colin Moyle springs to mind..or was he under piggy..but not literally..
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March 23, 2011 8:03pm
big bruv

VSM being debated in the house right now.

I am really going to enjoy seeing this bill passed.
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March 23, 2011 8:12pm
bhudson

BB,

Yes. A near empty house and Hipkin and Shearer waffling on just to use up time. I missed Robertson, which may or may not have been slightly interesting.

Seems to be a dearth of Labour members in the house. Perhaps they are all out drinking.
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March 23, 2011 8:27pm
reid

Yeah Moyle was Muldoon (infamously).

Seems to be a dearth of Labour members in the house. Perhaps they are all out drinking.

VSM = the death of Liarbore’s hatchery, let’s hope.
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March 23, 2011 8:39pm
bhudson

“VSM = the death of Liarbore’s hatchery, let’s hope.”

Alas the echo chambers that were SA meetings under the compulsory membership model will continue, albeit the reduced funds will probably mean they discuss ther impending political careers over casks of cut-price cardonnay instead of Te Kairanga.
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March 23, 2011 8:48pm
reid

Further to Hughes:

Mr Hughes was not sent on leave immediately because Mr Goff said he did not believe the complaint was relevant to Mr Hughes’ ability to do his job as an MP.

Possibli part of the reason we’ve so many recent incidents of MPs failing to discharge their sacred public duties, is because some recent and present political leaders haven’t saw fit to impose the appropriate standards upon their underlings.

Which seems to me to show either a callous disregard toward us, or a careless disregard toward their own responsibility as leaders in the national political arena.

Some would say this is not surprising, given the calibre of person who’ve both recently and currently inhabit those leadership roles.

Nevertheless, it’s a shame isn’t it that we’re rapidly reaching the point where we can’t even trust our most senior elected servants to do the right thing by us concerning even the most basic principles of human ethics.

One wonders who the hell they think they are.
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March 23, 2011 8:51pm
bhudson

Watching Chris Hipkin makes me think he is lucky this debate is not happening during exam time or school hours. Reminds me of Blackadder III and Pitt the Younger. I empathise for his “burning cheeks of shame”
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March 23, 2011 8:52pm
big bruv

Listening to the tales of woe from the left as they see their VSM hatchery (nicely put bhudson) disappear is so much fun.
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March 23, 2011 8:57pm
reid

albeit the reduced funds will probably mean they discuss ther impending political careers over casks of cut-price cardonnay instead of Te Kairanga.

The poor darlings. How can revolution foment under Chateux Cardboard? Quelle horreur!
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March 23, 2011 8:59pm
bhudson

BB,

(I acknowledge he credit for reid for the “hatchery” – I’ll settle for the quip on the cardboard-cask chardonnay socialists.)

And now the Labour idiots try to label VSM as “compuslory voluntary membership.” she really is lucky this debate is happening in a near empty house else she would be torn apart with the interjections at that nonsense
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March 23, 2011 9:02pm
big bruv

The half truths coming from the pink side of the house are hilarious, I will admit that they are well worded arguments and cannot be classed as outright lies but the truth is well buried.

I also had to laugh at Sue Moron saying that this piece of legislation is ‘idealogically drive’, well fuck me!…..every piece of legislation under Klark was ideologicallyideologically driven.

Suck it up Sue, this is one that you are going to lose.
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March 23, 2011 9:07pm
big bruv

Shit…I seem to have developed a stutter!
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March 23, 2011 9:12pm
bhudson

Curran is right! God damn it, this bill is going to make those SA’s operate democratically. How wrong it is to impose freedoms on people like this!
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March 23, 2011 9:12pm
Pete George

What land is La La Len from?

A world-class transport system? Are they planning on starting from scratch? The rail loop is loopy, you can ride around the CBD without actually getting anywhere in it.

‘Lets make Auckland an international destination.” Use what exactly to attract tourists?

The most livable city in the world. Oh, modest ambition.
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March 23, 2011 9:18pm
kowtow

reid,
your 733 and 851 are spot on.

That place is the House of Representatives. Who are they representing? The west over politicians deliberately ignore that fact and look to their own selfish narrow interests/ideologies.
No wonder people don’t join political parties and stay away from the ballot boxes.

Conservatives are no longer conservative and the mainstream left are heavily into social engineering instead of working class issues.
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March 23, 2011 9:18pm
reid

Thanks kowtow, a little less massage of their velveten bottoms and a little more work fucking hard for us not for you, you arrogant fucks, would not go amiss.

It’s called public service, so serve, don’t take. Otherwise don’t bother to apply.
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March 23, 2011 9:38pm
Put it away

Why is this hughes still in parliament after the good people of Otaki voted him out in the last election? Time to ditch MMP, last refuge of the unelectable. Roll on the referendum!
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March 23, 2011 9:39pm
nasska

Imagine Prince William’s stag do… must be very strange sitting in a lap dancing club and stuffing pictures of your grandma down a stripper’s knickers.
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March 23, 2011 10:09pm
niggly

Interesting times ……. In the aftermath of the Canterbury earthquake, the financial shockwaves of the Japan earthquake and the current economic flat-lining, resulting in Govt ministers having to roll up their sleeves as they try and work NZ’s future through this economic train-wreck ……… Labour Minister’s are partying up (and fornicating) like its “1999” (ta, Prince) or the last days of the roman empire etc.

Yet, another reason number #57381 why Labour (in its current incarnation) are an irrelevance in the NZ political scene. Criticise Govt by day (by alledging as per usual the “govt aren’t doing anything”) and party up by night.

We pay these clowns to do this?

Thanks to Labour’s bunch of misfits (whom most have never had any real jobs), no wonder why the NZ Political scene is fragmenting since FPP. Labour’s antics over the last couple of decades has spawned dissent to form the Alliance, Progressives, Greens, ACT even perhaps, the Maori Party etc. What a disfunctional situation.

Yet come election time and despite all this, people actually give votes to these Labour clowns?
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March 23, 2011 10:31pm
niggly

Another thing as for the Hughes affair (whatever that may actually entail), Phil Goff isn’t looking good in all this (by knowing about it but trying to sweep it under the carpet until the sh*t hit the media fan today).

Come the 2011 election when Labour loses, who will roll Phil?

The Rainbows have lost Carter, will have lost Hughes (no-matter what the outcome is here) and Maryan Street’s antics have as much appeal to the general public as Hughes will after the facts are known, so she may not have the numbers to acquire the deputy leadership position etc.

Little’s grouping have been pretty quiet so must be manoeuvering into position.

H1’s dream (rainbow team) looks as though it is coming to an end in NZ politics.
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March 23, 2011 10:41pm
Bobbie black

Did anyone see the Tua v King fight?

I was impressed.

He looks pretty fit and busy.

Plus he looked like he enjoyed the fight for a change.

Maybe a more relaxed attitude is helping him.

By the way UFC 128, great knockout of Shogun by Jones.

He beat him up.
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March 23, 2011 11:16pm
Bobbie black

West Indies 90/8.

Ouch.
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March 24, 2011 12:03am
MT_Tinman

starboard (1,747) Says:
March 23rd, 2011 at 7:35 pm
The liarbor party is full of sodomites , weirdos , nutjobs , lesbians , criminals..poor old Norm Kirk…he’d be spinning in his grave.

Christ Starboard, ease up on that or we’ll see Ken Ring predicting earthquakes in Waimate.
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March 24, 2011 5:32am
Lee C

I agree with Luc.

It’s apalling the way that some of you are using shallow labels to describe Darren Hughes after his (alleged) foibles. Goff is right. It has nothing to do with his duties as an MP, and well, if what is being asserted is true, it’s not like he can help that – he was born that way, and we should be cogniscent of the role that his genetic/chromosonal disposition has formed him. We do after all live in an inclusive society, whihc admits all and rejects no one on the basis of how they were born.

I think you will agree. It wasn’t so long ago that otherwise rational people were seriously suggesting that ‘his kind’ shouldn’t be allowed to participate fully in society, or that they presented serious risks of being unable to control their ‘impulses’. As a result many would ‘disguise’ their situation by resorting to the bottle. Is that what we want?

Well, it appears, from some comentators, that similar prejudices are still alive and well, right here on KB. And I thought this was a forum where people’s right to be ‘different’ are so often held up as examples of their individuality. Reducing Hughes’ personal situation to a set of archaic and derisory name-calling, when he has no control over his situation is inexcusable. We are better than tha people. Shame on you all. We don’t live in the Dark-Ages.

After all, he can’t help the fact that he’s ginger.
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March 24, 2011 6:50am
Manolo

The Huruld reports:

Inside the packed Establishment bar in Wellington, Labour chief whip Darren Hughes was having a jovial time with some Victoria University students who had spent much of the night together.

It was 2am on March 2 and in the following hours, an incident allegedly took place in Mr Hughes’ Hataitai home that triggered a complaint to police from an 18-year-old student.

It is understood the complaint – which Labour leader Phil Goff has been aware of for two weeks – is of a sexual nature. Mr Hughes, at 32 one of Labour’s most promising MPs, has denied any wrongdoing.

It is understood the complainant has no formal political connections but has an interest in politics.

A high-achiever at school, he is understood to have been a Youth MP and is now living in Wellington. He is an active debater who competed in many regional debates while at a prominent boys’ college.

Mr Templeton said the complainant was just getting on with life.

http://msn.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=10714582
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March 24, 2011 7:15am
slightlyrighty

Lee C @ 6.50

How dare you accuse us of such prejudice.

and what is the best way to get coffee off a moniter. 🙂
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March 24, 2011 7:21am
Manolo

More nonsense from the Messiah, the first anti-American president.

Republican lawmakers and oil industry executives are slamming President Obama for offering to help Brazil expand offshore drilling while U.S. production struggles to get back on its feet in the wake of the BP spill.

The president, on the first leg of his trip to Latin America, said in Brazil over the weekend that his administration wants to assist the Brazilian government “with technology and support” in developing its oil reserves — a black gold mine he said could hold twice as much oil as U.S. deposits.

“And when you’re ready to start selling, we want to be one of your best customers,” Obama said.

That message struck some at home as bizarre and misguided, considering the administration has stressed the need to wean the United States off foreign oil and move toward alternative fuels.

With U.S. oil exploration and drilling slowing to a crawl over the past year, they questioned why the president would throw U.S. weight behind Brazil, a country that also received a $2 billion loan for its state-owned oil company from the U.S. Export-Import Bank.
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March 24, 2011 7:32am
Viking2

It seems that Key and English haven’t got the message through to the public service yet. Plain Jane is farewelled with a
lavish splash in the manner accustomed. I wonder how many of those that have been robbed of their savings were invited. Surely she would be generous enough to include them.
But wait minute she didn’t give a shit about them while flying round the world telling others what to do why would she care now.
Bill please send her the account for this party. Then we will know you are serious about cutting waste in the public service. i.e. once she pays the bill.

Taxpayer picks up bill for Diplock’s send-off
By Adam Bennett
5:30 AM Thursday Mar 24, 2011

Jane Diplock, the chairwoman of the soon-to-be-abolished Securities Commission, has been farewelled with a 40-guest party at a swanky Wellington seafood restaurant – with taxpayers picking up the tab.

Guests included past and present commission members, top commission executives, and private sector business people including two directors of sharemarket operator NZX. The spokesman said the commission had no qualms about spending money on farewelling Ms Diplock in such lavish style despite the current focus on cost cutting in the public service, he said.

“This is a significant event marking a significant period and occasion.”

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10714578
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March 24, 2011 7:33am
Manolo

The comrades close ranks, according to 2ZB:

Labour closing ranks around Hughes

Labour has closed ranks around Darren Hughes, following news that police are investigating a complaint laid against the popular MP.

An 18-year-old who was a Youth MP at Parliament last year has made a police complaint against the list MP. Mr Hughes is on leave from Parliament while the complaint is looked into but says he’s done nothing wrong.

Labour president Andrew Little says he became aware of the allegations against the senior MP only on Tuesday night, as the story broke.

http://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/newsdetail1.asp?storyID=192978
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March 24, 2011 7:35am
KiwiGreg

I see from Stuff that an 18 year old man is now a “teen age boy”. This from the same media who bought you JAPANESE NUCLEAR TERROR (oh and an earthquake that killed more than 20000 people)
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March 24, 2011 7:35am
Pete George

Only infants shouldn’t drink Tokyo tap water with raised radiation levels.

Japan nuclear crisis: Tokyo tap water not safe for infants

Everyone else should just keep drinking as normal. Nothing to worry about, really.
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March 24, 2011 7:40am
starboard

Is H1 coming home to take care of her son? Since when did full moon become the surrogate? Why is Hughes such a cherry?
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March 24, 2011 7:56am
KiwiGreg

@ starboard I imagine she’s lining a job up for him at the UN. Something to do with youths no doubt.
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March 24, 2011 7:57am

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